How the Stanley Cup Final Did in Both NHL and Non-NHL Markets

Here’s a collection of ratings in the top 56 local markets in the country, the “metered markets.” First, we’re going to rank the 21 NHL markets in the United States (for curiosity’s sake, Atlanta will still be included) and then the 44 non-NHL markets that were measured. Enjoy.

NHL Markets Local Ratings For Game 1 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final

1. Boston – 25.5/39
2. Buffalo – 7.2/11
3. Pittsburgh – 4.3/7
4. Minneapolis/St. Paul – 4.2/8
5. Detroit – 4.2/7
6. Columbus – 3.6/6
t7. Philadelphia – 3.3/5
t7. Nashville – 3.3/5
9. Washington – 3.0/5
10. Tampa Bay – 2.9/5
11. New York –  2.8/5
12. Denver – 2.7/5
13. Chicago – 2.6/5
14. St. Louis – 2.6/4
15. Raleigh-Durham – 2.4/4
16. Dallas – 2.1/4
17. Phoenix – 1.7/3
18. San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose  – 1.4/3
19. Los Angeles – 1.3/3
20. Atlanta – 1.3/2
21. Miami – 1.2/2

Non-NHL Markets Local Ratings For Game 1 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final

1. Providence – 16.7/24
2. Hartford – 5.5/8
3. Ft. Myers – 3.9/7
4. Richmond – 3.9/6
t5. Sacramento – 3.4/6
t5. Las Vegas – 3.4/6
7. Greensboro/Winston-Salem – 3.2/5
8. Baltimore – 2.9/5
9. Greenville/Asheville – 2.9/4
10. Austin – 2.8/5
11. Norfolk – 2.7/4
12. Orlando – 2.5/4
13. San Diego – 2.4/5
14. West Palm Beach – 2.4/4
15. Seattle – 2.3/5
t16. Albuquerque/Santa Fe – 2.3/4
t16. Tulsa – 2.3/4
18. Memphis – 2.3/3
t19. Knoxville – 2.2/3
t19. Dayton – 2.2/3
21. Oklahoma City – 2.1/3
22. Jacksonville – 2.0/3
23. Houston – 1.7/3
t24. Portland – 1.6/3
t24. Salt Lake City – 1.6/3
26. San Antonio – 1.5/2
27. Charlotte – 1.4/2
t28. Indianapolis – 1.3/2
t28. Louisville – 1.3/2
t30. Cincinnati – 1.2/2
t30. Milwaukee – 1.2/2
t30. New Orleans – 1.2/2
t33. Cleveland – 1.1/2
t33. Birmingham – 1.1/2
35. Kansas City – 0.8/1

(Source: Son of the Bronx)

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HNIC Sets New Record as Game 1 Viewership Hits 10 Million Across NBC and CBC

Via Elliotte Friedman on Twitter:

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup was highest rated NHL game ever on HNIC: 5.6 million. Previous record: 4.9 million, 1994 Game 7 VAN/NYR.

5.6 added to the NBC total means that over 10.1 million viewers saw Game 1 across the continent. Well done, hockey fans!

NBC Draws 4.56 Million, Finishes Game 1 Up 5% From 2010

The final ratings have been released for last night, which average in how many folks tuned to various programs in every market, not just the big, metered markets used to measure overnight.

NBC’s coverage of Game 1 in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final drew 4.56 million viewers, up from 4.56 million in the overnights. The game was up 5% from last year’s numbers, and the best numbers for a Game 1 telecast since 1999. Remember that from 2000-2008, Game 1 of the Final aired on cable via either ESPN or VERSUS, whereas Game 1 in 1999 aired on broadcast’s FOX.

In the coveted Adults 18-49 demographic, the NHL drew a 1.8/6 share. This was up 6% from last year’s 1.7 in that demo. Once again, the NHL won the 10 p.m. ET hour in the all-important demographic. Regardless of context and circumstances, the NHL squeezed solid numbers for hockey out of a match-up that many thought would not translate to good television ratings.

NBC Hypes Gains For Game 1

NEW YORK – June 2, 2011 — Last night’s Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, which featured the Vancouver Canucks defeating the Boston Bruins, 1-0, produced the best overnight rating for a Game 1 in 12 years. The broadcast generated a 3.2 overnight rating and 6 share up 14 percent compared to last year’s Game 1 (Philadelphia-Chicago, 2.8/6) and the best overnight for a Game 1 since 1999 (Buffalo vs. Dallas, 3.7 on Fox).

 

 

Boston was the top-rated market on the night with a 25.5/39, the highest-rated NHL game in Boston dating back to at least 1995, and topping the Boston rating for last year’s NBA Finals Game 1 featuring the Celtics-Lakers (19.1/34).

 

 

This is the first Stanley Cup Final featuring a Canadian team since the Ottawa Senators faced the Anaheim Ducks in 2007. The 3.2 overnight for last night’s game is 113 percent higher than the first network broadcast of that series (1.5/3 for Game 3).

 

 

Top Metered Markets For Game 1

 

1. Boston, 25.5/39

2. Providence, 16.7/24

3. Buffalo, 7.2/11

4. Hartford, 5.5/8

5. Pittsburgh, 4.3/7

 

Game 1 of the Final Draws 4.5 Million, Up 5% From 2010

The opening game of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final moved to Wednesdays and got a boost on NBC.

The network’s broadcast of Game 1 between Boston and Vancouver drew 4.53 million viewers in primetime, up 5% from Game 1 in 2010, between Philadelphia and Chicago, which drew 4.34 mullion viewers on a Saturday night. It’s also up a tick from Game 1 in 2009, which drew 4.51 million viewers on a Saturday night. Prior to that, every Stanley Cup Final opener since 1999 had aired on cable’s ESPN or VERSUS. The game drew a 1.8 in the coveted Adults 18-49 demo, up 6% from last year’s Game 1. The game won the 10 p.m. ET hour in Adults 18-49.

A note from Sports Media Watch regarding the overnights: Game 1 drew a 25.5 in Boston. Game 1 of last year’s Lakers/Celtics NBA Finals drew a 19.1. NHL hockey’s back in Boston, for sure.

What follows are the half-hour breakdowns in total viewers and Adults 18-49 for Game 1 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final:

8:00 p.m. – 4.07 million viewers (#4 in it’s timeslot), 1.4 18-49 (#2)
8:30 p.m. – 4.32 million viewers (#4), 1.6 18-49 (t#2)
9:00 p.m. – 4.20 million viewers (#4), 1.7 18-49 (#3)
9:30 p.m. – 4.88 million viewers (#4), 2.0 18-49 (#3)
10:00 p.m. – 4.32 million viewers (#2), 1.8 18-49 (#1)
10:30 p.m. – 5.40 million viewers (#2), 2.3 18-49 (#1)

Oh, Canada? Game 1 Draws Best Overnight Ratings in 12 Years

Well, I bet you didn’t see that headline coming.

NBC drew a 3.2/6 overnight rating for Game 1 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final last night. Those were the best numbers for a Game 1 since 1999, according to NBC, and up 14% from Game 1 of last year’s Philadelphia/Chicago final. The game peaked during the 10:30-11:00 p.m. ET hour, when the game drew a 3.8/6 for Raffi Torres’ game-winner with 18.5 seconds left.

Game 1 scored big time in New England. Boston led all markets with an unsurprising monster of a 25.5/39 rating. This was up 27% from Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final, which drew an 18.8. The game scored a 16.7/24 in Providence, which was also up from Game 7 of the prior series.

I’ll have more, including viewership numbers, half-hour breakdowns, demo numbers and a complete recap as the day builds. But, despite the fact that viewer levels are higher on Wednesday than on Sunday, how can you complain with being up from Philadelphia Chicago with Boston/Vancouver? A big winner for the NHL today.