TSN Sees Highest Audience Since '92 For NHL First-Round Coverage
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Blackhawks-Flames Series Has Helped
Fuel TSN's Highest Viewership Since '92 |
TSN averaged 567,000 viewers for its first-round coverage of the NHL playoffs, marking a 42% increase over last season and the highest viewership since 440,000 in '92, and "much of that was fueled" by the Blackhawks-Flames series, according to Chris Zelkovich of the TORONTO STAR. This postseason marks the first time TSN has televised an NHL playoff series featuring a Canadian team, and Monday's Blackhawks-Flames Western Conference Quarterfinal Game Six drew 1.1 million viewers, the "largest first-round audience in TSN history." Having two series extend to seven games also "didn't hurt" for TSN, as the net drew 917,000 viewers for Tuesday's Rangers-Capitals Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Game Seven. Meanwhile, the CBC "had one less Canadian series than it did last year," and viewership for the net's first-round coverage dropped 17%. The CBC's decline was "due mainly to a four-game fizzle by the Montreal Canadiens and the new NHL deal that gave one Canadian series to TSN," as well as the Ducks-Sharks series that was "played mostly after bedtime in the east and featuring two teams that Canadians care little about." The CBC averaged 1.5 million viewers for its coverage of the Canucks-Blues Western Conference Quarterfinal series, and the Canucks "should hit the 2 million mark" for the second round. Zelkovich noted the second-round schedule "guarantees CBC at least two games in its traditional Saturday night spot." And while having the Penguins-Capitals Eastern Conference Semifinal series featuring Penguins C Sidney Crosby and Capitals LW Alex Ovechkin "could boost ratings," many of those games "will also be on NBC meaning some of the audience will gravitate south" (THESTAR.com, 4/29).
N.Y. STATE OF MIND: MSG earned a 3.02 local rating for Tuesday's Rangers-Capitals Game Seven, the top-rated Rangers telecast on the net since a 3.04 rating for Rangers-Panthers in April '97. MSG averaged a 2.5 local rating for the series, the best first-round number in 12 years. Meanwhile, MSG Plus Tuesday earned a 1.64 local rating for Hurricanes-Devils Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Game Seven, matching the rating for Game Three, which was the biggest Devils number on the network since May '01. MSG Plus averaged a 1.36 rating for the series, the best for a Devils opening-round series in a dozen years (TIMESUNION.com, 4/29).
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Writer Complains Of Versus' Playoff Coverage,
Wants Package To Go Back To ESPN |
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: The Albany TIMES UNION's Pete Dougherty wrote under the header, "Sorry, Versus Apologists, But Playoff Coverage Is Just Awful." Dougherty: "Please give the package back to ESPN." While the Hurricanes-Devils Game Seven was still in the third period Tuesday night, Versus was airing "more studio garbage from three guys -- Bill Patrick, Brian Engblom and Keith Jones -- who could make Mardi Gras sound dull." Versus aired Rangers-Capitals Game Seven Tuesday, and Hurricanes-Devils started 30 minutes later, so the "staggered start times afforded the perfect opportunity for 'bonus coverage' of the second game, but Versus believes we'd rather watch the talking heads." Dougherty: "One more gripe about the NHL/Versus situation. Every time there is a change in the NBA schedule, I get an e-mail from the league office. ... For the NHL, I get nothing. I can't even find a press contact person for Versus despite several attempts. The NHL has enough problems because it's a niche sport. Bad decisions about TV and failure to inform the public about the schedule is worse" (TIMESUNION.com, 4/28). Versus in a statement said, "Throughout the first round Versus aired two and sometimes three games each night. Game seven in the Devils/Hurricanes series was an unfortunate situation where a deal couldn’t get worked out to air another network’s coverage featuring the remainder of the game upon Versus’ completion of the Rangers/Capitals game. However, Versus aired a live look-in of the Devils/Hurricanes game during the network’s studio show, Hockey Central. For live look-ins, due to regulations, Versus cannot air more than two minutes of live game action nor can the network air the last two minutes of the game or overtime coverage" (Versus).
HANGING IN THE BALANCE: In Columbus, Michael Arace notes the Blue Jackets announcers currently "do not know whether they will be retained," they are "in limbo, and they oughtn't to be." Arace: "It has to change. So does the front-office meddling. No broadcaster should have his or her thoughts policed to the degree that Jackets broadcasters have been shackled" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 4/30).
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