CBC Anticipates Ratings Boost From Penguins-Capitals Series

CBC Exec Says Penguins-Capitals Series "Has Everything You Could Possibly Want"

RATINGS SUCCESS: Versus' 26 games of the '09 NHL Conference Quarterfinals marked the net's most-watched first round ever, with viewership up 22% from the same period a year ago. Additionally, ratings for men 18-49 increased 20% and viewership for men 25-54 rose 31% (THE DAILY)....The CP's Bill Beacon reported revenue for the NHL GameCenter Live streaming service is up 92% over last year, while subscriptions are up 42%. The NHL said that U.S. visitors to NHL.com are up 12%, and that 89% "more videos are being watched" on the site. NHL COO John Collins: "This year has been a bit of breakthrough. The big market teams -- Chicago, Boston, Washington -- those are markets that drive ratings and are markets that are performing well during the playoffs" (CP, 4/30). Meanwhile, in St. Louis, Dan Caesar reports every game of the Canucks-Blues series "drew a rating bigger than any" Blues regular-season game this season. Canucks-Blues Game Four earned a 9.3 local rating in St. Louis on KPLR-CW, marking the "best rating for a Blues telecast" since a 12.3 for a Blues-Red Wings Western Conference Quarterfinal game in '02 (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 5/1).

AROUND THE DIAL: In L.A., Helene Elliott reports "every game of the Ducks-Red Wings series will be available in HD," but the "tricky part will be finding the Ducks' telecasts and radio broadcasts because they'll conflict with other sports." Versus will air Games One and Four of the series, while Game Two will air Sunday at 2:00pm ET on NBC. Games Three, Six and Seven will air on FS Prime Ticket, and Game Five will be on FS West. Times for Games Six and Seven "have not been determined" (L.A. TIMES, 5/1).

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