Conference Final Game 3′s Draw Mixed Results on VERSUS

After getting good news on the NBC side of things in the playoffs, a somewhat slower start has produced better numbers for the Conference Finals on VERSUS, though still not quite on par with 2009′s record-setting Conference Final on the network.

Game #3 of the Philadelphia/Montreal Eastern Conference Final series on Thursday drew a 1.1 rating, down 27% from last year’s comparable telecast (DET/CHI Game #3, 1.5 rating), but up 9% from Game #3 of last year’s Eastern Conference Final (PIT/CAR Game #3 drew a 1.0 rating on VERSUS).  The 1.1 likely draws even with the 1.2 million viewers the first two games of the series drew.

Game #3 of the San Jose/Chicago Western Conference Final series, an overtime thriller, drew a 1.4 rating, up 27% from last year’s comparable telecast (The aforementioned PIT/CAR Game #3, 1.0 rating) but down 9% from Game #3 of the 2009 Western Conference Final (Again, DET/CHI Game #3, also an OT thriller, 1.5 rating).  The 1.4 likely is slightly up from the 1.5 million viewers Game #2 drew to the network.

Through Friday, the Stanley Cup Playoffs are averaging an 0.9 household cable rating with 59 telecasts, an average of 832,962 viewers.  The playoffs are up 29% and 15% from the comparable up-to-date numbers in 2009 (0.7 rating, 721,445 viewers) through 55 telecasts.

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