Primetime exposure did nothing to boost interest in the NHL’s Stadium Series.
The Red Wings/Avalanche NHL Stadium Series game earned a 1.0 overnight rating on NBC Saturday night, even with a Rangers/Flyers indoor game last year and down 52% from a Penguins/Blackhawks outdoor game in 2014 (2.1).
The 1.0 overnight is the lowest yet for an outdoor NHL game on broadcast television (12 telecasts), falling below the previous mark of 1.2 for Blackhawks/Wild six days earlier.
The 1.0 is also tied as the lowest for any primetime NHL game on broadcast since NBC resumed airing games in 2006, matching Rangers/Flyers last year. The games rank among broadcast TV’s lowest rated primetime sporting events ever in the metered markets, ahead of a few low-tier college football games on CBS and FOX.
Head-to-head, Red Wings/Avalanche was nearly quadrupled by the competing Warriors/Thunder NBA game on ABC (3.9).
On Sunday, Capitals/Blackhawks also drew a 1.0 overnight — even with Flyers/Capitals two years ago. There was no comparable matchup last year.
(Wknd. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily)
