NBCSN drew a 0.8 overnight rating for last night's Rangers-Blackhawks NHL season opener, marking the second-best overnight for any regular-season game on the cable net, behind only last season's Flyers-Bruins opener. Chicago drew a 4.7 local rating for the game, which aired up against the Cubs' win over the Pirates in the NL Wild Card game. N.Y. ranked second with a 2.4 local rating, which is the market's second-best figure for an NHL regular-season matchup on NBCSN, behind only a 3.6 for the final Rangers-Islanders matchup from Long Island last season. In the late window last night, NBCSN drew a 0.3 overnight for Sharks-Kings (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).
MAKE A WISH: In Indianapolis, Anthony Schoettle noted locally based WISH-CW has struck a "new deal to live broadcast" 19 Blackhawks games this season, which begins with tomorrow night's game against the Islanders. This is the first time, "outside of Canadian cable distribution anomalies" involving WGN, that Blackhawks games will "air outside the Chicago market." Since WISH "lost its CBS affiliation" to WTTV in January, it has been "stockpiling live sporting events to replace lost programming and to build its audience." WISH in March "signed a deal to air" 57 Cubs and White Sox games (IBJ.com, 10/7).
STACKING THE PADS: In Philadelphia, Jeff Blumenthal noted former NHLer Brian Boucher has joined NBC Sports "as a full-time 'Inside-the-Glass' and studio analyst" for the '15-16 season. Boucher made his debut with NBCSN as an analyst during last season's playoffs. He spent the regular season "serving as a Flyers pre and post game analyst" on CSN Philadelphia. CSN said that Boucher will "continue in that role on top of his new national duties" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 10/7). Boucher will also serve as an on-air personality at NHL Network (THE DAILY).
HAB YOU SEEN ME LATELY? In Montreal, Steve Faguy writes local viewers who want to watch all 82 regular-season Canadiens games in '15-16 "will need at least five TV channels in English and two in French -- and possibly more." Fans west of eastern Ontario "once again have to deal with regional blackouts unless they shell out for an expensive premium sports package." Plus, it is "even more complicated" for fans in Quebec who want to watch games online (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 10/8).
