It is not an apples-to-apples comparison for a couple of reasons, but Stanley Cup Final viewing levels are nevertheless at a four-year high through four games.
Entering Friday’s potential clincher, the Avalanche-Lightning Stanley Cup Final is averaging 4.18 million viewers on ABC — up two-thirds from Lightning-Canadiens last year (2.22M) and up 1% from Blues-Bruins in 2019, the previous Cup Final to take place in a normal postseason (4.16M). Keep in mind that this year marks the first time ever that the first four games of the Cup Final have aired on broadcast television; prior to this year, at least two of the first four games aired on cable.
This year’s four-game average is the highest since Capitals-Golden Knights in 2018 (4.33M) and the second-highest since Blackhawks-Lightning in 2015 (4.97M). Beyond the cable caveat, keep in mind that out-of-home viewing was not included prior to two years ago.
Since the NHL returned from the 2004-05 owners’ lockout, Avalanche-Lightning ranks sixth out of the 17 total finals over that span — behind 2018, 2015, Kings-Rangers in 2014 (4.66M), Blackhawks-Bruins in 2013 (5.34M) and Blackhawks-Flyers in 2010 (4.24M).
Wednesday’s Game 4 averaged a 2.4 rating and 4.60 million viewers on ABC, up 45% in ratings and 52% in viewership from Lightning-Canadiens on the night after Independence Day last year (1.65, 3.02M) but down 21% and 10% respectively from Bruins-Blues in 2019 (5.13M). Ratings were not immediately available.
Colorado’s overtime win, which peaked with 5.8 million viewers, ranks as the most-watched NHL game since the league returned from hiatus nearly two years ago, topping Game 1 the previous Wednesday (4.20M). The first four games of the series rank as the four most-watched over that span.
Going back further, it delivered the sixth-largest Game 4 audience in the past 20 years. Game 4 has aired on broadcast television in all-but-three of those years.
Game 4 drew a 1.3 rating in adults 18-49, a 1.0 in 18-34 and a 1.6 in 25-54. It was easily the day’s top program in the demos and in viewership.
[Nielsen estimates from Programming Insider 6.23, ShowBuzz Daily 6.23, network PR]
