For the second week in a row, the NHL scored its smallest outdoor game audience on broadcast television.
Saturday’s Red Wings/Avalanche NHL Stadium Series game scored a 1.0 final rating and 1.7 million viewers on NBC, up 25% in ratings and 21% in viewership from an indoor Rangers/Flyers game last year (0.8, 1.4M) but down 38% and 39%, respectively, from Penguins/Blackhawks in the Stadium Series two years ago (1.6, 2.8M).
The Red Wings’ win ranks as the lowest rated and least-watched NHL outdoor game on broadcast television (12 telecasts dating back to 2008). The previous lows were set six days earlier by Blackhawks/Wild (1.1, 1.9M). In addition to the overall lows, this year also included the lowest rated and least-watched Winter Classic ever (1.6, 2.8M).
The game avoided the NHL’s lowest primetime rating ever on broadcast TV, which remains the 0.8 for Rangers/Flyers last year.
Head-to-head, Red Wings/Avalanche was more-than-tripled by the competing Warriors/Thunder NBA game on ABC in ratings (3.2 to 1.0), viewership (5.3M to 1.7M) and adults 18-49 (2.0 to 1.6).
NHL Outdoor Games on Broadcast TV, Ranked By Viewership
| # | Game/Venue | Rtg. | Vwrs. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capitals/Penguins 2011 Winter Classic |
2.3
|
4.50M
|
| 2 | Maple Leafs/Red Wings 2014 Winter Classic |
2.5 | 4.40M |
| 3 | Red Wings/Blackhawks 2009 Winter Classic |
2.5
|
4.40M
|
| 4 | Rangers/Flyers 2012 Winter Classic |
2.1 | 3.73M |
| 5 | Flyers/Bruins 2010 Winter Classic |
2.1
|
3.68M
|
| 6 | Penguins/Sabres 2008 Winter Classic |
2.2
|
3.75M
|
| 7 | Blackhawks/Capitals 2015 Winter Classic |
1.9 | 3.47M |
| 8 | Canadiens/Bruins 2016 Winter Classic |
1.6 | 2.78M |
| 9 | Penguins/Blackhawks 2014 Stadium Series |
1.6 | 2.76M |
| 10 | Rangers/Devils 2014 Stadium Series |
1.3 | 2.08M |
| 11 | Blackhawks/Wild 2016 Stadium Series |
1.1 | 1.86M |
| 12 | Red Wings/Avalanche 2016 Stadium Series |
1.0 | 1.70M |
(Sat. numbers via Programming Insider)
