NBCSN drew a 2.8 overnight rating last night for the Capitals’ 3-2 win over the Golden Knights in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, up 12% from a 2.5 for Penguins-Predators Game 2 last year on the same network. Last night’s contest also outdrew Penguins-Sharks Game 2 from two years ago (1.9), and marks NBCSN’s best primetime rating since Blackhawks-Lighting Game 4 in ’15 (2.9 overnight). Las Vegas led all local markets last night with a 19.8 rating, followed by DC with a 13.4. Both marked NBCSN’s highest-rated game ever for the teams in their respective markets (Josh Carpenter, Assistant Editor).
UNDER THE ARCH: In St. Louis, Dan Caesar writes the city "clunked along in the basketball ratings" for the NBA's conference finals. The market "ranked 48th nationally" for the Cavaliers-Celtics ECF on ESPN "despite the fact" that Celtics F Jayson Tatum is from St. Louis. The market "did even worse" for Warriors-Rockets WCF on TNT, ranking 54th. St. Louis did "much better from a rankings standpoint" for the NHL conference finals, ranking 13th nationally for games across NBC and NBCSN (STLTODAY.com, 5/31).
BRINGING THE A-GAME: The Atlantic 10 reached a multiyear deal to have more than 500 conference events each year carried on ESPN+ beginning next season. The deal makes ESPN+ the exclusive home to all A-10 Olympic sports championships and includes games from multiple A-10 Championships, including basketball, soccer, field hockey, women's volleyball, baseball, softball and women's lacrosse (A-10).
IN THE VALLEY: The Missouri Valley Conference agreed to a multiyear extension to televise men's basketball games on CBS and CBS Sports Network through '23-24. The deal comes through a sublicense agreement with ESPN. CBS will again broadcast the State Farm MVC Men's Basketball Championship, which it has aired since '06. CBSSN will televise eight regular season games, as well as the Arch Madness Conference Tournament semifinals, which it has done since '16 (CBS).
