Improved viewership for the NHL regular season has carried into the start of the playoffs.
Coverage of the 2015-16 NHL regular season averaged 1.5 million viewers on the NBC broadcast network, up 6% from last year (1.5M) but down 8% from 2013-14 (1.7M). Keep in mind three of NBC’s 11 telecasts this season were outdoor games, compared to just one of last year’s 13.
Ratings and viewership were not immediately available for NBC’s Penguins/Flyers finale last Saturday.
On NBCSN, regular season coverage averaged 378,000 viewers — up 8% from both last year (349K) and 2013-14 (351K). Viewership trails only the lockout-shortened 2013 season (392K) as the highest on cable since 1993-94, when ESPN and ESPN2 averaged 474,000. Combined, NBC and NBCSN averaged 503,000 viewers, up 2% from last year (491K).
The momentum continued into Wednesday’s playoff openers. Game 1 of the Rangers/Penguins series scored 713,000 viewers on USA Network, up 22% from Blackhawks/Predators on NBCSN last year (638K). On NBCSN, Red Wings/Lightning Game 1 had 612,000 and Blackhawks/Blues 638,000 — up 10% and 108%, respectively, from last year’s USA Network doubleheader of Islanders/Capitals (555K) and Flames/Canucks (307K).
(Season averages from NBC Sports Group Press Box; Wed. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily)
