NBC Sports Exec Producer Sam Flood said that the Blues "have become a key component in the NBC/NBCSN game plan" for airing NHL contests, "not only because of their success but in the fact that they are in the Central time zone and that fits in perfectly with its scheduling," according to Dan Caesar of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. While the Kings have "been a power in recent seasons," their home night games "begin after many potential viewers in the East and Midwest either have gone to bed or are preparing to." NBC Sports "can’t show any team more than 23 times combined on its two outlets over a two-year period, and is in the midst of taking the Blues to the maximum level -- they were on 12 times last season (10 NBCSN, two on NBC) and are set to be on 11 times this year (eight on NBCSN, three on NBC)." Blues games this season on NBCSN have averaged a 5.1 local rating in St. Louis, marking the cable the net’s second-best NHL market, behind only Pittsburgh. The Blues "have become a pillar" FS Midwest as well, with the club averaging a 4.6 local rating on the RSN, which is "on pace for the club’s best-rated season on that outlet (though far from the numbers they were generating in the mid-’90s, when they were on over-the-air television and drawing ratings in excess of 6)." FS Midwest Dir of Media Relations Geoff Goldman said, "Success on the ice is a big factor, but it’s more than that. The team is great in the community, they’ve grown their digital efforts, and our TV production continues to be strong. It all contributes" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 2/6).
