One of the more shocking results in recent NHL history set a viewership high on CNBC.
Tuesday’s Lightning-Blue Jackets first round Stanley Cup playoff Game 4 earned a 0.41 rating and 643,000 viewers on CNBC, marking a 148% increase in viewership over last year (Jets-Wild: 259K) and a 55% increase over 2017 (Canadiens-Rangers: 576K).
The Blue Jackets’ win, which completed a first round sweep of 62-win Lightning, ranks as the most-watched playoff game on CNBC in five years. A Blackhawks-Wild semifinal game in 2014 had 1.82 million.
Airing in the same window on NBCSN, Islanders-Penguins Game 4 had a 0.38 (-30%) and 627,000 (-29%). The Islanders also completed a series sweep.
Rounding out Tuesday’s action, Sharks-Golden Knights Game 4 had a 0.25 and 402,000 (-28%) on NBCSN and Jets-Blues a 0.16 and 255,000 on CNBC.
Shifting to Wednesday night, Bruins-Maple Leafs Game 4 drew 717,000 viewers on NBCSN, up 9% from last year (Penguins-Flyers: 659K) and up 6% from 2017 (Maple Leafs-Capitals: 677K). Ratings were not immediately available. Versus Game 4 of the same series last year, which took place on a Thursday night, viewership increased 27% from 563,000.
Airing in a competing window on USA Network, Predators-Stars Game 4 had 300,000 (-6%). The Flames-Avalanche nightcap had 492,000 (-10%).
On Monday night, Bruins-Maple Leafs had a 0.38 (-12%) and 629,000 (-8%) and Predators-Stars a 0.34 (flat) and 521,000 (-8%) on NBCSN. On CNBC, Hurricanes-Capitals Game 3 had a 0.18 and 285,000 (-4%) and Flames-Avalanche brought up the rear with 213,000 viewers (+53%).
[Numbers from Programming Insider 4.16, 4.17; ShowBuzz Daily 4.18]
