The third game of what looks to be a short Coyotes/Kings series earned less-than-spectacular numbers Thursday.
Game 3 of the Coyotes/Kings NHL Western Conference final drew 827,000 viewers on NBC Sports Network Thursday night, up 16% from Sharks/Canucks Game 3 on a Friday night last year (714K), but down 47% from Blackhawks/Sharks Game 3 on a Friday night in 2010 (1.571M).
The game was just the second of the conference finals — East or West — to have an increase compared to last year. Game 1 of the series on Sunday night was up 10%.
Though up from last year, Thursday’s game was the least-viewed of the conference finals. Viewership has declined for each successive game of the Kings/Coyotes series.
Viewership For the 2012 NHL Conference Finals
| Date | Game |
#
|
Net |
Viewers (000)
|
vs. ’11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun., 5/13/12 | Kings/Coyotes |
1
|
NBCSN |
1,105
|
+10%
|
| Mon., 5/14/12 | Devils/Rangers |
1
|
NBCSN |
1,285
|
-17%
|
| Tue., 5/15/12 | Kings/Coyotes |
2
|
NBCSN |
835
|
-1%
|
| Wed., 5/16/12 | Devils/Rangers |
2
|
NBCSN |
1,342
|
-14%
|
| Thu., 5/17/12 | Coyotes/Kings |
3
|
NBCSN |
827
|
+16%
|
(Thursday’s numbers from TV By the Numbers)
