Viewership for the Stanley Cup Playoffs has increased dramatically on the NBC family of networks.
The 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs has averaged 716,000 viewers on NBC, NBCSN and CNBC through Thursday (29 telecasts), up 51% from the same point last year (475K).
The top game of the postseason so far was last Sunday’s Red Wings/Bruins Game 2, which earned a 1.5 and just under 2.0 million viewers on NBC — up 25% in ratings and 11% in viewership from Blackhawks/Wild Game 3 last year (1.2, 1.8M). Ratings for the game declined 25% from 2012, when Penguins/Flyers Game 3 tied a 14-year high with a 2.0.
Earlier Sunday, Game 2 of the Flyers/Rangers series drew a 1.2 and 1.9 million — up a tick in ratings and 12% in viewership from Penguins/Islanders last year (1.1, 1.7M). Last Saturday’s Blackhawks/Blues Game 2 also had a 1.2 and 1.9 million, up 33% and 58%, respectively, from Rangers/Capitals last year (0.9, 1.2M).
The Bruins/Red Wings series has also been the top draw on cable. Thursday’s Game 4 earned 1.1 million viewers on NBCSN, up 110% from Islanders/Penguins Game 5 last year (504K) and the network’s top audience ever for a “non-elimination” first round game.
(This year’s numbers from NBC Sports Group Press Box, Sports Business Daily)
