It’s Been a Long Time Since an NBC Ratings Hype Post

NEW YORK – June 2, 2009 – The Stanley Cup Final on NBC Sports is off to the best network start to the event in seven years in both viewership and in household ratings according to Nielsen Media Research. Games 1 and 2 between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings on NBC Sports (Saturday and Sunday night) averaged 4.87 million viewers, the best since 2002 (Detroit-Carolina, 5.35 million, Games 3 & 4) and 21 percent ahead of last year (4.04 million, Games 3 & 4, Wednesday and Saturday night). The two-game 2.8 average rating and 5 share was up 17 percent over NBC’s first two games in 2008 (2.4/4), and was again the best network start for the Stanley Cup since 2002 (3.4/7). NBC Sports’ Game 2 coverage of the Stanley Cup Final ranked No. 6 (tied) among all primetime telecasts last week in Adults 18-49. 

NHL ON NBC SPORTS RANKS NO. 1 IN PRIMETIME: NBC Sports’ Stanley Cup broadcast ranked No. 1 in primetime on Saturday in the key demos of Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34, Adults 25-54 and all key male demographics. The peacock also ranked No. 1 on Saturday night in Women 18-34 and tied for No.1 among Women 18-49. 

NBC Sports’ Stanley Cup broadcast also ranked No. 1 in primetime on Sunday in Adults 18-49, Adults 25-54 and other key demos. This marks NBC’s first Sunday win in Adults 18-49 since the night of the Super Bowl, February 1. Hockey coverage won the 10 p.m. ET hour in every key demo and topped the combined ABC-CBS rating in Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34 and other key demographic measures. 

SUNDAY’S BROADCAST RANKS NO. 6 FOR THE WEEK: NBC Sports’ coverage of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final ranked No. 6 (tied) among all primetime telecasts last week in Adults 18-49. It finished among the top five programs of the week in all key male demographics, ranking No. 3 among Men 18-49 and Men 25-54 and No. 4 (tied) among Men 18-34. 

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS AND FINAL UP 18%: NBC Sports’ extensive coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including the first two games of the Final, has averaged 18 percent more viewers than last year (2.41 million vs. 2.04 million). The 1.5 rating is 15 percent greater than last year (1.3). 

OTHER RATINGS NOTES: 
· Sunday’s primetime broadcast was the most-watched Stanley Cup Final weekend broadcast in seven years, averaging 5.39 million viewers (6-8-02, Detroit-Carolina, Game 3, 3 overtimes, 5.48 million). 

· Saturday’s Game 1 broadcast finished eight percent higher in viewers than last year’s first Saturday night broadcast of Game 4 between these same teams (4.4 million vs. 4.0 million). 

TOP 10 MARKETS (based on overnight ratings) 

SATURDAY, GAME 1 
1. Pittsburgh, 26.5/43 
2. Detroit, 19.3/34 
3. Buffalo, 5.2/9 
4. Columbus, 3.5/6 
5. Ft. Myers, 3.3/5 
6. St. Louis, 3.0/6 
T7. Indianapolis, 2.8/5 
T7. Cincinnati, 2.8/5 
9. Oklahoma City, 2.4/5 
10. Chicago, 2.3/5 

SUNDAY, GAME 2 
1. Pittsburgh, 31.7/43 
2. Detroit, 28.1/43 
3. Buffalo, 7.2/11 
4. Philadelphia, 4.5/7 
5. St. Louis, 3.8/7 
6. Baltimore, 3.7/6 
T7. Washington D.C., 3.4/6 
T7. Minneapolis, 3.4/6 
T7. Columbus, 3.4/6 
T7. Ft. Myers, 3.4/5