Stanley Cup viewership continue to follow an unusual trend: record-highs on cable and double-digit declines on broadcast.
Saturday’s Blue Jackets-Bruins Stanley Cup semifinal Game 2 earned a 1.7 rating and 2.85 million viewers on NBC, up 26% in ratings and 29% in viewership from last year (Sharks-Golden Knights: 1.4, 2.21M) and up 15% and 12% respectively from Penguins-Capitals in 2017 (1.5, 2.57M0.
Excluding games that had a Kentucky Derby lead-in, the Blue Jackets’ double-overtime win was the most-watched first or second round Stanley Cup playoff game since 2013 (Red Wings-Blackhawks Game 7: 3.35M). Viewership peaked at 4.09 million from 11:30-11:45 PM ET.
Including streaming, the game had 2.91 million viewers.
The good times did not extend to NBC’s other games. Stars-Blues Game 2 had a 0.9 and 1.39 million earlier in the day, down 19% in ratings and viewership from last year (Bruins-Lightning Game 1: 1.1, 1.73M) and down a tick and 10% respectively in both measures from 2017 (Rangers-Senators Game 2: 1.0, 1.54M).
On Sunday, Hurricanes-Islanders Game 2 drew a 0.9 and 1.38 million — down 30% in ratings and 36% in viewership from Penguins-Capitals last year (1.3, 2.18M) and down 5% and 13% respectively from 2017 (Blues-Predators Game 3: 1.0, 1.59M).
Through three weeks of the postseason, eight of nine games on the NBC broadcast network have declined. NBC’s games are averaging 1.67 million viewers (including streaming), down 15% from the same point last year (1.98M).
The trend has been markedly different on cable, where games have averaged 733,000 viewers through Sunday (including streaming) — up 17% from last year (628K) and the highest average on record at this point of the postseason. Cable has made up for the declines on broadcast, with NBC averaging 898,000 through Sunday across all TV and digital platforms (+1%), a seven-year high.
NBCSN scored a 0.7 (flat) and 1.26 million (+3%) for Avalanche-Sharks Game 2 on Sunday; a 0.6 (+30%) and 963,000 (+23%) for Hurricanes-Islanders Game 1 on Friday; and a 0.6 and 943,000 for Avalanche-Sharks Game 1 in Friday’s nightcap. On Monday, Blues-Stars Game 3 had 1.18 million (-14%).
[Numbers from NBC Sports, Nielsen via ShowBuzz Daily 4.30 a, b]
