The Stanley Cup Finals, which sees a “dream match-up†for the league and broadcasters by having talent laden Detroit and the Penguins, with Sidney Crosby, saw the highest-rated and most-watched Finals game in six years, with the Red Wings beating the Penguins 4-0 in Game 1 Saturday night.
The game drew a 1.8 rating in the U.S. with over 2.3 million viewers according to Nielsen Media Research.
The game also marked the highest rated NHL broadcast ever for the Versus channel, surpassing the Penguins’ 4-2 victory in Game 2 of this year’s Eastern Conference finals.
Source Nielsen Media Research
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NBC’s Sports Saturday and Sunday’s coverage of the Stanley Cup Conference Finals saw a 14 percent ratings increase from the year prior according to Nielsen Media Research. The games combined to post a 1.6 overnight HH rating and a 4 share. As reported by Mediaweek:
Saturday's broadcast of Game 5 between the Dallas Stars and Detroit Red Wings, won by Dallas 2-1, earned a 1.5/4 (1:30-4:15 p.m. ET), a 25 percent increase over 2007 (1.2/3, 2-4:45 p.m. ET, Ottawa Senators at Buffalo Sabres). The game recorded a 14.1/34 rating and share in the Detroit market.
Sunday's coverage of the clinching Game 5 between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins earned a 1.7/4 (3-5:45 p.m. ET), a 6 percent increase over 2007 (1.6/4, 3-6:30 p.m. ET, Anaheim Ducks at Detroit). Ratings and share in the Pittsburgh market were a 26.1/46.
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Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburg Penguins was the most watched telecast ever on Versus. 2.375 million viewers tuned in, shattering the previous mark of 1.725 million viewers that tuned in for the final stage of Lance Armstrong’s final Tour de France on July 24, 2005.
The game earned a 1.8 coverage area rating, second best to the 2.1 received by that Tour de France. Eastern Conference Semifinal Game Four, a New York Rangers win over Pittsburgh, ranks as the fourth most watched broadcast on Versus, drawing 1.2 million viewers.
Versus subscriber base has expanded to 75 million homes, significantly higher than 2005, explaining how more people watched the hockey game though it received a lower coverage rating then the tour. The wider distribution also accounts for this seasons hockey games ranking among the most watched on the net.
Regular season hockey ratings grew 20% over last season on Versus. The quarterfinals jumped 23%, and the conference semifinals, which Versus has an exclusive agreement preventing local broadcast competition, were up 40%. Despite the strong ratings, Versus still lags behind the pre-strike numbers posted on ESPN and ESPN2 in 2003-2004. ESPN and ESPN2 averaged .50 and .40 coverage ratings in the first round respectively, and .79 and .49 in the Conference Semifinals, compared to the .37 and .59 posted by Versus this season.
Source: Sports Business Daily, Sports Business Journal
What would Lord Stanley say? Hockey's Holy Grail and the most revered trophy in professional sports, recently returned from a trip to Hollywood. With the Stanley Cup Playoffs in high gear, The Stanley Cup Tour took a swing through the sets of several shows including E.R., HOUSE, Big Bang Theory, and Charlie Sheen on the set of Two & a Half Men.
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Don Cherry brings his flamboyant personality to ESPN, starting with tonight’s “Sportscenterâ€. The CBC “Hockey Night in Canada†analyst signed on with ESPN to provide postgame reports during the Philadelphia Flyers-Pittsburgh Penguins Eastern Conference finals, and cover the Stanley Cup Finals for the network. As reported by ESPN:
"Pairing Don Cherry and Barry Melrose will provide NHL fans with two of the most respected and opinionated voices in hockey today," Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president of production, said in a statement. "'SportsCenter' will be the place to turn for Stanley Cup analysis, debate and highlights."
Cherry will also contribute to coverage on ESPNNEWS and ESPN Radio, while continuing his duties with the CBC throughout the playoffs. He plans to donate his ESPN earnings to the Humane Society.
The former Boston Bruin and Colorado Rockies head coach last appeared on American television during last season’s Stanley Cup Finals coverage on NBC.
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The NHL will be on NBC for at least one more season. The “Peacock Network†will exercise its option today, according to John Ourand of the Sports Business Daily. As reported by SBD, NBC will carry NHL games next season, “including 10 "Sunday Game of the Week" broadcasts and up to 15 playoff games. Regular season ratings increased by 11% this year, thanks largely to the popular Winter Classic. There had been speculation that NBC may pass on the option, opening a window for ESPN to grab the package.â€
Ratings are seen to be up for the new wave of star power in the league, including Sidney Crosby of the Penguins and Alex Ovechkin of the Capitals.
For those that are Chicago Blackhawks fans, you’re going to get to see all of next season’s schedule wire-to-wire on television. And, not only that, over-the-air broadcasts will be plentiful, as well. As reported by the Chicago Tribune:
The deal will be particularly satisfying to hockey fans who don't have cable TV. Industry sources say that as many as 20 games will go to WGN-Ch. 9, which carried the Hawks in the 1960s and early '70s.
The bulk will go to the Hawks' main partner, Comcast SportsNet, which televised 50 games this season, leaving about 30 unavailable to Chicago viewers.
John McDonough is the former president of the Chicago Cubs.
