The NHL Conference Finals have drawn solid numbers on Versus and NBC.
Last Sunday’s Game 1 between the Blackhawks and Red Wings drew a 1.6/4 final rating on NBC, up 14% from a 1.4/3 for Flyers/Penguins Game 5 on the comparable date last year, and tied the highest rating for a non-Stanley Cup Final/Winter Classic NHL telecast since Avalanche/Red Wings drew a 1.9/5 in ’02.
Through 7 games, NBC is averaging a 1.1 rating and 1.8 million viewers for coverage of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs, up 22% in ratings and 23% in viewership from a 0.9 and 1.4 million through 7 games last year.
Meanwhile, Versus averaged a 1.6 cable rating and 1.7 million viewers for its first two Conference Final telecasts, up 36% in cable ratings and 58% in viewership from last year’s comparable games.
Blackhawks/Red Wings Game 2 drew a 1.6 cable rating and 1.7 million viewers on Versus Tuesday night. The night before, Hurricanes/Penguins Game 1 drew a 1.5 cable rating and 1.7 million viewers.
