While afternoon coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs dropped by double-digits last weekend, NBC fared better in primetime.
Game 6 of the Predators/Blackhawks Stanley Cup playoff series drew a 1.4 final rating and 2.4 million viewers on NBC last Saturday night, the largest audience of the playoffs through the first round. There was no comparable window last year, as NBC had not previously aired first round games in primetime.
Despite hitting a postseason-high, the Blackhawks’ win earned the fourth-smallest audience for a primetime NHL game on NBC since the network resumed airing coverage in 2006 (46 telecasts). Only Penguins/Rangers Game 2 the previous week (2.2M), Rangers/Flyers in the regular season (1.4M) and Game 3 of the Ducks/Senators Stanley Cup final in 2007 (1.6M) earned a smaller audience.
Earlier in the day, Game 6 of Capitals/Islanders drew a 1.2 and 1.8 million — down 8% in ratings and 14% in viewership from Red Wings/Bruins last year (1.3, 2.1M). Sunday’s Blues/Wild Game 6 had a 1.2 and 2.0 million, down 29% and 28%, respectively, from a 1.7 and 2.8 million for last year’s Blues/Blackhawks game.
Overall, the first round of the NHL playoffs averaged 709,000 viewers across NBC, NBCSN, USA and CNBC — down 6% from last year (752K) but up 48% from 2013 (478K).
(Wknd. numbers via Sports Business Daily; first round avg. from NBC Sports Group Press Box)
