With Derrick Rose sidelined for a second straight season, the Blackhawks are again well ahead of the Bulls in Chicago.
Chicago Blackhawks NHL regular season games averaged a 4.4 rating on Comcast SportsNet Chicago through 39 games, down 19% from the same number of games last season (5.4), but up 38% from the same number of games in the 2011-12 season (3.2). Keep in mind last season was not only shortened to 48 games due to the owners’ lockout, it also featured the Blackhawks’ historic 24-game points streak.
For the second straight season, the Blackhawks are well ahead of the Bulls. The Bulls have averaged a 2.9 rating on CSN Chicago through 33 games, down 9% from the same number of games last year (3.2).
The Bulls’ ratings have not recovered from Derrick Rose‘s ACL injury in 2012. During the 2011-12 regular season — when Rose played just 39 of the Bulls’ 66 games, but did not have any major injuries — Bulls games averaged a 5.8 rating on CSN Chicago, the highest since 1998.
(Season averages from Comcast)
