Though still well below last year, the 2014 Stanley Cup Final has been a more-than-respectable draw for NBC and NBCSN.
Game 4 of the Kings/Rangers NHL Stanley Cup Final earned a 2.0 U.S. rating and 3.4 million viewers on NBC Wednesday, down 47% in ratings and 48% in viewership from Blackhawks/Bruins on NBC last year (3.8, 6.5M), but up 67% and 64%, respectively, from Devils/Kings on NBCSN in 2012 (1.2, 2.1M).
Kings/Rangers Game 4 ranks as the sixth-most watched NHL telecast ever on NBCSN (previously VERSUS and OLN), and the #2 telecast that did not involve the Blackhawks.
Game 4 earned a 1.3 rating among adults 18-49, down 46% from last year on NBC (2.4) but up 63% from 2012 on NBCSN (0.8).
Through four games, the Kings/Rangers series has averaged a 2.8 U.S. rating and 4.7 million viewers on NBC and NBCSN — down 10% in ratings and 13% in viewership from last year (3.1, 5.4M) but up 87% and 89%, respectively, from 2012 (1.5, 2.5M). This year’s series ranks as the second-most watched Stanley Cup Final through four games since Red Wings/Hurricanes on ESPN/ABC in 2002 (4.7M), trailing only last year.
NBCSN and CNBC combined to average a 0.7 U.S. rating and 1.1 million viewers for cable coverage of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs, up a tick in ratings and 10% in viewership from last year (0.6, 1.0M) and the most-watched postseason on cable since ESPN and ESPN2 averaged 1.2 million in 1997.
(Wed. numbers/playoff avg. from NBC Sports Group Press Box)
