TV Sports Ratings

The 6th and deciding game of the Stanley Cup Final (Wed 6/4; 8-11p) on NBC averaged 3.8s in Men 18-49/M18-34 with an average audience of 6.8 million viewers.

While the average audience was the largest of the series, demos were flat with Game 5.  As with most deciding games, sampling from casual viewers drove the audience increase.

The full series (Versus and NBC, Total U.S. ratings) averaged 2.7s in key male demos with an average audience of 4.6 million viewers.

Compared to the full 2007 final (Ottawa/Anaheim), the series was up 170% in Men 18-49, 200% in Men 18-34 and 159% in average audience.  Male skew was steady at 69%.  Median age dropped from 44 years to 42.

Going into tonight’s Game 6, Stanley Cup Final coverage on Versus and NBC has averaged 2.5 ratings in both M18-49 and M18-34 with an average audience of 4.2 million viewers.

Compared to 2007 data through 5 games, these levels are up 150% in Men 18-49, 178% in M18-34 and 135% in average audience.

Versus was the beneficiary of a much better matchup for them (domestic teams in widely-distributed markets) while NBC is riding high on the strength of the triple overtime classic Game 5.

A triple overtime thriller meant ratings gold for NBC, as Game 5 of Penguins/Red Wings hit series-high levels across the board.

Airing on NBC Monday 6/2, the telecast averaged a 3.78 in Men 18-49, a 3.89 in Men 18-34 and an average audience of 6.2 million viewers (about 2 million more than Games 3 and 4 - also on NBC).

More to come.

The third game of Penguins/Red Wings (and the first on NBC after Games 1 & 2 aired on Versus) averaged a 2.4 in Men 18-49 and a 2.3 in Men 18-34.

Compared to last year’s Game 3 on NBC (6/2/07), the telecast was up +243% in Men 18-49 and +283% in Men 18-34.

To put these numbers in additional context, NBC’s entertainment lineup (composed of repeat programming) averaged a 1.7 in M18-49 on Monday and a 1.6 on Tuesday.  Among M18-34, NBC averaged a 1.4 on Monday and a 1.2 on Tuesday.

So, for once, the NHL (which has accounted for historically low Primetime ratings on both NBC and ABC in past years) was actually a stronger performer than time period benchmarks. 

Airing on Saturday 5/24/08, Game #1 of Detroit/Pittsburgh on Versus (8-10:51p) averaged a healthy 2.26 in Men 18-49, a 2.64 in Men 18-34 and an average audience of 2.4 million viewers.

Compared to Game #1 last year (Mon 5/28/07; Anaheim/Ottawa; 8-10:55p), Versus was up 223% in Men 18-49, 380% in Men 18-34 and 206% in average audience.

Strongest demo was Men 25-34 (3.08 rating, up 397%).

Male skew increased from 63% to 67%.  Median age dropped from 43 years to 40.

(Keep in mind, Ottawa is not rated and Anaheim had sub-standard Versus distribution last year).

The Stanley Cup Finals begin tonight on VS, airing directly against Celtics/Pistons.

For some perspecitve, Game 1 last year (Anaheim/Ottawa; 5/28/07) averaged just a .70 in Men 18-49, a .55 in M18-34 and an average audience of 771,000 viewers. 

These numbers were anemic, hurt by a matchup of an unrated Canadian market and a West Coast market with little to no distribution for VS.

So, we’ll be hearing a lot about how the 2008 Finals are up significantly from 2007 - you can bet on it.  But, try to keep this in perspective.  These numbers will be nothing to crow about in any other context. 

Through Monday night, 50 game telecasts on Versus this post-season have averaged a .70 rating in Men 18-49, a .73 in Men 18-34 and an average audience of 611,000 viewers.

Compared to last season at the same point, Versus is up 84% in Men 18-49, 92% in M18-34 and 48% in average audience.

Median age has dropped from 40 years to 38. 

Pennsylvania is Comcast country, so the owners of Versus must be loving Flyers/Pens.