NHL TV Ratings and Revenue

[MAROONSRoad]

More Canadian numbers

The numbers are mostly down after a spike in viewers for the first season after the lockout. According to William Houston of the Globe & Mail:

National Broadcasts:

-- CBC's first-game audiences on Saturdays are down 1 per cent (1.381 million).

-- CBC's second-game audiences on Saturdays are down 20 per cent (748,000). One reason may be that they aren't showing the Canucks as much this season.

-- TSN's national telecasts (418,000) are down 12 per cent.

Regional Broadcasts:

We finally have some numbers for Edmonton and Ottawa!

-- Edmonton Oilers' audience on Sportsnet (157,000) is up 19 per cent this season.

-- Ottawa Senators' audience is down 51 per cent on Sportsnet (83,000). A possible Nielsen measurement irregularity is being looked into.

-- Toronto Maple Leafs' audience is down 6 per cent on TSN (471,000 average) and 20 per cent on Sportsnet (416,000).

-- Vancouver Canucks' audience is down 6 per cent on Sportsnet (324,000).

-- Calgary Flames' audience is down 7 per cent on Sportsnet (127,000).

All of these audience figures are nonetheless amongst the very best in the NHL.

See original article here:

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070328.wspttruth28/GSStory/GlobeSportsSoccer/home

GHOST

 

[MAROONSRoad]

More details on NBC ratings

According to a MediaWeek article, NBC's ratings through 4 telecast dates are down 10 percent compared to last year.

Household ratings are down from a 1.1 to a 1.0.

Perhaps more worrisome for the NHL is the breakdown of the male demo ratings according to Nielsen Media Research:

-- men 18-34 ratings are down from a 0.8 to a 0.6

-- men 18-49 are down from a 0.8 to a 0.7

-- men 25-54 are down from a 0.9 to a 0.8

It appears that the younger generation is less likely to watch than the older generation.

See full article here:

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/networktv/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003563382

GHOST

 

[jsginsocal]

According to a MediaWeek article, NBC's ratings through 4 telecast dates are down 10 percent compared to last year.

Household ratings are down from a 1.1 to a 1.0.

Perhaps more worrisome for the NHL is the breakdown of the male demo ratings according to Nielsen Media Research:

-- men 18-34 ratings are down from a 0.8 to a 0.6

-- men 18-49 are down from a 0.8 to a 0.7

-- men 25-54 are down from a 0.9 to a 0.8

It appears that the younger generation is less likely to watch than the older generation.

See full article here:

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/networktv/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003563382

GHOST

That update was only through the first 4 weeks of the season. For the season as a whole - the NHL on NBC is averaging a steady 1.1 just like last year. As a matter of fact - the NHL national audience outdrew the NBA national audience last sunday with 1.31 million viewers compared to the NBA's 1.26 million viewers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratings_for_The_NHL_on_NBC

 

[Whiplash27]

Week 7 (3/25 at 12:30) rode the Crosby bandwagon to another 1.1, despite airing a blowout game (Boston/Pittsburgh) in most of the country. Most of the U.S. was switched to the other game (Rangers/Islanders) by the third period. The NHL telecast on NBC drew a larger national audience than ABC's National Basketball Association telecast (Phoenix Suns-Sacramento Kings). Each network earned a 1.0 rating (percentage of households tuned in), but NBC pulled in a larger audience share (percentage of time that people spent watching the telecast), 3 compared with 2. In total viewership, NBC outdrew ABC 1.31 million to 1.26 million.

Rangers vs. Islanders = Ratings.

I hope they see that now instead of putting Crosby vs. Boston

 

[MAROONSRoad]

That update was only through the first 4 weeks of the season.

It's from the first four weeks of NBC's NHL season, not the NHL's season. When does NBC actually begin to air games? The article was written March 27, 2007.

GHOST

 

[jsginsocal]

It's from the first four weeks of NBC's NHL season, not the NHL's season. When does NBC actually begin to air games? The article was written March 27, 2007.

GHOST

Yes, I meant through the first 4 weeks of games shown by NBC the ratings were down. NBC begins airing games in January of each season. I'm glad to see things have turned around through the last 4 games aired.

 

[ColoradoHockeyFan]

As a matter of fact - the NHL national audience outdrew the NBA national audience last sunday with 1.31 million viewers compared to the NBA's 1.26 million viewers.

Yes, Ray Ferraro was on local Denver radio today talking about this very subject. Definitely nice to see... especially now that it's not just an isolated incident. The NHL has been fairly competitive with the NBA on weekend network telecasts lately... a lot more than people would assume.

I'm sure the national media will be quick to acknowledge this too.

 

[Novak Djokovic]

It's all because of Crosby people. All of you Crosby haters that say Crosby gets attention.Well, his attention did all this...(Remember what Wayne Gretzky did.Myabe he can do the same.)

 

[Chileiceman]

Yes, Ray Ferraro was on local Denver radio today talking about this very subject. Definitely nice to see... especially now that it's not just an isolated incident. The NHL has been fairly competitive with the NBA on weekend network telecasts lately... a lot more than people would assume.

I'm sure the national media will be quick to acknowledge this too.

Do you guys think if the NHL is on ESPN, or a channel that has reaches more households than Versus, than: NHL national cable ratings = or > NBA national cable ratings?

 

[risnuff]

Do you guys think if the NHL is on ESPN, or a channel that has reaches more households than Versus, than: NHL national cable ratings = or > NBA national cable ratings?

It's certainly possible.

 

[DaBadGuy7]

Do you guys think if the NHL is on ESPN, or a channel that has reaches more households than Versus, than: NHL national cable ratings = or > NBA national cable ratings?

It its possible if they get a Wednesday package from a cable channel like Spoike TV or TBS.

 

[kdb209]

Do you guys think if the NHL is on ESPN, or a channel that has reaches more households than Versus, than: NHL national cable ratings = or > NBA national cable ratings?

Very unlikely.

Even when the NHL was on ESPN/ESPN2 the NHL regular season ratings were about 0.47 (ESPN) / 0.24(ESPN2). Even if ESPN had picked up its option during/after thelockout or signed a new deal, all games would have been on ESPN2. The OLN/Versus ratings have actually been quite competitive with those on the Deuce. The NBA on the other hand averaged a 1.2 on ESPN and a 1.3 on TNT during the regular season.

And last week's close call in national network games was really an anomoly. The lowest rated NBA on ABC game this year (on opposite an NCAA Elite 8 Game) still (barely) beat the higest rated NHL game. The NBA is averaging 1.9 rating this season (down from 2.2 the last two years). But it is the playoffs where the NBA blows away the NHL - 11.2, 8.2, 8.5 in the last three years for the NBA Finals on ABC vs 2.9, 2.6, 2.3 for the Cup Finals on ABC/NBC.

 

[MAROONSRoad]

Very unlikely.

Even when the NHL was on ESPN/ESPN2 the NHL regular season ratings were about 0.47 (ESPN) / 0.24(ESPN2). Even if ESPN had picked up its option during/after thelockout or signed a new deal, all games would have been on ESPN2. The OLN/Versus ratings have actually been quite competitive with those on the Deuce. The NBA on the other hand averaged a 1.2 on ESPN and a 1.3 on TNT during the regular season.

And last week's close call in national network games was really an anomoly. The lowest rated NBA on ABC game this year (on opposite an NCAA Elite 8 Game) still (barely) beat the higest rated NHL game. The NBA is averaging 1.9 rating this season (down from 2.2 the last two years). But it is the playoffs where the NBA blows away the NHL - 11.2, 8.2, 8.5 in the last three years for the NBA Finals on ABC vs 2.9, 2.6, 2.3 for the Cup Finals on ABC/NBC.

You make an interesting point. In some ways the NBA has the same or similar issues the NHL does. This goes back to my initial post in this thread. In the past the major sports had to a certain extent a "captive audience" or at least they existed in a media universe with much viewer options -- daily newspapers, limited TV channels, no internet. Before the days of 100+ cable channels, before the internet, people had much fewer media options. Nowadays, there's so much more to capture people's interest or attention, the major sports are in a fight just to maintain their visibility.

GHOST

 

[zman]

Some Pittsburgh games pull as high as 7.0, but these are average numbers were talking.

Pittsburgh was 4.0 in 2006 and has increased since then, but it may only be 4.5.

Without current hard data as of March 1st, it's fair to suggest...

#1 Buffalo 7.0
#2 Detroit 5.0
#3 Pittsburgh 4.5

... until I see otherwise.

In regards to hockey markets relative to population size, anyone who knows Pittsburgh or lives in Pittsburgh understands the market is not in question and never in question. You can't go 10 minutes outside anywhere in the greater Pittsburgh area with seeing Penguins something, it's everywhere, and it's been that way since the 1970's.

With tonights game between Pittsburgh and Buffalo on Versus, it will be interesting to see the rating (since they are two of the three highest ratings US teams)

 

[Alpine]

I see RDS's new digital station RIS is showing US vs US teams any idea how the ratings are for these.
May I take a moment to be a disgruntled Rogers NB customer and ask why I can get RIS for dirt cheap. RDS is on basic, yet Score is packaged with soccer and golf and Tele-Latino?

 

[MLH]

Buffalo's meaningless Easter finale (on NBC) drew a 16.4 local rating and 36 share.

http://sabresratings.blogspot.com/


Minnesota also was strong for their first playoff game drawing record viewers. The game averaged a 7.9 rating and an 18 household share.

http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2007/04/09/daily44.html?from_rss=1

 

[OG6ix]

what is a 16.4 in Buffalo? How many thousands?

 

[Stevedude530]

7.9 in Minnesota is approx 120-130,000 viewers.

 

[MLH]

what is a 16.4 in Buffalo? How many thousands?

In between 100-110 thousand.

 

[OG6ix]

In between 100-110 thousand.

Is that the best in the league?

 

[Meichel Kane]

Is that the best in the league?

Best in the US I think.

 

[MLH]

Is that the best in the league?

For an individual game? I'm not sure. It very well might be. I think Pittsburgh's highest was a 7.2 (~80K) against Montreal. Detroit would be the only other American market that could touch it, but there's little reliable ratings info coming out of Detroit.

In terms of regular season average, Buffalo is #1 in rating. In terms of raw numbers, Buffalo is behind Detroit (though there is a lot of speculation that Detroit's numbers are flubbed based on a report in December saying ratings were in the 2's) and roughly the same as Pittsburgh.

 

[MAROONSRoad]

Here's one for the archive. If you come across any news reports on playoff ratings post them with a link. Thanks,

GHOST

"Ratings slide: Approximately 13,217 homes in the Nashville television market tuned in to watch Game 1, according to WTVF-5 Program Director Mark Binda.

The 1.4 rating was lower than last season's Game 1 rating between the two teams, which hit 2.4 (approximately 22,000 homes)."

http://www.theleafchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070413/SPORTS/704130376/1006

 

[Timmy]

Here's one for the archive. If you come across any news reports on playoff ratings post them with a link. Thanks,

GHOST

"Ratings slide: Approximately 13,217 homes in the Nashville television market tuned in to watch Game 1, according to WTVF-5 Program Director Mark Binda.

The 1.4 rating was lower than last season's Game 1 rating between the two teams, which hit 2.4 (approximately 22,000 homes)."

http://www.theleafchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070413/SPORTS/704130376/1006

pills11.com )

This is incredible.


It almost deserves its own thread, don't you think?

 

[Jarnberg]

Here's one for the archive. If you come across any news reports on playoff ratings post them with a link. Thanks,

GHOST

"Ratings slide: Approximately 13,217 homes in the Nashville television market tuned in to watch Game 1, according to WTVF-5 Program Director Mark Binda.

The 1.4 rating was lower than last season's Game 1 rating between the two teams, which hit 2.4 (approximately 22,000 homes)."

http://www.theleafchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070413/SPORTS/704130376/1006

pills11.com )

http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=370009