Ratings for the 2012 Stanley Cup Final have been among the lowest for the NHL since the league returned to broadcast TV.
Game 2 of the Kings/Devils Stanley Cup Final drew a 1.7 final rating and 2.9 million viewers on NBC Saturday night, down 23% in ratings and 18% in viewership from Bruins/Canucks Game 2 last year (2.2, 3.569M), and down 49% and 51%, respectively, from Flyers/Blackhawks Game 2 on Memorial Day in 2010 (3.3, 5.892M).
The game ranks as the lowest rated Stanley Cup Final telecast on broadcast since Ducks/Senators Game 3 in 2007 (1.1), which also aired on a Saturday night.
Overall, the 1.7 rating is the fourth lowest for a Stanley Cup Final game on broadcast since the event returned to broadcast television in 1995. The only lower rated games were Game 3 in 2007 (1.1), Game 3 in 2004 (1.4), and Game 3 in 2006 (1.6). Of note, all three of those games involved Canadian teams.
The Stanley Cup Final has been a ratings bust even when compared to earlier rounds of the playoffs. Two first round games on NBC drew more viewers than the first two games of the Kings/Devils series — Penguins/Flyers Game 6 (3.1M) and Capitals/Bruins Game 6 (3.5M). Penguins/Flyers Game 3 also drew a higher rating than both games (2.0).
(Saturday’s numbers from Sports Business Daily)
