NBC’s Final Rating For Winter Classic Up 14%

Thanks to Sports Media Watch for this post concerning the “final” ratings for the Winter Classic.  See, the overnight ratings are a compilation of the numbers from the Top 55 American TV Markets.  The final ratings factor in everywhere else.

Via SMW:

The Red Wings’ win over the Blackhawks, which took place at Chicago’s Wrigley Field,drew a 2.5/5 final rating on NBC on New Year’s Day. The 2.5 rating marks a 14% increase over a 2.2 for last year’s Winter Classic between the Penguins and Sabres at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

The 2.5 rating is the highest for a regular season NHL telecast since at least 1996, and is the fifth-highest rating for any NHL telecast — regular season or playoffs — since the 2004-05 lockout.

Compared to other sports, the 2.5 rating surpasses the regular season averages for the NBA on ABC (2.2)* and MLB on FOX (2.0).

Obviously, the ratings will go down when the NHL goes inside on NBC, but we hope at least some of the folks who tuned in will stick around.  Remember, The NHL On NBC returns one week from Sunday when the Rangers visit the Penguins at 12:30 PM ET.  We’ll have more on NBC’s return next week.

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