Stanley Cup Finals television ratings
Appearance
The following is an overview of the television ratings for the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Stanley Cup Finals in both the United States and Canada.
American television
NBC's coverage (2006–present)
The following table shows the ratings for each game of the Stanley Cup finals. The numbers in parentheses represent number of viewers (measured in millions).
Year | Network (games) | Results | Avg. | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 | Game 5 | Game 6 | Game 7 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | NBC (1, 4, 5, 6) NBCSN (2, 3) |
Pittsburgh Penguins 4, San Jose Sharks 2 |
2.3 (3.9M) |
2.3 (4.1M)[1] |
1.4 (2.5M)[2] |
1.5 (2.8M)[3] |
2.5 (4.2M)[3] |
3.0 (5.0M)[4] |
3.1 (5.4M)[5] |
No Game | |
2015 | NBC (1, 2, 5, 6) NBCSN (3, 4) |
Chicago Blackhawks 4, Tampa Bay Lightning 2 |
3.2 (5.6M) |
3.3 (5.5M)[6] |
3.9 (6.6M)[7] |
2.2 (3.9M)[8] |
2.2 (3.9M)[9] |
3.0 (5.3M)[10] |
4.4 (8.0M)[11] |
No Game | |
2014 | NBC (1, 2, 5) NBCSN (3, 4) |
Los Angeles Kings 4, New York Rangers 1 |
2.8 (4.7M) |
3.0 (4.8M)[12] |
3.7 (6.4M)[13] |
1.7 (2.9M)[14] |
2.0 (3.4M)[15] |
3.7 (6.0M)[16] |
No Game | ||
2013 | NBC (1, 4, 5, 6) NBCSN (2, 3) |
Chicago Blackhawks 4, Boston Bruins 2 |
3.3 (5.8M) |
3.9 (6.4M) |
2.0 (4.0M) |
2.3 (4.0M) |
3.8 (6.5M) |
3.2 (5.6M) |
4.7 (8.2M) |
No Game | |
2012 | NBC (1, 2, 5, 6) NBCSN (3, 4) |
Los Angeles Kings 4, New Jersey Devils 2 |
1.8 (3.0M) |
1.8 (2.9M) |
1.7 (2.9M) |
1.0 (1.7M) |
1.2 (2.1M) |
2.0 (3.3M) |
3.1 (4.9M) |
No Game | |
2011 | NBC (1, 2, 5, 6, 7) Versus (3, 4) |
Boston Bruins 4, Vancouver Canucks 3 |
2.7 (4.6M) |
2.7 (4.6M) |
2.2 (3.6M) |
1.6 (2.8M) |
1.6 (2.7M) |
2.6 (4.3M) |
3.2 (5.5M) |
4.8 (8.5M) | |
2010 | NBC (1, 2, 5, 6) Versus (3, 4) |
Chicago Blackhawks 4, Philadelphia Flyers 2 |
3.1 (5.2M) |
2.8 (4.4M)[17] |
4.1 (5.9M)[18][19] |
2.0 (3.6M) |
1.7 (3.1M) [20] |
3.3 (5.8M)[21] |
4.7 (8.3M)[22] |
No Game | |
2009 | NBC (1, 2, 5, 6, 7) Versus (3, 4) |
Pittsburgh Penguins 4, Detroit Red Wings 3 |
2.7 (4.9M) |
2.4 (4.3M) |
3.1 (5.4M) |
1.7 (3.0M) |
1.8 (3.4M) |
2.4 (4.4M) |
3.4 (5.8M) |
4.3 (8.0M) | |
2008 | NBC (3, 4, 5, 6) Versus (1, 2) |
Detroit Red Wings 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 2 |
2.6 (4.3M) |
1.2 (2.4M) |
1.3 (2.6M) |
2.4 (4.0M) |
2.3 (4.0M) |
3.8 (6.2M) |
4.0 (6.8M) |
No Game | |
2007 | NBC (3, 4, 5) Versus (1, 2) |
Anaheim Ducks 4, Ottawa Senators 1 |
1.2 (1.8M) |
0.5 | 0.4 | 1.1 (1.7M) |
1.9 | 1.8 (3.1M) |
No Game | ||
2006 | NBC (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) OLN (1, 2) |
Carolina Hurricanes 4, Edmonton Oilers 3 |
1.8 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 1.6 (2.9M) |
2.0 (3.9M) |
2.5 | 1.9 | 3.3 (5.3M) |
ABC's coverage (2000–2004)
Year | Teams | Games Carried | Rating |
2004 | Tampa Bay Lightning–Calgary Flames | 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 | 2.6 |
2003 | New Jersey Devils-Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | 3,[23] 4, 5, 6, 7 | 2.9 |
2002 | Detroit Red Wings–Carolina Hurricanes | 3, 4, 5 | 3.6 |
2001 | Colorado Avalanche–New Jersey Devils | 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 | 3.3 |
2000 | New Jersey Devils–Dallas Stars | 3, 4, 5,[24] 6 | 3.7 |
Fox's coverage (1995–1999)
Year | Teams | Games Carried | Rating |
1999 | Dallas Stars–Buffalo Sabres | 1, 2, 5 | 3.4 |
1998 | Detroit Red Wings–Washington Capitals | 1 | 3.3 |
1997 | Detroit Red Wings–Philadelphia Flyers | 1 | 4.0 |
1996 | Colorado Avalanche–Florida Panthers | 1, 3 | 3.6 |
1995 | New Jersey Devils–Detroit Red Wings | 1, 4 | 3.4 |
Most watched games
Most watched Stanley Cup finals games (1966–present)
Source: [1]
- May 18, 1971, Montreal-Chicago – Game 7, 12.41 million, 20.6 rating CBS
- May 11, 1972, Boston-NY Rangers – Game 6, 10.93 million, 17.6 rating CBS
- May 10, 1973, Montreal-Chicago – Game 6, 9.41 million, 15.2 rating NBC
- June 15, 2011, Boston-Vancouver – Game 7, 8.54 million, 4.8 rating, 8 share NBC
- April 30, 1972, NY Rangers-Boston – Game 1, 8.51 million, 13.7 rating CBS
- May 12, 1974, Boston-Philadelphia – Game 3, 8.30 million, 12.5 rating NBC
- June 9, 2010, Chicago-Philadelphia – Game 6, 8.28 million, 4.7 rating, 6 share, NBC
- May 7, 1972, Boston-NY Rangers – Game 4, 8.26 million, 13.3 rating CBS
- June 24, 2013, Chicago-Boston — Game 6, 8.16 million, 4.7 rating, NBC
- June 15, 2015, Chicago-Tampa Bay – Game 6, 8 million, 4.4 rating, 8 share, NBC[25]
Stanley Cup game 7 viewership history (1966–present)
As per Fang's Bites.
- May 18, 1971, Montreal-Chicago, 12.41 million, 20.6 rating CBS
- June 15, 2011, Boston-Vancouver, 8.54 million, 4.8 rating, NBC
- June 12, 2009, Pittsburgh-Detroit, 7.99 million, 4.3 rating, NBC
- June 9, 2003, Anaheim-New Jersey, 7.17 million, 4.9 million households, 4.6 rating, ABC
- June 9, 2001, New Jersey-Colorado, 6.95 million, 4.268 million households, 4.2 rating, ABC
- June 7, 2004, Calgary-Tampa Bay, 6.29 million, 4.5 million households, 4.2 rating, ABC
- June 14, 1994, NY Rangers-Vancouver, 5.44 million, 3.28 million households,[26] 5.2 rating (6.9 rating when including MSG network),[27] ESPN
- June 19, 2006, Edmonton-Carolina, 5.29 million, 3.3 rating, NBC
- May 31, 1987, Edmonton-Philadelphia, 2.14 million households, ESPN
Canadian television
- 2011 - Game 7 was second most-watched CBC Sports program, drawing an average of 8.76 million viewers and trailing only the men's gold medal game in ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics;[28]
- 2010 - Game 1 was viewed by 3.164 million people on CBC.[29] Game 6 was the most-watched All-American Stanley Cup Final game, with 4.077 million viewers.[30] The Final averaged 3.107 million viewers, up 44 percent from 2009.[30]
- 2009 - Game 7 drew an average of 3.529 million viewers to the CBC. However, it averaged 2.154 million viewers for the seven-game rematch, down 7% from the 2008 final.[31]
- 1994 - With an average Canadian audience of 4.957 million viewers, Game 7 was the most watched CBC Sports program until the 10.6 million viewers for the men's ice hockey gold medal game between Canada and the United States at the 2002 Winter Olympics, when Canada won its first Olympic ice hockey gold medal since the 1952 Winter Olympics.[32][33] Bob Cole said that Game 7 was one of his most memorable TV games.[34]
See also
References
- ^ Paulsen (June 1, 2016). "Stanley Cup Final Starts Slowly Opposite NBA". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- ^ Paulsen (June 3, 2016). "Stanley Cup Final Continues to Lag Behind Previous Years". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- ^ a b Paulsen (June 8, 2016). "After Another Drop For Game 3, Stanley Cup Final Up in Game 4". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
- ^ Paulsen (June 10, 2016). "Stanley Cup Final Game 5 Pulls Even With Last Year". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
- ^ NBC Sports PR (June 13, 2016). "2016 Stanley Cup Finals is Most-Watched Non-Original Six Series in 15 Years". NBC Sports Pressbox. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
- ^ "NBC's live coverage of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals may result in greater adjustments than usual in the final nationals". TV by the Numbers. 30 May 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
- ^ "Ratings - American Pharoah's Triple Crown-Winning Run & Blackhawks-Lightning Stanley Cup Game 2 Post Viewership Milestones on NBC's "Championship Saturday" - TheFutonCritic.com". Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ^ Paulsen (9 June 2015). "Lightning/Blackhawks Game 3 Third-Best SCF Game on Cable Since 2002". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
- ^ Paulsen. "NBCSN Earns Another Near-Record Audience For Lightning/Blackhawks". Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ^ Paulsen. "Blackhawks/Lightning Game 5 Down, But Not Bad For Saturday Night". Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ^ "2015 STANLEY CUP FINAL IS SECOND-MOST WATCHED ON RECORD". NBC Sports Pressbox. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ^ Paulsen (5 June 2014). "Stanley Cup TV Ratings: Pretty Good Start As 4.8M Watch Rangers/Kings Game 1". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ^ Paulsen (8 June 2014). "Stanley Cup TV Ratings: Belmont Boosts Rangers/Kings to Multi-Year High". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ^ Bibel, Sarah (10 June 2014). "Monday Cable Ratings: 'Love & Hip Hop Atlanta' Wins Night, 'WWE Raw', 'Major Crimes', 'Hit The Floor', 'Longmire' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ^ "2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs Are Most-Watched on Cable in 17 Years". TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ^ Paulsen (14 June 2014). "Stanley Cup TV Ratings: Kings' Coronation Best Game 5 in Six Years". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
- ^ Lepore, Steve (30 May 2010). "NBC Scores Best Game 1 Rating in 11 Years". Puck The Media. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- ^ Gorman, Bill (1 June 2010). "TV Ratings Monday: NHL Stanley Cup Finals Edges Bachelorette & True Beauty". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ Lepore, Steve (1 June 2010). "NBC Sports: Game 2 Ratings Best Since At Least 1975". Puck The Media. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ Paulsen (2010-06-08). "Flyers/Blackhawks Game 4 Down on Versus". Sports Media Watch.
- ^ Lepore, Steve (2010-06-08). "Final Numbers For Game 5". Puck The Media.
- ^ Worley, Brandon (June 10, 2010). "2010 Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 highest rated NHL game since 1974". NBC Sports. Retrieved 2010-06-10.
- ^ Farber, Michael (June 14, 2004). "Dark Days Ahead". Sports Illustrated.
If recent NHL news has been grim—the rating for Game 3 of the final on ABC was 1.4, the second lowest for any prime-time show in the history of the major networks—the league's short-term prospects are even bleaker.
- ^ Walters, John (June 19, 2000). "A Small Victory". Sports Illustrated.
On June 7, NBC televised Game 1 of the NBA Finals and earned a 10.5 rating in the Nielsens. One night later ABC aired Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals, a triple-overtime duel for the ages in which the Stars defeated the Devils 1-0. That match earned a 4.2. That was the highest national rating a hockey game had received since 1980, when the Cup-deciding Flyers-Islanders Game 6 pulled a 4.4 on CBS.
- ^ Monday Final Nationals: 2015 Stanley Cup Final Clincher on NBC Ranks as Fourth Most-Watched NHL Telecast Since 1995
- ^ "Hb0 In Major Leagues For 20th Wimbledon". tribunedigital-thecourant. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ^ "Game 7 a Cable-Ratings High". The New York Times. 16 June 1994.
- ^ "Game 7 smashes Hockey Night in Canada record". CBC Sports. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. June 16, 2011. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
- ^ Lepore, Steve (1 June 2010). "Game 1 Draws 3 Million to CBC". Puck The Media. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ a b Canadian Press (June 10, 2010). "NHL draws highest TV ratings in 36 years". CBC Sports. Retrieved 2010-06-10.
- ^ Canadian Press (2009-06-15). "Deciding Game of Stanley Cup Draws More than 3.5 Million Viewers to CBC". NHL.com. Retrieved 2009-06-16.
- ^ Canadian Press (June 15, 2011). "Babych haunted by Canucks' Game 7 loss in 1994". CBC Sports. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
- ^ Mckay, John (February 26, 2002). "Record number of viewers tune in hockey game". Canadian Press.
A record-busting 8.7 million Canadians were...watching the Canadian men's hockey team snatch gold from the United States in Salt Lake City. The television audience actually peaked at 10.6 million, the CBC said Monday...CBC says that prior to Sunday, its highest-rated sports show was Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup between the New York Rangers and the Vancouver Canucks, which attracted an average of 4.97 million viewers
- ^ Houston, William (November 6, 1997). "Cole's Close Call". The Globe and Mail. p. S4.
Cole's three most memorable TV games: 1. Game 7 of the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals (Edmonton 3, Philadelphia 1). The Oilers at their peak. 2. Game 3 of 1996 World Cup of Hockey Final (United States 5, Canada 2). 'I was devastated.' 3. Game 7, 1994 Stanley Cup Finals (New York Rangers 3, Vancouver 2). 'A great series.'