Despite a slight bump on NBC, NHL viewership hit a multi-year low in the regular season.
NHL regular season games averaged 417,000 viewers across NBC, NBCSN and NBC’s digital platforms, down 12% from last year (474K). As noted by Sports Business Daily, it was the lowest average since at least 2010-11.
Though viewership declined overall, the NBC broadcast network posted a slight bump for its 12-game schedule. The network averaged 1.29 million viewers (including streaming), up 4% from last year’s record-low 1.29 million (15 telecasts).
That is still the second-lowest NHL average on a broadcast network since at least 2009-10 — and a 17% drop from two seasons ago (1.5M).
Last Saturday’s Rangers-Flyers season finale posted a 0.5 rating and 759,000 viewers, up 11% in ratings and 14% in viewership from last year (Capitals-Bruins: 0.45, 665K) but down 41% and 45% respectively from 2016 (0.9, 1.4M). Six of the network’s final eight windows this season posted an increase in ratings and/or viewership.
NBCSN was the weak link with an average of 302,000 viewers (-12%). Per Sports Business Daily, it was the network’s smallest average since 2009-10 (297K). Keep in mind NBCSN did not air any NHL games from February 7-26 due to the Olympics.
[Numbers from NBC Sports, Sports Business Daily 4.12]
