While NBC did not do particularly well with Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals, Game 4 drew record numbers on Versus.
The Penguins’ Game 4 win on Thursday night drew a 2.8 cable rating and 3.4 million viewers on Versus, up 40% and 32%, respectively, from a 2.0 cable rating and 2.6 million for Versus’ second Stanley Cup Final telecast last year (Game 2). Compared to last year’s Game 4 on NBC, the 3.4 million viewers is down 15%.
Game 4 surpasses Game 3 of the series as the highest rated, most viewed program in Versus history. Additionally, the 3.4 million viewers is the most for a Stanley Cup Final telecast on cable since Hurricanes/Red Wings Game 2 drew 3.8 million viewers on ESPN in ’02.
Locally, Game 4 drew a 27.5 rating in Pittsburgh and a 14.7 in Detroit. In both markets, Versus was the highest rated network (broadcast and cable) during the 8-10:45 PM timeslot.
Versus averaged a 2.7 cable rating and 3.2 million viewers for Games 3 and 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals, up 42% and 29%, respectively, from a 1.9 and 2.5 million for Games 1 and 2 of the Finals last year. The 3.2 million viewers also marks a massive 384% increase from the 661,000 viewers Versus averaged for its two-game coverage of Ducks/Senators in ’07.
Excluding Game 5, which drew a 2.6 overnight rating on NBC Saturday night, the Stanley Cup Finals averaged 4.0 million viewers through the first four games, up 21% from 3.3 million through four games last year.
