Versus' NHL Playoffs Ratings Up 27%; RSNs Setting Record Marks

Versus Averaging 802,000 Viewers For NHL Conference Semifinals Series Telecasts

The NHL conference semifinals series telecasts on Versus are averaging 802,000 viewers for 14 telecasts through Sunday, up 30.2% from 616,000 viewers through the same period last year (15 telecasts). For all NHL playoff games to date (37 telecasts), Versus is averaging 584,000 viewers, up 27.2% from 459,000 viewers for 41 telecasts for the same period in '08. Versus to date is down 21.9% from 748,000 viewers for 19 first- and second-round telecasts on ESPN in '04, the last year the net had NHL television rights. However, Versus is up 18.7% from 492,000 viewers for 27 telecasts on ESPN2. First- and second-round playoff games on ESPN/ESPN2 in '04 were also blacked out in respective local markets. NBC is averaging 1.639 million viewers for six playoff broadcasts this season, up 14.5% from 1.431 million viewers for seven telecasts in '08 (THE DAILY). The GLOBE & MAIL's Roy MacGregor notes Versus, which first struck a deal to air NHL games in '05 after ESPN decided not to match Comcast's offer, "has never been able to make up the shortfall in viewers, as had been hoped" (GLOBE & MAIL, 5/11).

MARKET WATCH: FSN Pittsburgh’s telecast Monday night of Game Six of the Capitals-Penguins Eastern Conference Semifinals earned a 24.2 local rating and 277,800 HHs in Pittsburgh, marking the most-watched NHL game ever on the net and the highest-rated NHL game ever for any RSN. The 24.2 rating tops the previous record of 21.4 earned by Penguins-Capitals Game Five on Saturday. The game also earned a 5.3 local rating on CSN Mid-Atlantic in the DC DMA, marking the net’s highest NHL rating of the season. Penguins-Capitals Game Seven tonight will air on both RSNs. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks’ Western Conference Semifinals series-clinching win Monday against the Canucks on CSN Chicago earned a 7.82 local rating and 273,145 HHs, marking the highest Blackhawks rating ever on the net. For 10 Blackhawks playoff telecasts, CSN Chicago averaged a 4.82 local rating (THE DAILY).

SEVENTH HEAVEN? With Penguins-Capitals Game Seven being played tonight, ESPN’s Mike Greenberg asked, "If you’re not going to watch this game, what are you going to watch?" Greenberg: "You’ve got the two biggest stars in the sport, the two best players in the sport going head-to-head to conclude what has been a great series in a Game Seven. So, if you’re not watching this one, I’m not sure what you’re watching.” But ESPN’s Mike Golic said of hockey, "It is a great spectator sport, but on TV, it doesn’t translate well. So I really think people are just satisfied watching ‘SportsCenter’ and seeing the highlights, and then moving on.” Golic: "You know you have hockey fans watching. Are you going to get the casual fan to tune into this to see the top stars playing in a Game Seven? ... I’ll be interested to see what the ratings are for this and if there is some increased viewership” (“Mike & Mike in the Morning,” ESPN2, 5/13).