Compared to the last full season of NHL action, NBC and NBCSN both saw gains during the first half of the 2013-14 campaign.
Through the Olympic break, NBC has averaged 2.3 million viewers for regular season NHL games — up 20% from the comparable point of the 2011-12 season. Last season began in January due to the NHL owners’ lockout of players.
NBC benefited from stronger numbers for the Winter Classic — which earned the second-largest regular season NHL audience since 1975 — as well as a second outdoor game between the Rangers and Devils in late January.
NBCSN has averaged 344,000 viewers for its coverage, up 3% from 2011-12, and the network’s highest average through the point of the season (excluding last year’s shortened season).
Like NBC, NBCSN has benefited from additional outdoor games, earning over 600,000 viewers for Ducks/Kings from Dodger Stadium and Rangers/Islanders from Yankee Stadium.
(Averages from NBC Sports)
