THE DAILY presents Nielsen over-the-air and cable
ratings of U.S.-based NHL teams through March 1. In an
effort to gauge the impact of a team's on-ice success on TV
ratings, THE DAILY has listed each franchise in order of
'98-99 points-per-game as of March 1, which is total points
accumulated divided by games played. Of the seven teams
that have higher PPG ratios this season than last, all but
the Rangers have seen ratings increase. Of the 11 teams
that have lower PPG ratios this season, eight have seen a
ratings decrease, while one has seen an increase. The
Lightning has seen an increase in over-the-air ratings, but
a drop in cable ratings. The Red Wings have seen an
increase in cable ratings, but a decrease in over-the-air
numbers. NOTES: ^ = ratings as of March 14. ^^ = an
estimate of ratings provided by team. Ratings for the six
Canadian franchises were unavailable (THE DAILY).
'97-98 '98-99 (as of 3/1)
TEAM NET GMS AVG. RAT PPG GMS AVG. RAT PPG %+/-
DAL FSSW 40 0.7 1.33 30 1.6 1.47 +129%
KDFI/DFW 35 2.2^^ -- 28 3.4^^ -- +55%
NJD FSNY 76 0.3 1.31 61 0.2 1.21 -33%
PIT FSPT 54 5.4 1.20 47 4.1 1.20 -24%
WCWB n/a n/a -- 8 4.1 -- n/a
PHI CSN 47 2.8 1.16 49 3.0 1.20 + 7%
WPSG n/a n/a -- 18 3.4^ -- n/a
PHO FSAZ 40 0.8 1.00 28 1.2 1.17 +50%
KVTK 25 1.9 -- 18 2.5 -- +32%
BUF EMPIRE n/a n/a 1.09 n/a n/a 1.13 n/a
COL FSRM 50 2.8 1.16 41 2.0 1.12 -29%
KPXC n/a n/a -- 11 1.6 -- n/a
DET FSDT 41 3.9 1.26 33 4.2 1.10 + 8%
WKBD 31 8.1 -- 28 6.6 -- -19%
CAR FSS 19 0.2 .90 34 0.3 1.07 +50%
ANA FSW2 40 0.3 .79 29 0.5 1.03 +67%
KCAL 20 1.2 -- 14 1.1 -- - 8%
BOS NESN 36 1.7 1.11 27 1.0 1.02 -41%
WSBK 37 3.2 -- 30 2.1 -- -34%
STL FSMW 21 2.6 1.20 27 2.0 1.02 -23%
KPLR 16 6.3 -- 21 5.3 -- -16%
FLA SC FL 82 1.0 .77 60 1.4 1.00 +40%
NYR MSG 68 1.1 .83 53 0.8 .95 -27%
WAS HTS(DC) 42 0.4 1.12 41 0.6 .92 +50%
HTS(Balt) -- 0.3 -- -- 0.4 -- +33%
WBDC 10 0.8 -- 12 0.9 -- +13%
SJS FSBA 27 0.8 .95 21 0.7 .90 -13%
KICU 29 1.0 -- 22 1.0 -- 0%
LAK FSW 46 1.0 1.06 43 0.9 .84 -10%
KCAL 9 1.8 -- 9 1.6 -- -11%
NSH FSS -- -- -- 21 n/a .80 --
WNAB -- -- -- 12 1.0 -- --
NYI FSNY 70 0.3 .87 42 0.2 .74 -33%
CHI FSCH 43 0.9 .89 34 0.6 .68 -33%
TAM SUNSHINE 40 0.7 .54 41 0.6 .53 -14%
WTTA 10 0.7 -- 9 1.0 -- +43%
