The Red Wings/Blackhawks and Rangers/Bruins series have been hot draws for NBC Sports Network, but not-so-much for NBC.
Last Sunday’s Game 2 of the Rangers/Bruins second round Stanley Cup playoff series drew a 1.4 final rating and 2.4 million viewers on NBC, down 4% in viewership from Devils/Flyers Game 1 last year (2.5M), and flat and up 6%, respectively, from Red Wings/Sharks Game 2 in 2011 (1.4, 2.3M).
Keep in mind last year’s Devils/Flyers game was the most-viewed second round Stanley Cup playoff game since 1999.
Despite the decline, Rangers/Bruins Game 2 ranks as the most-viewed game of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs. At the comparable point of last year’s postseason, however, NBC had already topped the three million mark on multiple occasions.
On Saturday, Game 2 between the Red Wings and Blackhawks drew a 1.1 and 1.7 million viewers. Numbers for last year’s comparable Rangers/Capitals Game 1 were not available.
(Weekend numbers from Sports Business Daily)
