Back on broadcast television, and free from any major competition, the Stanley Cup Final hit a series-high.
Game 4 of the Penguins/Sharks Stanley Cup Final earned a 2.5 final rating and 4.2 million viewers on NBC Monday night, up 14% in ratings and 8% in viewership from Lightning/Blackhawks last year (2.2, 3.9M) and up 25% and 25%, respectively, from Kings/Rangers in 2014 (2.0, 3.4M), both of which aired on NBCSN.
The Penguins’ win ranks as the highest rated and most-watched Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final since Blackhawks/Bruins in 2013 (3.8, 6.5M), the only other Game 4 to air on broadcast television in the past eight years.
In addition, it was the third-most watched Stanley Cup Final telecast ever on NBC that did not involve an Original Six team — behind Oilers/Hurricanes Game 7 in 2006 (3.3, 5.3M) and Devils/Kings Game 6 in 2012 (3.1, 4.9M). Keep in mind NBC has only aired four such series, this year’s included.
Monday’s game was the first of the Penguins/Sharks series to post a year-over-year increase, though the move from cable to broadcast provides an obvious caveat.
On Saturday, Game 3 of the series had a 1.5 and 2.8 million on NBCSN — down 32% in ratings and 28% in viewership from Lightning/Blackhawks last year (2.2, 3.9M) and down 12% and 4%, respectively, from Kings/Rangers in 2014 (1.7, 2.9M). It was the lowest rated and least-watched Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final since Devils/Kings in ’12 (1.0, 1.7M).
(Mon. numbers from NBC Sports; Sat. numbers via Programming Insider)
