NHL Markets Change in Size For 2012
September 1, 2011 6 Comments
The numbers are according to Nielsen, via The 506. The link will lead you to the entire list. Nielsen research released the number of television homes in each of the major markets in the United States. What follows is each National Hockey League markets ranking and TV homes, and the change from last year to this year. Enjoy.
1. New York (Rangers, Islanders, Devils)
Last Year’s Ranking: 1
TV Homes: 7,387,810 (7,515,330 in 2011)
Change: -1.7%
2. Los Angeles (Kings, Ducks)
Last Year’s Ranking: 2
TV Homes: 5,569,780 (5,666,900 in 2011)
Change: -1.8%
3. Chicago (Blackhawks)
Last Year’s Ranking: 3
TV Homes: 3,493,480 (3,502,610 in 2011)
Change: -0.3%
4. Philadelphia (Flyers)
Last Year’s Ranking: 4
TV Homes: 2,993,370 (3,015,820 in 2011)
Change: -0.8%
5. Dallas-Ft. Worth (Stars)
Last Year’s Ranking: 5
TV Homes: 2,571,310 (2,594,630 in 2011)
Change: -0.9%
6. San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose (Sharks)
Last Year’s Ranking: 6
TV Homes: 2,506,510 (2,523,520 in 2011)
Change: -0.7%
7. Boston (Manchester) (Bruins)
Last Year’s Ranking: 7
TV Homes: 2,379,690 (2,460,290 in 2011)
Change: -3.3%
8. Washington, DC (Hagerstown) (Capitals)
Last Year’s Ranking: 9
TV Homes: 2,360,180 (2,389,710 in 2011)
Change: -1.3%
11. Detroit (Red Wings)
Last Year’s Ranking: 11
TV Homes: 1,842,650 (1,883,840 in 2011)
Change: -2.2%
13. Phoenix (Coyotes)
Last Year’s Ranking: 12
TV Homes: 1,811,330 (1,881,310 in 2011)
Change: -3.8%
14. Tampa Bay-St. Petersburg (Sarasota) (Lightning)
Last Year’s Ranking: 14
TV Homes: 1,788,240 (1,795,200 in 2011)
Change: -0.4%
15. Minneapolis-St. Paul (Wild)
Last Year’s Ranking: 15
TV Homes: 1,721,940 (1,753,780 in 2011)
Change: -1.9%
16. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale (Panthers)
Last Year’s Ranking: 16
TV Homes: 1,583,800 (1,580,580 in 2011)
Change: +0.3%
17. Denver (Avalanche)
Last Year’s Ranking: 17
TV Homes: 1,548,570 (1,572,740 in 2011)
Change: -1.6%
21. St. Louis (Blues)
Last Year’s Ranking: 21
TV Homes: 1,253,920 (1,258,580 in 2011)
Change: -0.4%
23. Pittsburgh (Penguins)
Last Year’s Ranking: 24
TV Homes: 1,171,490 (1,160,820 in 2011)
Change: +1.0%
24. Raleigh-Durham (Hurricanes)
Last Year’s Ranking: 25
TV Homes: 1,143,420 (1,131,310 in 2011)
Change: +1.1%
29. Nashville (Predators)
Last Year’s Ranking: 29
TV Homes: 1,024,560 (1,039,430 in 2011)
Change: -1.5%
32. Columbus (Blue Jackets)
Last Year’s Ranking: 34
TV Homes: 932,680 (915,950 in 2011)
Change: +1.8%
51. Buffalo (Sabres)
Last Year’s Ranking: 51
TV Homes: 645,190 (636,320 in 2011)
Change: +1.4%
Puck The Media 
Maybe people really are cutting cable, TV numbers are down in almost every city.
I wonder if the Philadelphia numbers take into consideration the fact that only Comcast and Fios homes will get to see the Flyers?
The numbers are for total TVs in each market. It doesn’t factor in who has cable, satellite or antenna.
One thing to add though is that teams TV markets are larger than these numbers. For example, Detroit’s territory includes Grand Rapids, Toledo and several smaller markets. There’s always more people watching if you include the total territory for each team.
That’s what I suspected. Which means the Philly numbers are lower then the total number of TVs.
“According to Nielsen” = Bullshit
This list is why the Southern Swing happened. If you want to know why the NHL has teams in Dallas, Phoenix, Tampa, and Miami, and why they had one in Atlanta until recently, just look at this list.