NBC Sports Network Remains On Pace For Best NHL Regular-Season Viewership Yet

NBC Sports Network is averaging 448,000 viewers through 27 NHL games this season to date, putting the net on pace to have its best season yet. The net saw its previous high during the last rights deal with 348,000 viewers for games during the ’10-11 season. The net’s average during this lockout-shortened season also is up 35% from last season’s average of 332,000 viewers. Wednesday night rivalry games have helped aid the average this season. The games, which are exclusive to NBC Sports Net, are averaging 682,000 viewers through seven telecasts. Five of the net’s top six most-watched NHL games ever also have occurred this season, including the top two. Meanwhile, NBC is averaging 1.7 million viewers through eight games. Despite not having a Winter Classic this season to include in that average, NBC is ahead of the 1.6 million viewers it averaged for 12 telecasts last season. NBC is in the second season of a 10-year TV deal with the NHL.

NHL GAME VIEWERSHIP THROUGH MARCH 10 (COMPARED TO FULL '11-12 SEASON)
NET	GMS	RAT.	% +/-	VIEWERS (000)	% +/-	GMS ('11-12)
NBC	8	1.1	10.0%	1,740	10.1%	12
NBCSN	27	0.3	50.0%	448	34.9%	90