The marquee Penguins/Capitals series got off to a good start on NBCSN. Elsewhere, NBC had declines for NHL playoff action last weekend, and TNT posted a slight increase for Thursday’s Hawks/Celtics finale.
Penguins/Capitals Opener Up Double-Digits
- Game 1 of the Penguins/Capitals Stanley Cup playoff series drew a 0.9 final rating and 1.5 million viewers on NBCSN Thursday night, up 29% in ratings and 34% in viewership from Lightning/Canadiens last year (0.7, 1.1M) but down 18% and 21%, respectively, from Canadiens/Bruins in 2014 (1.1, 1.9M). The 2014 game did not face the NFL Draft. Washington’s win ranks as the most-watched of the postseason on cable, edging Game 7 of Blackhawks/Blues two nights earlier (1.4M). (via Programming Insider)
First Round Clinchers Down on NBC
- NBC had a 1.2 final rating and 1.7 million viewers for last Sunday’s Capitals/Flyers Game 6, flat and down 2%, respectively, from Rangers/Flyers Game 5 in 2014 (1.2, 1.8M). There was no comparable window last year. Later, Stars/Wild Game 6 had a 1.0 and 1.5 million — down 17% in ratings and 25% in viewership from Blues/Wild last year (1.2, 2.0M) and down 41% and 45%, respectively, from Blackhawks/Blues in 2014 (1.7, 2.8M). The previous day, Penguins/Rangers Game 5 had a 1.0 (-17%) and 1.6 million (-11%). As previously noted, Blues/Blackhawks Game 6 had a 1.6 and 2.8 million. (via Sports Business Daily)
Modest Bump For Hawks/Celtics Finale
- Game 6 of the Hawks/Celtics NBA playoff series earned a 1.3 final rating and 1.9 million viewers on TNT Thursday night, up 8% in ratings and 12% in viewership from the Bulls’ 54-point rout of the Bucks last year (1.2, 1.7M) but down 48% and 49%, respectively, from Thunder/Grizzlies in 2014 (2.5, 3.8M). The 2014 game did not face the NFL Draft. (via Programming Insider)
