Ratings jumped by double-digits for the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on NBC.
Sunday’s Coyotes/Red Wings Game 3 drew a 1.3/3 final rating on NBC, even with Penguins/Flyers Game 3 last year, and up 63% from Flyers/Capitals Game 2 in ’08 (0.8).
The 1.3 rating is tied as the highest for a game on the first weekend of the playoffs since Oilers/Red Wings in ’06 (1.4).
Meanwhile, Game 2 between the Bruins and Sabres drew a 1.0/3 rating on Saturday, up 43% from Rangers/Capitals Game 2 last year (0.7), and up 25% from Predators/Red Wings Game 2 in ’08 (0.8).
Overall, NBC averaged a 1.1/3 rating for NHL coverage last weekend, up 10% from last year (1.0/3), and the network’s highest average on the first weekend of the playoffs since ’06.
Ratings/Viewership For First Weekend of Stanley Cup Playoffs Since ’02
| Year | Date | Game |
Gm #
|
Net | Rating | Viewers (000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Sat., 4/17/10 | Bruins/Sabres | 2 | NBC |
1.0
|
—
|
| Sun., 4/18/10 | Coyotes/Red Wings | 3 | NBC |
1.3
|
—
|
|
| 2009 | Sat., 4/18/09 | Rangers/Capitals | 2 | NBC |
0.7
|
—
|
| Sun., 4/19/09 | Penguins/Flyers | 3 | NBC |
1.3
|
—
|
|
| 2008 | Sat., 4/12/08 | Predators/Red Wings | 2 | NBC |
0.8
|
1,090
|
| Sun., 4/13/08 | Flyers/Capitals | 2 | NBC |
0.8
|
1,175
|
|
| 2007 | Sat., 4/14/07 | Rangers/Thrashers or Senators/Penguins | 2 | NBC |
1.0
|
1,479
|
| Sun., 4/15/07 | Flames/Red Wings | 2 | NBC |
1.0
|
1,559
|
|
| 2006 | Sat., 4/22/06 | Rangers/Devils or Avalanche/Stars | 1 | NBC |
1.1
|
—
|
| Sun., 4/23/06 | Oilers/Red Wings or Sharks/Predators | 2 | NBC |
1.4
|
—
|
|
| 2005 |
No games (lockout)
|
|||||
| 2004 | Sat., 4/10/04 | Predators/Red Wings, Devils/Flyers or Blues/Sharks | 2 | ABC |
1.4
|
1,848
|
| 2003 | Sat., 4/12/03 | Mighty Ducks/Red Wings, Wild/Avalanche or Capitals/Lightning | 2 | ABC |
1.1
|
1,732
|
| 2002 | Sat., 4/20/02 | Kings/Avalanche, Blackhawks/Blues, Islanders/Maple Leafs or Coyotes/Sharks | 2 | ABC |
1.1
|
1,671
|
(NHL)
