Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals set network records on Versus.
The Penguins’ win over the Red Wings drew a 2.6 cable rating and 3 million viewers on Versus Tuesday night, up 44% in ratings and 25% in viewers from a 1.8 and 2.4 million for the first Stanley Cup Finals telecast on Versus last year (Game 1). The 3.0 million viewers is off 25% from 4 million for last year’s Game 3 on NBC.
The 3 million viewers is the most ever for a telecast on Versus, topping the previous record of 2.6 million for last year’s Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals. The 2.6 cable rating is also a record, surpassing the previous high of 2.1.
Most impressive for the NHL is the fact that Game 3 made Versus “the top-rated network overall (broadcast and cable) among all key male demos” from 8-10:45 PM Tuesday night.
Through three games, the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals is averaging 4.2 million viewers on NBC and Versus, up 40% from last year’s 3.0 million. Keep in mind that NBC has aired two of the first three games this year, while Versus aired two of the first three games last year.
