With the defending champions mounting a comeback to save their season, NBC reaped the benefits.
Game 6 of the Blues/Blackhawks Stanley Cup playoff series earned a 2.0 overnight rating on NBC Saturday night, up 11% from Predators/Blackhawks Game 6 last year (1.8) and the top overnight of the postseason thus far. Of the 14 primetime NHL games on NBC, not including the Stanley Cup Final, the 2.0 is tied for seventh place.
Head-to-head, the Blackhawks’ comeback win nearly matched coverage of the Thunder/Mavericks NBA playoff game (2.1). Keep in mind the NBA game aired on cable (ESPN) and ‘co-existed’ in local markets.
NBC’s other games over the weekend did not fare as well. Rangers/Penguins Game 5 had a 1.2 overnight on Saturday afternoon, down a tick from Capitals/Islanders last year (1.3) and down 29% from Red Wings/Bruins in 2014 (1.7).
Wild/Stars Game 6 scored a 1.2 the following day, down 14% from Wild/Blues last year (1.4) and down 48% from Blues/Blackhawks in 2014 (2.3). Game 6 of Capitals/Flyers had a 1.4 earlier in the afternoon, off 13% from Rangers/Flyers in ’14 (1.6); there was no comparable window last year.
Wrapping up the previous week’s action, Blackhawks/Blues Game 3 had a 1.3 and 2.0 million viewers on NBC April 17 — down 7% in ratings and virtually flat in viewership compared to Predators/Blackhawks last year (1.4, 2.0M). Rangers/Penguins Game 2 had a 1.0 and 1.6 million the previous day, flat and up 7%, respectively, from regional action on NBC* last year (1.0, 1.5M).
* Not including reverse mirror coverage on NBCSN.
(Wknd. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily; previous wknd. numbers from NBC Sports)
