Winter Classic Hits Lows in Ratings, Viewership

For the second straight year, ratings and viewership hit lows for the NHL Winter Classic.

The Canadiens/Bruins NHL Winter Classic drew a 1.6 rating and 2.8 million viewers on NBC New Year’s Day, according to Nielsen fast-nationals — down 16% in ratings and 20% in viewership from Blackhawks/Capitals last year (1.9, 3.5M) and down 36% and 37%, respectively, from Maple Leafs/Red Wings in 2014 (2.5, 4.4M).

Montreal’s win ranks as the lowest rated and least-watched Winter Classic ever (dates back to 2008), falling below the previous marks set last year.

This year’s Winter Classic was just the second to involve a team based in Canada, which does not count toward U.S. television ratings. Of course, the same could be said of the 2014 Winter Classic, which involved the Maple Leafs and tied the NHL’s highest regular season rating since 1975, or of the several Canadiens/Bruins rivalry games that have posted above-average numbers for NBCSN.

It also faced tougher college football competition than last year, airing opposite the Ohio State/Notre Dame Fiesta Bowl on ESPN and Michigan/Florida in the Citrus Bowl on ABC. Final numbers for those games were not available, but the Fiesta Bowl posted a 17% increase in the overnights over last year’s comparable window.

Perhaps the biggest factor in the record low was the lopsided 5-1 score, the biggest blowout in Winter Classic history. No other game had been decided by more than two goals.

Keep in mind that even the least-watched Winter Classic is a hit by NHL standards. Dating back to 2008, NBC’s non-Winter Classic slate has averaged 1.3 million viewers — less than half of Friday’s audience.

Ratings/Viewership For NHL Winter Classic
* 2013 game canceled by league owners

(Fri. numbers from NBC Sports)