BREAKING: NBC Slips to 1.0 for Chicago/Washington
March 15, 2010 5 Comments
The Chicago Blackhawks/Washington Capitals “Game of the Week” telecast on NBC drew a 1.0 overnight rating on Sunday, NBC Sports told Puck the Media this afternoon. This is even with last year’s Rangers/Flyers telecast on a comparable date. This will likely be the first NBC telecast to dip below the 1.0 mark in the final ratings since January 17th’s Red Wings/Blackhawks game. Still, to show that Chicago and Washington are now on a par with New York and Philly in terms of hockey buzz is some pretty good news for the league. The NHL On NBC returns this Sunday with the Rangers taking on the Bruins in Boston.
NHL on NBC Overnights for 2009-10 Season
Jan. 1, Philadelphia vs. Boston*: 2.6
Jan. 17, Chicago vs. Detroit: 0.8
Jan. 24, Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia: 1.3
Jan. 31, Detroit vs. Pittsburgh: 1.2
Feb. 7, Pittsburgh vs. Washington: 1.3
Mar. 7, Detroit vs. Chicago: 1.2
Mar. 14, Washington vs. Chicago: 1.0
* – Winter Classic, Fenway Park
Puck The Media 
Conference Championship Finals for many NCAA Basketball teams.
Not much of a game except for the last 10 minutes and OT. Throwing out Ovie didn’t help either. Bottom line Washington is still not a big TV market for hockey. I don’t think the NHL should be rooting too hard for the Caps to make the SCF. Pitt/NY/Philly/Bos would all be better for TV ratings
I’m hoping Washington does make it to the Finals. If the Caps win the cup it will encourage all franchises around the league to start moving towards an offense 1st (and 2nd and 3rd) philosophy – And that is exactly what the NHL needs.
And Kevin if the Rangers or Bruins make the Finals I will not watch – they are easily the 2 most boring “big market” teams in all of sports.
Bottom line is us hockey fans will never see the NHL become what we want it to. It’s always gonna get a small rating on American TV (sans an olympic setting), but if the Winter Classic can eventually start pulling a 3+ rating annually and the Stanley Cup Finals can do a 2 or 2.5 then there is value in that and there is a market for it.
I hate to have the same old take that even a non-hockey fan has – but its true – the NHL needs to get back on ESPN no matter the cost. I agree with most of you that my ESPN viewing has greatly decreased over the last 5-10 years but the bottom line is this: Nobody can package and sell a product better and no outlet can bring more credibility to a sports league than ESPN.
Not that I think the NYR/Bos/Philly has a chance but at least they have fans. I don’t mind watching the Rangers or Philly but I will admit the Bruins are a terrible team to watch. I don’t expect them to make the playoffs, however.