Rangers/Devils Game 4 Hits Series Low

The Eastern Conference Final took a dip in viewers in Game 4.

Game 4 between the Rangers and Devils drew 1.26 million viewers on NBC Sports Network, drawing a series low. There is no comparison going back to last year, as Game 4 between the Bruins and Lightning was on NBC.

The 2012 Eastern Conference Final has averaged 1.29 million viewers over three broadcasts on NBC Sports Network. This is down 16% from the first three broadcasts of the 2011 Eastern Conference Final on VERSUS, which averaged 1.5 million through games 1, 2 and 3. At least a 2-2 series will likely guarantee better numbers for Wednesday’s Game 5.

2012 Eastern Conference Final on NBC Sports Network

Game 1 (5/14/12): 1.28 million
Game 2 (5/16/12): 1.34 million
Game 4 (5/21/12): 1.26 million

Games Drawing Over One Million Viewers During the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Cable

1. NY Rangers vs. Washington, Game 3 (5/2/12, NBCSN): 1.85 million
2. Washington vs. NY Rangers, Game 7 (5/12/12, NBCSN): 1.68 million
3. Philadelphia vs. New Jersey, Game 3 (5/3/12, NBCSN): 1.66 million
t4. Washington vs. NY Rangers, Game 5 (5/7/12, NBCSN): 1.65 million
t4. NY Rangers vs. Washington, Game 6 (5/9/12, NBCSN): 1.65 million
6. Philadelphia vs. New Jersey, Game 4 (5/6/12, NBCSN): 1.63 million
7. Washington vs. NY Rangers, Game 2 (4/30/12, NBCSN): 1.53 million
8. New Jersey vs. NY Rangers, Game 2 (5/16/12, NBCSN): 1.34 million
9. Washington vs. Boston, Game 7 (4/25/12, NBCSN): 1.32 million
10. New Jersey vs. Philadelphia, Game 5 (5/8/12, NBCSN): 1.31 million
11. New Jersey vs. Philadelphia, Game 2 (5/1/12, NBCSN): 1.29 million
12. New Jersey vs. NY Rangers, Game 1 (5/14/12, NBCSN): 1.28 million
13. NY Rangers vs. New Jersey, Game 4 (5/21/12, NBCSN): 1.26 million
14. Los Angeles vs. Phoenix, Game 1 (5/13/12, NBCSN): 1.10 million
15. Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh, Game 5 (4/20/12, NBCSN): 1.07 million
16. Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia, Game 4 (4/18/12, NBCSN): 1.03 million

(Source: TV By the Numbers)

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Conference Final Action Down on NBC

The Stanley Cup Playoffs on NBC had a second consecutive down weekend, as the network wrapped up it’s pre-Stanley Cup Final playoff coverage with a pair of conference final matchups.

Saturday’s Rangers-Devils game drew a 1.3 overnight rating, down 13% from last year’s Game 4 between Boston and Tampa Bay. It may have been hurt by the early timeslot, or the fact that there was a huge dip in ratings in the lone local market, New York. Game 3 drew a 4.2 in the Big Apple, well down from the 6.2 for Game 1 on the NBC Sports Network.

Sunday’s Game 4 between the Coyotes and Kings drew a 1.1 overnight, down 15% from last year’s Game 4 between the Canucks and Sharks, which was a 2-1 series, as opposed to the 3-0 lead the Kings had heading in. The game drew a series high 2.7 in Los Angeles.

Overall, the Stanley Cup Playoffs on NBC averaged a 1.6 overnight over 12 telecasts, up 14% from 2011’s eight telecasts (1.4), and NBC’s best overnight average ever for post-season coverage.

(Source: @AustinKarp)

Stanley Cup Playoff Ratings on NBC Since 2006

2012
April 14 – Washington vs. Boston, Game 2: 1.5
April 15 – Nashville vs. Detroit, Game 3: 1.5
April 15 – Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia, Game 3: 2.3
April 21 – Washington vs. Boston, Game 5: 1.5
April 22 – Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia, Game 6: 2.4
April 23 – Boston vs. Washington, Game 6: 2.5
April 29 – Washington vs. NY Rangers, Game 1: 1.5
April 30 – New Jersey vs. Philadelphia, Game 1: 1.9
May 6 – NY Rangers vs. Washington, Game 4: 1.6
May 7 – St. Louis vs. Los Angeles, Game 4: 1.0
May 19 – NY Rangers vs. New Jersey, Game 3: 1.3
May 20 – Phoenix vs. Los Angeles, Game 4: 1.1
Average: 1.6

2011
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: 1.4

2010
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
Average: 1.5

2009

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
Average: 1.3

2008
April 12 – Nashville vs. Detroit, Game 2: 1.0
April 13 – Philadelphia vs. Washington, Game 2: 1.0
April 19 – Philadelphia vs. Washington, Game 5: 1.2
April 20 – Detroit vs. Nashville, Game 6: 1.3
April 26 – Colorado vs. Detroit, Game 2: 1.0
April 27 – NY Rangers vs. Pittsburgh, Game 2: 1.2 
May 4 – NY Rangers vs. Pittsburgh, Game 5: 1.5
May 17 – Dallas vs. Detroit, Game 5: 1.5
May 18 – Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh, Game 5: 1.7
Average: 1.2

2007
April 14 – Regional Coverage (PIT vs. OTT, NYR vs. ATL): 1.2
April 15 – Calgary vs. Detroit, Game 2: 1.4
April 21 – Calgary vs. Detroit, Game 5: 0.9
April 22 – New Jersey vs. Tampa Bay, Game 6: 1.1
April 28 – San Jose vs. Detroit, Game 2: 1.0
April 29 – Buffalo vs. NY Rangers, Game 3: 1.3
May 5 – San Jose vs. Detroit, Game 5: 1.4
May 6 – Buffalo vs. NY Rangers, Game 6: 1.4
May 19 – Ottawa vs. Buffalo, Game 5: 0.9
May 20 – Anaheim vs. Detroit, Game 5: 1.4
Average: 1.2

2006
April 22 – Regional Coverage (NYR vs. NJ, COL vs. DAL): 1.3
April 23 – Regional Coverage (EDM vs. DET, SJ vs. NSH): 1.5
April 29 – Regional Coverage (NJ vs. NYR, EDM vs. DET): 1.2
April 30 – Regional Coverage (PHI vs. BUF, COL vs. DAL): 1.5
May 6 – New Jersey vs. Carolina, Game 1: 1.1
May 7 – Colorado vs. Anaheim, Game 2: 0.9
May 13 – Carolina vs. New Jersey, Game 4: 1.0
May 20 – Buffalo vs. Carolina, Game 1: 1.2
Average: 1.2

Game 3: Western Final Down Again, But Up From Last Year This Time

Game 3 of the Western Conference Final continued on a downward slope in viewership, but not as far down as the 2011 Western Final went.

The Kings third consecutive victory over the Coyotes drew 827,000 viewers on NBCSN last night, an 8,000 viewer drop from Game 2, but up 15% from Game 3 of last year’s Western Conference Final between the Sharks and Canucks (714,000).

The 2012 Western Conference Final is averaging 922,000 viewers on NBC Sports Network through three broadcasts. This is up 23% from the three-game average from last year (856,000). Game 4 of the series heads to NBC Sunday afternoon, with an if necessary Game 5 back to NBC Sports Network Tuesday.

2012 Western Conference Final on NBC Sports Network

Game 1 (5/13/12): 1.10 million
Game 2 (5/15/12): 835,000
Game 3 (5/17/12): 827,000

(Source: TV By the Numbers)

Devils/Rangers Game 2 Up From Game 1, Still Down Year-to-Year

The Devils evening their series with the New York Rangers will hopefully turn around the ratings fortunes of the Conference Finals. While Game 2 of the Western Final went down, Game 2 of the Eastern Final went up.

Game 2 between New Jersey and New York drew 1.34 million viewers, up slightly from Game 1’s 1.28 million, but still down 16% from Game 2 of last year’s Eastern Conference Final between Tampa Bay and Boston, which drew 1.56 million viewers.

The Eastern Conference Final has averaged 1.31 million viewers through two games, down 18% from the two-game average for the 2011 East Final (1.55 million) through two games.

2012 Eastern Conference Final on NBC Sports Network

Game 1 (5/14/12): 1.28 million
Game 2 (5/16/12): 1.34 million

Games Drawing Over One Million Viewers During the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Cable

1. NY Rangers vs. Washington, Game 3 (5/2/12, NBCSN): 1.85 million
2. Washington vs. NY Rangers, Game 7 (5/12/12, NBCSN): 1.68 million
3. Philadelphia vs. New Jersey, Game 3 (5/3/12, NBCSN): 1.66 million
t4. Washington vs. NY Rangers, Game 5 (5/7/12, NBCSN): 1.65 million
t4. NY Rangers vs. Washington, Game 6 (5/9/12, NBCSN): 1.65 million
6. Philadelphia vs. New Jersey, Game 4 (5/6/12, NBCSN): 1.63 million
7. Washington vs. NY Rangers, Game 2 (4/30/12, NBCSN): 1.53 million
8. New Jersey vs. NY Rangers, Game 2 (5/16/12, NBCSN): 1.34 million
9. Washington vs. Boston, Game 7 (4/25/12, NBCSN): 1.32 million
10. New Jersey vs. Philadelphia, Game 5 (5/8/12, NBCSN): 1.31 million
11. New Jersey vs. Philadelphia, Game 2 (5/1/12, NBCSN): 1.29 million
12. New Jersey vs. NY Rangers, Game 1 (5/14/12, NBCSN): 1.28 million
13. Los Angeles vs. Phoenix, Game 1 (5/13/12, NBCSN): 1.10 million
14. Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh, Game 5 (4/20/12, NBCSN): 1.07 million
15. Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia, Game 4 (4/18/12, NBCSN): 1.03 million

(Source: TV By the Numbers)

Game 2 of Kings/Coyotes Down From 2011

The Kings easy victory over the Coyotes proved toxic to television viewers on Tuesday.

Game 2 of the Western Conference Final, which featured Los Angeles whitewashing Phoenix to a 2-0 series lead, drew just 835,000 viewers, down 1% from Game 2 of the 2011 Western Conference Final, with Sharks/Canucks drawing 847,000 viewers. It was down a whopping 32% from Game 1, which drew 1.10 million viewers.

Local numbers are unavailable at the moment, but it’s safe to assume that not enough casual fans in LA (the Clippers were playing at the same time) were able to pick up the slack from the likely dwindling number of folks still tuning in from Phoenix.

2012 Western Conference Final on NBC Sports Network

Game 1 (5/13/12): 1.10 million
Game 2 (5/15/12): 835,000

(Source: TV By the Numbers)

Game 1 Hits Record Numbers, as Expected, in New York

It took two local teams, but New York appears to be all in for the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs at this point.

Game 1 of the Devils/Rangers Eastern Conference Final series drew a huge 6.2 local rating in New York, the highest number for any Stanley Cup broadcast in the market so far this post-season. It beats out Game 7 of the Rangers-Senators first round series (a 5.7) on MSG for the top spot.

Nine broadcasts from this post-season have broken the network’s record for a local broadcast in New York (a 2.14 for Rangers/Penguins in 2008 on VERSUS) between the Devils and Rangers.

NBC Sports Network Exclusive Broadcasts in New York During the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs

April 30, Washington vs. NY Rangers, Game 2: 3.5
May 1, New Jersey vs. Philadelphia, Game 2: 1.3
May 2, NY Rangers vs. Washington, Game 3: 3.9
May 3, Philadelphia vs. New Jersey, Game 3: 2.2
May 6, Philadelphia vs. New Jersey, Game 4: 2.37
May 7, Washington vs. NY Rangers, Game 5: 4.3
May 8, New Jersey vs. Philadelphia, Game 5: 2.36
May 9, NY Rangers vs. Washington, Game 6: 3.5
May 12, Washington vs. NY Rangers, Game 7: 4.8
May 14, New Jersey vs. NY Rangers, Game 1: 6.2

Devils/Rangers Series Opener Down From Last Year

The Battle of the Hudson River in the Eastern Conference Final started off with a lower number than last year on the NBC Sport Network.

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final between the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers drew 1.28 million viewers, down 20% from Game 1 between Boston and Tampa Bay in 2011, which scored 1.54 million viewers.

Currently waiting on local ratings, which likely set a record in the New York market. Game 1 is the 15th game of the 2012 Playoffs to crack one million viewers, up from 10 at this point last year.

Games Drawing Over One Million Viewers During the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Cable

1. NY Rangers vs. Washington, Game 3 (5/2/12, NBCSN): 1.85 million
2. Washington vs. NY Rangers, Game 7 (5/12/12, NBCSN): 1.68 million
3. Philadelphia vs. New Jersey, Game 3 (5/3/12, NBCSN): 1.66 million
t4. Washington vs. NY Rangers, Game 5 (5/7/12, NBCSN): 1.65 million
t4. NY Rangers vs. Washington, Game 6 (5/9/12, NBCSN): 1.65 million
6. Philadelphia vs. New Jersey, Game 4 (5/6/12, NBCSN): 1.63 million
7. Washington vs. NY Rangers, Game 2 (4/30/12, NBCSN): 1.53 million
8. Washington vs. Boston, Game 7 (4/25/12, NBCSN): 1.32 million
9. New Jersey vs. Philadelphia, Game 5 (5/8/12, NBCSN): 1.31 million
10. New Jersey vs. Philadelphia, Game 2 (5/1/12, NBCSN): 1.29 million
11. New Jersey vs. NY Rangers, Game 1 (5/14/12, NBCSN): 1.28 million
12. Los Angeles vs. Phoenix, Game 1 (5/13/12, NBCSN): 1.10 million
13. Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh, Game 5 (4/20/12, NBCSN): 1.07 million
14. Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia, Game 4 (4/18/12, NBCSN): 1.03 million

(Source: TV By the Numbers)

Kings/Coyotes Debuts to 1.1 Million

The 2012 Western Conference Final got off to a solid start on NBC Sports Network.

The network drew 1.1 million viewers for the first game of the Kings/Coyotes series, up 9% from Game 1 of the 2011 Western Conference Final between San Jose and Vancouver (1.0 million). Game 1 of last year’s series ended up being the most-watched game of the entire Western Final.

As was posted yesterday, Game 1 drew a 5.5 in Phoenix and a 2.1 in Los Angeles. The NBC Sports Network was the number one network in both markets for the evening.

Another interesting barometer for NBCSN: 14 games to date have topped one million viewers during the 2012 post-season. At this point last year, there were nine games that had topped a million.

Games Drawing Over One Million Viewers During the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Cable

1. NY Rangers vs. Washington, Game 3 (5/2/12, NBCSN): 1.85 million
2. Washington vs. NY Rangers, Game 7 (5/12/12, NBCSN): 1.68 million
3. Philadelphia vs. New Jersey, Game 3 (5/3/12, NBCSN): 1.66 million
t4. Washington vs. NY Rangers, Game 5 (5/7/12, NBCSN): 1.65 million
t4. NY Rangers vs. Washington, Game 6 (5/9/12, NBCSN): 1.65 million
6. Philadelphia vs. New Jersey, Game 4 (5/6/12, NBCSN): 1.63 million
7. Washington vs. NY Rangers, Game 2 (4/30/12, NBCSN): 1.53 million
8. Washington vs. Boston, Game 7 (4/25/12, NBCSN): 1.32 million
9. New Jersey vs. Philadelphia, Game 5 (5/8/12, NBCSN): 1.31 million
10. New Jersey vs. Philadelphia, Game 2 (5/1/12, NBCSN): 1.29 million
11. Los Angeles vs. Phoenix, Game 1 (5/13/12, NBCSN): 1.10 million
12. Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh, Game 5 (4/20/12, NBCSN): 1.07 million
13. Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia, Game 4 (4/18/12, NBCSN): 1.03 million

(Source: TV By the Numbers)

Game 7 Draws Big Overnight Rating

From Sports Media Watch:

The final game of the Capitals/Rangers series was up big from the only second round Game 7 last season.

Game 7 of the Capitals/Rangers second round Stanley Cup playoff series drew a 1.4 overnight rating on NBC Sports Network Saturday night, according to USA Today — up 54% from Red Wings/Sharks Game 7 on a Thursday night last year.

The 1.4 overnight trails the two previous Saturday games in the series. Game 4 on May 5 drew a 1.6 overnight rating, and Game 1 on April 28 drew a 1.5.

Both games aired on the NBC broadcast network.

The game also drew a 4.8 in New York, a record for the NHL in the market. Should be more information on Game 7 soon.

RATINGS: Game 6 Even With Game 5

A Game 6 that didn’t really get interesting until the final minutes drew the exact same number of viewers as a Game 5 that went to overtime on a last second goal.

Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals drew 1.65 million viewers, even with the number of viewers for Game 5 between the two clubs. It ties for the third-most watched game of the playoffs on cable.

Four cable broadcasts from the Capitals/Rangers series have averaged 1.67 million viewers on NBC Sports Network, making it the most-watched of the four conference semifinal series. Game 7 of the series airs Saturday night on NBCSN.

Capitals/Rangers Viewership Numbers on Cable

Game 2 (4/30/12, NBCSN): 1.53 million
Game 3 (5/2/12, NBCSN): 1.85 million
Game 5 (5/7/12, NBCSN): 1.65 million
Game 6 (5/9/12, NBCSN): 1.65 million

Games Drawing Over One Million Viewers During the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Cable

1. NY Rangers vs. Washington, Game 3 (5/2/12, NBCSN): 1.85 million
2. Philadelphia vs. New Jersey, Game 3 (5/3/12, NBCSN): 1.66 million
t3. Washington vs. NY Rangers, Game 5 (5/7/12, NBCSN): 1.65 million
t3. NY Rangers vs. Washington, Game 6 (5/9/12, NBCSN): 1.65 million
5. Philadelphia vs. New Jersey, Game 4 (5/6/12, NBCSN): 1.63 million
6. Washington vs. NY Rangers, Game 2 (4/30/12, NBCSN): 1.53 million
7. Washington vs. Boston, Game 7 (4/25/12, NBCSN): 1.32 million
8. New Jersey vs. Philadelphia, Game 5 (5/8/12, NBCSN): 1.31 million
9. New Jersey vs. Philadelphia, Game 2 (5/1/12, NBCSN): 1.29 million
10. Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh, Game 5 (4/20/12, NBCSN): 1.07 million
11. Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia, Game 4 (4/18/12, NBCSN): 1.03 million

(Source: TV By the Numbers)