Hockey Day Sets Records For CBC

February 13, 2012 – Saturday’s 12th annual SCOTIABANK HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA broadcast—this year from Prince Edward Island—drew record audiences to CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA for coverage of several aspects of the day-long celebration of Canada’s national game.

 

The combined audience for the pre-game, afternoon and prime-time NHL matchups and the two-part Celebrating The Game feature drew more than 11.4 million Canadians or about 34 per cent of the population—an increase in viewers of almost five per cent over last year’s SCOTIABANK HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA coverage.

 

The NHL matchups between the Winnipeg Jets vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Ottawa Senators hosting the Edmonton Oilers were the most-watched SCOTIABANK HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA afternoon games ever, drawing an average total audience of 1.1 million viewers. That surpasses the previous record-holder, the Ottawa-Toronto game in 2002 (with an average audience of 1.09 million).

 

The Prime Time East game between the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs also set a new SCOTIABANK HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA audience record, drawing an average of 2.32 million—just ahead of last year’s matchup between the same two clubs, which drew 2.30 million.

 

The western contest came in just shy of a new audience record, as the Vancouver Canucks-Calgary Flames game averaged 1.49 million viewers, just under the 1.50 million who tuned in to the same matchup last year.

 

Earlier in the SCOTIABANK HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA coverage, Celebrating The Game parts 1 and 2 averaged 242,000 and 553,000 viewers respectively, reaching more than three million Canadians in total.

The 2011 edition of SCOTIABANK HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA celebrated “Heroes,” with features from across the country reflecting the spirit of community and commitment that flow from the game of hockey. In addition to the NHL games, programming involved coast-to-coast satellite locations in Windsor, N.S., Montreal & Verdun, Que., Thunder Bay, Ont., Winnipeg, Man., Prince Albert, Sask. and Richmond, B.C.; a host of community events also took place across the country.

 

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Caps-Rangers Ties Season Low For NBC

According to Sports Business Daily (reg. required), Sunday’s Capitals/Rangers game on NBC drew a 1.0 overnight for the network. This number tied the season low, which was set on the day after Thanksgiving between the Red Wings and Bruins. It is also down a tick from the last NHL on NBC telecast (WSH/PIT, 1/22/12: 1.1).

On the good side, it is up 10% from the comparable match-up from last season (BOS/DET, 2/12/11: 0.9). There was no comparable match-up in 2010 due to the Olympics.

NBC is currently averaging a 1.3 for NHL coverage this season, down from a 1.4 at this point last year, though the network had only aired four telecasts by this date in 2011, compared to five through today in 2012. The network returns with it’s second annual Hockey Day in America doubleheader next Sunday.

NHL On NBC Overnights This Season
November 25 – Detroit vs. Boston: 1.0
January 1 – NY Rangers vs. Philadelphia: 2.4
January 14 – Chicago vs. Detroit: 1.1
January 22 – Washington vs. Pittsburgh: 1.1
February 12 – Washington vs. NY Rangers: 1.0
Average: 1.3

NHL On NBC Overnights For 2010-11 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 Average: 1.1

2011 Stanley Cup Playoff Overnights

Apr. 16 – Phoenix vs. Detroit, Game 2: 1.1 
Apr. 17 – Washington vs. NY Rangers, Game 3: 1.3
Apr. 23 – NY Rangers vs. Washington, Game 5: 1.3
Apr. 24 – Philadelphia vs. Buffalo, Game 6: 1.6
Apr. 30 – Boston vs. Philadelphia, Game 1: 1.5
May 1 – Detroit vs. San Jose, Game 2: 1.6
May 21 – Boston vs. Tampa Bay, Game 4: 1.5
May 22 – Vancouver vs. San Jose, Game 4: 1.3
Average To Date: 1.4

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 Average: 1.2

2010 Stanley Cup Playoff Overnights

Apr. 17 – Boston vs. Buffalo, Game 2: 1.2
Apr. 18 – Phoenix vs. Detroit, Game 3: 1.5
Apr. 24 – Nashville vs. Chicago, Game 5: 1.3
Apr. 25 – Phoenix vs. Detroit, Game 6: 1.3
May 1 – Philadelphia vs. Boston, Game 1: 1.6
May 2 – Montreal vs. Pittsburgh, Game 2: 1.6
May 16 – Chicago vs. San Jose, Game 1: 1.7
May 22 – Philadelphia vs. Montreal, Game 4: 1.6
May 23 – San Jose vs. Chicago, Game 4: 2.0
Playoff Average: 1.5

2009 Stanley Cup Playoff Overnights

Apr. 18 – NY Rangers vs. Washington, Game 2: 1.0
Apr. 19 – Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia, Game 3: 1.7
Apr. 25 – Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia, Game 6: 1.2
Apr. 26 – Washington vs. NY Rangers, Game 6: 1.0
May 2 – Pittsburgh vs. Washington, Game 1: 1.4
May 3 – Anaheim vs. Detroit, Game 2: 1.3
May 17 – Chicago vs. Detroit, Game 1: 2.0
May 24 – Detroit vs. Chicago, Game 4: 1.5
Playoff Average: 1.3

Sabres NBC Stunt Works, as Buffalo-Tampa Draws Massive Ratings Saturday

The Buffalo Sabres, in conjunction with MSG and NBC in Buffalo and Rochester, worked together to show fans with Time Warner Cable – still in the midst of a dispute with MSG and not carrying the channel – a Sabres game on Saturday night on Buffalo and Rochester’s NBC affiliates, and it worked like gangbusters.

NBC in Buffalo averaged a 13.2/20 from 8-9:30 p.m. ET (the portion of the game airing in primetime) for the Sabres home tilt against the Lightning. Action peaked from 9-9:30 p.m. ET, drawing a 15.2/23 for the conclusion of the Sabres 2-1 loss to Tampa Bay. The post-game show, airing from 9:30-10 p.m. ET, drew a fairly stout 5.4/9. Not all the information is available, but safe to say, the Sabres game was likely the highest-rated program on television in Buffalo Saturday night.

(Source: The Voice of TV) 

NBC Games to Stream on Verizon as Part of New Wireless Deal

The NHL and Verizon have re-upped their partnership, with some new details mixed in involving the league’s television partner, NBC.

The league and the wireless provider announced a multi-year partnership renewal that keeps Verizon as the official wireless service of the league in the United States, and brings the NHL GameCenter app on Verizon devices new, Verizon-specific content. Verizon customers will receive (via the NHL GameCenter Premium App) “the ability to stream programming – including live look-ins, real-time scores, team press conferences, expert analysis, and on-location access” to big league events.

Where the meat of the deal really kicks in is how the league’s television partners contribute to Verizon customers. People with tablets and smartphones backed by the wireless service will receive a Star Cam feed from all NBC games, ‘Inside the Glass’ analysis, and key replays not available on NBC. All NHL on NBC telecasts will now be available to Verizon customers using the NHL GameCenter App, both basic and premium. Also, free episodes of On the Fly and Plays of the Week are culled from NHL Network.

Verizon, in exchange, will get a significant presence, both at big NHL events, and on NBC telecasts.

Your NHL National TV Schedule for the Week of February 13

Monday, February 13

San Jose vs. Washington, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN/TSN2
Play by Play: Mike Emrick
Inside the Glass: Pierre McGuire

Tuesday, February 14

Anaheim vs. Minnesota, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN/TSN2
Play by Play: John Forslund
Inside the Glass: Brian Engblom

Wednesday, February 15

Boston vs. Montreal, 7:30 p.m. ET,
US National TV: NBCSp
Play by Play: Mike Emrick
Color: Eddie Olczyk
Inside the Glass: Pierre McGuire

Canadian National TV: TSN
Play by Play: Chris Cuthbert
Inside the Glass: Ray Ferraro

Thursday, February 16

Chicago vs. NY Rangers, 7:00 p.m. ET, NHL Network US

Calgary vs. Dallas, 8:30 p.m. ET, TSN
Play by Play: Gord Miller
Inside the Glass: Mike Johnson

Friday, February 17

Boston vs. Winnipeg, 8:00 p.m. ET, TSN
Play by Play: Chris Cuthbert
Inside the Glass: Ray Ferraro  

Saturday, February 18

Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia, 1:00 p.m. ET, NHL Network US

Washington vs. Tampa Bay, 7:00 p.m. ET, NHL Network US

Toronto vs. Vancouver, 7:00 p.m. ET, CBC
Play by Play: Jim Hughson
Color: Craig Simpson
Inside the Glass: Glenn Healy
Reporter: Elliotte Friedman

Calgary vs. Los Angeles, 10:00 p.m. ET, CBC
Play by Play: Mark Lee
Color: Kevin Weekes
Reporter: Scott Oake

Sunday, February 19

San Jose vs. Detroit (airs in approx. 77% of the US), 12:30 p.m. ET, NBC
will air in the following markets: Los Angeles, Dallas-Ft. Worth, San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Atlanta, Washington DC, Detroit, Phoenix, Tampa-St. Petersburg, Seattle-Tacoma, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Cleveland-Akron, Denver, Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne, Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto, Portland, Charlotte, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Raleigh-Durham, San Diego, Nashville, Columbus, Salt Lake City, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Greenville, San Antonio, West Palm Beach, Grand Rapids, Birmingham, Las Vegas, Norfolk, Albuquerque-Santa Fe, Oklahoma City, Greesboro, Jacksonville, Memphis, Austin, Louisville, New Orleans, Fresno, Little Rock, Richmond, Knoxville, Mobile, Tulsa, Ft. Myers, Lexington, Dayton, Charleston, Flint, Roanoke, Tucson, Wichita, Green Bay, Des Moines, Honolulu, Toledo, Spokane, Omaha, Portland-Auburn, Columbia, Huntsville, Shreveport, Madison, Chattanooga, Cedar Rapids, South Bend, Jackson, Colorado Springs, Tri-Cities, Waco, Baton Rouge, Savannah, Davenport, El Paso
Play by Play: Ken Daniels
Inside the Glass: Darren Pang

Pittsburgh vs. Buffalo (airs in approx. 16% of the US), NBC

will air in the following markets: New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Pittsburgh, Hartford-New Haven, Harrisburg-Lancaster, Buffalo, Providence, Wilkes Barre-Scranton, Albany, Rochester, Syracuse, Burlington
Play by Play: Gord Miller
Inside the Glass: Ray Ferraro

St. Louis vs. Chicago (airs in approx. 7% of the US), NBC

will air in the following markets: Chicago, Minneapolis-St. Paul, St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, MO, Champaign
Play by Play: Dave Strader
Inside the Glass: Brian Engblom

Boston vs. Minnesota, 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC

Play by Play: Mike Emrick
Color: Eddie Olczyk
Inside the Glass: Pierre McGuire

New Jersey vs. Montreal, 6:00 p.m. ET

US National TV: NBCSN
Play by Play: John Forslund
Inside the Glass: Andy Brickley

Canadian National TV: CBC
Play by Play: Bob Cole
Color: Gary Galley
Reporter: Andi Petrillo

Here’s the Early Game You’ll See on Hockey Day in America in Every NHL Market (Updated)

At 12:30 p.m. ET on Hockey Day in America, NBC will air the following three regional games:

• San Jose vs. Detroit
• Buffalo vs. Pittsburgh
• St. Louis vs. Chicago

Here’s the game the network will air in each of the 20 US NHL markets. All three will be streamed on NBCSports.com regardless of market.

Anaheim/Los Angeles: San Jose vs. Detroit
Boston: Pittsburgh vs. Buffalo 
Buffalo: Pittsburgh vs. Buffalo 
Carolina: San Jose vs. Detroit 
Chicago: St. Louis vs. Chicago
Columbus: San Jose vs. Detroit 
Colorado: San Jose vs. Detroit 
Dallas: San Jose vs. Detroit 
Detroit: San Jose vs. Detroit
Florida: San Jose vs. Detroit 
Minnesota: St. Louis vs. Chicago   
Nashville: San Jose vs. Detroit 
New Jersey/New York: Pittsburgh vs. Buffalo 
Philadelphia: Pittsburgh vs. Buffalo 
Phoenix: San Jose vs. Detroit 
Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh vs. Buffalo 
San Jose: San Jose vs. Detroit 
St. Louis: St. Louis vs. Chicago 
Tampa Bay: San Jose vs. Detroit 
Washington: San Jose vs. Detroit

Other US markets without teams

Atlanta: San Jose vs. Detroit
Houston: San Jose vs. Detroit 
Seattle: San Jose vs. Detroit
Cleveland: San Jose vs. Detroit
Indianapolis: San Jose vs. Detroit
Baltimore: San Jose vs. Detroit
Milwaukee: San Jose vs. Detroit
Kansas City: St. Louis vs. Chicago

If you have any other local market requests before the maps are made, feel free to do so in the comments.