NHL TV ratings 2023/2024

[S E P H]

There's no spin. Caitlin Clark is just a huge draw. Plain and simple.

I think what we're seeing is a fad and ESPN is exacerbating the hype, which I don't blame them. But they could just put the WNBA game on ESPN 2...

 

[OG6ix]

I think what we're seeing is a fad and ESPN is exacerbating the hype, which I don't blame them. But they could just put the WNBA game on ESPN 2...

It is what it is but I doubt this will last.

 

[varsaku]

I think what we're seeing is a fad and ESPN is exacerbating the hype, which I don't blame them. But they could just put the WNBA game on ESPN 2...

Whether it is a fad or not, you can't blame ESPN for trying to cash in on this hype while it lasts. Everyone of us would have made the same call had we been in that position in ESPN. Ultimately, ESPN is a business and is not doing it for the love of a specific sport, they go where the money is.

 

[Reaser]

Winter Classic will be played New Year's Eve next season.

 

[DaBadGuy7]

 

[Kirk Van Houten]

It is what it is but I doubt this will last.

Rookie year will have record numbers. Next year is more of a true test since the hype will die.

I think what we're seeing is a fad and ESPN is exacerbating the hype, which I don't blame them. But they could just put the WNBA game on ESPN 2...

WNBA game at 6pm ET and everybody is happy

 

[Reaser]

-NHL on ESPN avg viewership last night-

Leafs-Panthers: 316k

 

[Marshmallow Man]

In Canada they are way down. The demographics of Canada are rapidly changing and hockey is not nearly what it once was there.

Don’t need to tell me about the demographic issue. I’m seeing it with my own eyes. And paying for it with rent that has skyrocketed because of the housing crisis. It’s a total catastrophe. Never seen anything like this in my life.

 

[Kirk Van Houten]

 

[NextBigThing]

Am I reading this correctly? More people in DC watched a late night west coast NBA game than a game the Caps had to win to get in the playoffs? That can’t be right.

 

[Anisimovs AK]

Poor number for prime time slot

Stars-Kraken number is pathetic too. Kraken seem to get strong numbers for the playoffs but middling to poor regular season numbers.

Dallas doesnt seem to have much interest in the Stars.

 

[Reaser]

Stars-Kraken number is pathetic too. Kraken seem to get strong numbers for the playoffs but middling to poor regular season numbers.

Dallas doesnt seem to have much interest in the Stars.

The Kraken are part of the least-viewed game on ABC, the least-viewed game on ESPN and the least-viewed game on TNT this season.

Also this season, they were in the least-viewed Winter Classic ever & the early reports on local/regional viewership were pretty bad.

I'm from WA, I said this in advance, was maybe in last years ratings thread? That they wouldn't be anything special for regular season viewership but "wait until you see their numbers when they're in the playoffs." Seattle/WA go all-in, fans and non-fans alike, on watching Seattle teams when they're in the playoffs. Which obviously ended up playing out last year in the playoffs. Poor showing in the regular season viewership wise, but are an elite (for Western Conference, so relative) market in the playoffs.

 

[ForumNamePending]

Ya, bottom line is when it comes to half decent viewership in the US, the NHL is reliant on a handful of teams, and those teams being good, or at least in some way compelling. The footprint could/should grow, but we are probably talking lifetimes.

It's why thinking expansion, to any of these American markets currently in the rumour mill, is going to be a game changer when it comes to the value of NHL's national media contracts, or change where hockey fits into the "national conversation", isn't much more than hopium.

There's lots of good reasons for the league to be interested in having franchises in cities like Atlanta and Houston, but TV viewership ain't one of them... or at least it shouldn't be. If anything, expansion to those cities will just increases the league's/networks' chances of ending up with teams that will tank national ratings come playoff time.

 

[joelef]

Ya, bottom line is when it comes to half decent viewership in the US, the NHL is reliant on a handful of teams, and those teams being good, or at least in some way compelling. The footprint could/should grow, but we are probably talking lifetimes.

It's why thinking expansion, to any of these American markets currently in the rumour mill, is going to be a game changer when it comes to the value of NHL's national media contracts, or change where hockey fits into the "national conversation", isn't much more than hopium. There's lots of good reasons for the league to be interested in having franchises in cities like Atlanta and Houston, but TV viewership ain't one of them... or at least it shouldn't be. If anything, expansion to those cities will just increases the league's/networks' chances of ending up with teams that will tank national ratings come playoff time.

It’s because of hockey reluctance to market there players.

 

[Reaser]

NHL on TNT avg viewership last night-

Leafs-Lightning: 344k (combined)
-TNT: 278k
--truTV: 66k

Blues-Stars: 331k (combined)
-TNT: 290k
--truTV: 41k

 

[Reaser]

Just using TNT numbers (excluding truTV simulcasts/alt-casts additional/combined #'s) here's the final regular season numbers for TNT:

-TNT Season Avg of Avg viewership-

Overall: 357k (62 games)
-Exclusive: 386k (44 games)
--Non-Exclusive: 286k (18 games)

-LAST SEASON (2022/23)-

TNT overall: 357k (62 games)
-TNT exclusive games: 378k (50 games)
--TNT non-exclusive games: 266k (12 games)

 

[Reaser]

Here's the final regular season TNT numbers w/ truTV simulcast/alt-cast numbers combined in the totals:

-TNT Season Avg of Avg viewership INCLUDING combined viewership w/truTV-

Overall: 363k (62 games)
-Exclusive: 395k (44 games)
--Non-Exclusive: 286k (18 games)

 

[Coinneach]

NHL TV ratings 2023/24

1/13/2024 Rangers-Capitals 954k (ABC)

2/10/2024 Blues-Sabres 709k (ABC)
2/10/2024 Capitals - Bruins 901k (ABC)
2/17/2024 Kings-Bruins: 823k (ABC)
2/17/2024 Oilers-Stars: 759k (ABC)
2/17/2024 Flyers-Devils: 1.132M (ABC, Stadium Series)
2/18/2024 Rangers-Islanders: 1.568M (ABC, Stadium Series)
2/24/2024 Blues-Red Wings: 779k (ABC)
2/24/2024 Rangers-Flyers: 957k (ABC)

3/2/2024 Panthers-Red WIngs 847k (ABC)
3/9/2024 Hurricanes-Devils 637k (ABC)
3/9/2024 Bruins-Penguins 997k (ABC)
3/16/2024 Rangers-Penguins: 798k (ABC)
3/23/2024 Panthers-Rangers: 836k (ABC)

4/6/2024 Lightning-Penguins: 883k (ABC)
4/6/2024 Panthers-Bruins: 1.218M (ABC)
4/12/2024 Islanders-Rangers: 877k (ABC)
4/12/2024 Kraken-Stars: 586k (ABC)
4/12/2024 Bruins-Penguins: 1.188M (ABC)

Cable:

10/10/2023 Predators-Lightning: 598k (ESPN)
10/10/2023 Blackhawks-Penguins: 1.431M (ESPN)
10/10/2023 Kraken-Golden Knights: 691k (ESPN)
10/11/2023 Blackhawks-Bruins 896k (TNT)
10/11/2023 Avalanche-Kings 377k (TNT)
10/17/2023 Lightning-Sabres 552k (ESPN)
10/17/2023 Avalanche-Kraken 513k (ESPN)
10/18/2023 Penguins-Red Wings: 699k (TNT)
10/19/2023 Blackhawks-Avalanche: 401k (ESPN)
10/24/2023 Leafs-Capitals: 475k (ESPN)
10/24/2023 Bruins-Blackhawks: 526k (ESPN)
10/24/2023 Flyers-Golden Knights: 278k (ESPN)
10/25/2023 Capitals-Devils: 452k (TNT)
10/29/2023 Oilers-Flames: 271k (TBS, HC)
10/31/2023 Kings-Leafs 418k (ESPN)

11/1/2023 Sabres-Flyers: 309k (TNT, non-exclusive)
11/1/2023 Blues-Avalanche: 212k (TNT, non-exclusive)
11/7/2023 Red Wings-Rangers: 532k (TNT)
11/7/2023 Devils-Avalanche: 288k (TNT)
11/8/2023 Panthers-Capitals: 390k (TNT)
11/8/2023 Kings-Golden Knights: 334k (TNT)
11/15/2023 Flyers-Hurricanes: 365k (TNT)
11/15/2023 Islanders-Canucks: 236k (TNT)
11/22/2023 Bruins-Panthers 517k (TNT)
11/22/2023 Golden Knights - Stars 314k (TNT, non-exclusive)
11/24/2023 Penguins-Sabres 528k (TNT)
11/24/2023 Avalanche-Wild 406k (TNT)
11/29/2023 Red Wings-Rangers: 757k (TNT)

12/6/2023 Stars-Panthers 311k (TNT)
12/6/2023 Hurricanes-Oilers 179k (TNT)
12/7/2023 Stars-Capitals 470k (ESPN)
12/7/2023 Devils-Kraken 255k (ESPN)
12/12/2023 Red Wings-Blues 626k (ESPN)
12/12/2023 Blackhawks-Oilers 406k (ESPN)
12/13/2023 Bruins-Devils 538k (TNT, non-exclusive)
12/13/2023 Sabres-Avalanche 244k (TNT, non-exclusive)
12/20/2023 Islanders-Capitals 307k (TNT, non-exclusive)
12/20/2023 Kraken-Kings 182k (TNT, non-exclusive)
12/27/2023 Bruins-Sabres 438k (TNT)

1/1/2024 Kraken-Golden Knights 1.101M (TNT+truTV, WC)
1/3/2024 Devils-Capitals 358k (TNT, non-exclusive)
1/4/2024 Bruins-Penguins 846k (ESPN)
1/10/2024 Wild-Stars 362k (TNT)
1/10/2024 Golden Knights-Avalanche 278k (TNT, non-exclusive)
1/11/2024 Leafs-Islanders 327k (ESPN)
1/17/2024 Red Wings-Panthers 198k (TNT, non-exclusive)
1/24/2024 Hurricanes-Bruins 314k (TNT, non-exclusive)
1/24/2024 Blackhawks-Kraken: 235k (TNT)
1/26/2024 Golden Knights-Rangers: 569k (ESPN)
1/31/2024 Kings-Predators: 159k (TNT, non-exclusive)

2/7/2024 Lightning-Rangers 413k (TNT)
2/7/2024 Wild-Blackhawks 271k (TNT)
2/8/2024 Lightning-Islanders 298k (ESPN)
2/14/2024 Panthers-Penguins 336k (TNT+truTV)
2/19/2024 Leafs-Blues: 378k (ESPN)
2/19/2024 Red Wings-Kraken: 414k (ESPN)
2/21/2024 Flyers-Blackhawks: 387k (TNT)
2/21/2024 Bruins-Oilers: 288k (TNT)
2/22/2024 Capitals-Lightning: 361k (ESPN)
2/25/2024 Lightning-Devils 265k (TNT, non-exclusive)
2/25/2024 Flyers-Penguins 529k (TNT)
2/28/2024 Blues-Oilers: 281k (TNT)
2/29/2024 Avalanche-Blackhawks: 369k (ESPN)

3/3/2024 Devils-Kings 283k (TNT)
3/6/2024 Sabres-Leafs: 357k (TNT)
3/6/2024 Red Wings-Avalanche: 286k (TNT, non-exclusive)
3/6/2024 Oilers-Penguins: 354k (TNT)
3/6/2024 Predators-Wild: 359k (TNT)
3/13/2024 Kings-Blues: 246k (TNT, non-exclusive)
3/13/2024 Capitals-Oilers: 213k (TNT+truTV)
3/17/2024 Islanders-Rangers: 408k (TNT)
3/17/2024 Devils-Golden Knights: 308k (TNT)
3/20/2024 Leafs-Capitals: 331k (TNT)
3/20/2024 Wild-Kings: 179k (TNT)
3/21/2024 Kraken-Golden Knights: 173k (ESPN)
3/24/2024 Penguins-Avalanche: 248k (TNT, non-exclusive)
3/27/2024 Bruins-Lightning: 472k (TNT, non-exclusive)
3/31/2024 Ducks-Canucks: 195k (TNT)

4/3/2024 Devils-Rangers: 559k (TNT+truTV)
4/3/2024 Oilers-Stars: 337k (TNT+truTV)
4/3/2024 Sabres-Red Wings: 448k (TNT)
4/3/2024 Stars-Avalanche: 430k (ESPN)
4/9/2024 Capitals-Red Wings: 635k (ESPN)
4/9/2024 Wild-Avalanche: 350k (ESPN)
4/10/2024 Golden Knights-Oilers: 211k (TNT, non-exclusive)
4/13/2024 Kraken-Blues: 152k (TNT)
4/13/2024 Avalanche-Golden Knights: 302k (TNT+truTV)
4/14/2024 Wild-Kings: 439k (ESPN)
4/16/2024 Leafs-Panthers: 316k (ESPN)
4/17/2024 Leafs-Lightning: 344k (TNT+truTV)
4/17/2024 Blues-Stars: 331k (TNT+truTV)
4/17/2024 Kraken-Wild: 591k (ESPN)
4/17/2024 Oilers-Avs: 482k (ESPN)

 

[Reaser]

 

[Reaser]

 

[Reaser]

For last night, ESPN PR has:

Kraken-Wild: 591k
Oilers-Avs: 482k

 

[Kirk Van Houten]

Overall solid and good numbers this season the weak part was the games on ABC. Let's see about the Playoffs which should be fantastic.

 

[rkhum]

Do we have local market ratings for the season?

 

[Reaser]

Do we have local market ratings for the season?

Nope. Hopefully we get them. We didn't get the usual end of season report last season. Finally got a mid-season one this season but was limited info and SBJ refused to share the complete list as if they were guarding state secrets. We just got the top 5 gains and top 5 biggest drops in local viewership.

 

[Reaser]

For last night, ESPN PR has:

Kraken-Wild: 591k
Oilers-Avs: 482k

To add:

Kraken-Wild was the largest sports audience of the day, yesterday.

Linear only ESPN averaged 482k for their 31 games this season.

Up from 393k for 34 regular season games last season.