NBC Ends the Season on a Positive Note with Hawks-Wings
April 11, 2011 3 Comments
According to an NBC Sports spokesman, The NHL On NBC’s season finale broadcast – the first in the five seasons NBC’s final day telecast has meant something – drew a 1.1 overnight rating. This is up 19% from the comparable broadcast last season (Boston/Washington: 0.9). It is up from the NBC telecast from last week as well (NY Rangers/Philadelphia: 1.0) and the highest NBC rating since Hockey Day in America on February 20th. Interestingly, the three highest non-Winter Classic NBC telecasts have been from Chicago this season, with each Blackhawks home game (PHI/CHI, 1/24; PIT/CHI, 2/20) drawing a 1.1 overnight.
The game drew very well in both local markets. In must-win Chicago, the game drew a 6.0/17. Things were similar in Detroit, where the game scored a 6.1/15. Other than the Winter Classic, I can’t recall a higher rated NHL regular season game in Chicago, but I’ve asked NBC about that and will update when I get an answer.
At the end of the regular season, The NHL On NBC has averaged a 1.1 overnight rating through 11 telecasts, down 9% from last year, when the 10 NBC telecasts drew a 1.2 overnight average.
NHL On NBC Overnights This Season
January 1 – Washington vs. Pittsburgh: 2.8
January 23 – Philadelphia vs. Chicago: 1.1
February 6 – Pittsburgh vs. Washington: 1.0
February 13 – Boston vs. Detroit: 0.9
February 20 – Regional Coverage*: 1.2
February 20 – Pittsburgh vs. Chicago*: 1.2
March 6 – Philadelphia vs. NY Rangers: 0.9
March 13 – Chicago vs. Washington: 0.9
March 20 – NY Rangers vs. Pittsburgh: 0.7
April 3 – NY Rangers vs. Philadelphia: 1.0
April 10 – Detroit vs. Chicago: 1.1
Season-to-Date Average: 1.1
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
Mar. 21, NY Rangers vs. Boston: 0.7
Apr. 4, Detroit vs. Philadelphia: 1.0
Apr. 11, Boston vs. Washington: 0.9
Season-to-Date-Average: 1.2
Puck The Media 
It was a great game, too bad it didn’t do even better.
This once again means that the “NBC 7” doesn’t draw worth crap and NBC needs to try to infuse new teams.
…It might also help if they didn’t start the games at 12:30 on a Sunday afternoon. Who watches hockey then?