NHL Game 1 Ratings

[charper1]

Averaged only 611,000 viewers. Dismal and NOT good for the league; severely overshadows the announcements of them making money! No TV ratings could spell doom.

WNBA ABC 801k
AFL Playoff NBC 970k
AVP Volleyball FOX 1.1M
Suns/Mavericks (Thursday) TNT 6.2M
Pistons/Heat (Friday) ESPN 6.5M
Spelling Bee (special) ABC 8.5M
Last Comic Standing NBC 8.6M
So You Think You Can Dance Fox 8.8M
Two and a Half Men CBS 10.6M



STORY:

(AHN) - Following the lock-out season in 2004-2005, the NHL has rebounded nicely this year and has achieved many of the goals it set out to accomplish.

The games have featured higher scoring, attendance is up, revenues are healthy and thanks to the new collective bargaining agreement, there's more parity between all the teams.

One thing that hasn't improved from years past are the television ratings. In fact, they've only gotten worse. ESPN declined to renew their contract with the NHL this season, leaving the broadcasting rights to the Outdoor Life Network which usually covers hunting, fishing and the Tour de France.

According to the Washington Post, OHN posted a 0.4 rating for this year's playoffs thus far. In 2004 ESPN's coverage posted a 0.7. NBC's coverage of select playoff games this year posted a 1.1. ABC posted a 1.5 rating two years ago for the same amount of games.

Paul Swangard of the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at the University of Oregon explained to the Washington Post the severity of the NHL's broadcast situation.

"You look at the playoff [ratings] numbers, and they have been beaten pretty soundly by poker and bowling," Swangard said. "But I don't think this year was ever about robust TV numbers. It was about the gate and about competitive balance. With an economic model that doesn't rely on television, they can make this league work long-term."

 

[Mr Tony]

heh....more people in Manitoba probably watched the game than the whole US

pretty sad if you ask me

 

[charper1]

Yep, I like the NHL although it isnt my 1st sport, but no TV can kill a major league sport.

 

[BFG]

I didn't watch it and I'll blame dish for that. Lowering the channel a tier would've been the right thing to do. I like the NHL, but not enough to step up to another tier and pay extra for it. I'll wait until it's free on NBC, the ratings will be higher on there as well.

The ratings you're trying to compare it to in the first post back that up as well. All are on networks and TNT and ESPN, channels that are carried everywhere and anywhere

 

[charper1]

Hey B - quick off-topic question. I have a buddy looking a sat for the 1st time and was going to send him your signature link for the "DBS Package Comparison". When was that last updated and is there any date on the web page that posts the last updated date? Thanks!

 

[vinnyv07]

The NHL has never had ratings when shown on tv. ABC had games, Fox had some.....ESPN had some games....no matter what the network, what day, they never had ratings. It also doesn't help that the games are on OLN.

 

[BFG]

Ok

Daystar is back on dish
dish replaced starz cinema west with starz comedy
sleuth added to directv before dish

but i just updated all that so, yes it's up to date

 

[charper1]

Thanks!

 

[riffjim4069]

After the Wings got fried in the playoffs, I went back to boycotting the season. The NHL had better get its act in gear or a lot of their fans will not return.

 

[salsadancer7]

Sorry folks....the NHL does a great job for hardcore fans....but they do NOTHING to catch the attention of someone that is not a big follower. And having games ONLY on cable sure as hell does not help either. Face the facts, that sport is heading down the tubes fast.....Hell, I HATE NASCAR...but has gone WAY outta their way in selling the product that when it came down here to South Florida, they peaked my interest and I went and a had a great time....hate, gone. The lockout was the beginning of the end for this sport.

 

[riffjim4069]

I believe I can sum up the NHL's woes in a single utterance...Gary Bettman! Hockey has taken a nose-dive since during his tenure as NHL Commissioner (1993). Additionally, no offense toward the find folks in Edmonton and Raleigh, but I don't think the Stanley Cup finals could have spotlighted two more unpopular teams by viewship - they really needed a New York, Philly, LA, Detroit, Chicago, Colorado or two involved. It's unfortunate that Game 1 wasn't even on the radar screen.

 

[Purogamer]

Since when is low NHL ratings a story? It's like "Wow folks, the sun came up today"...

How come people bash NHL on Fox lately anyways? I never watched more hockey than when NHL was on Fox...

 

[Jimbo]

I believe I can sum up the NHL's woes in a single utterance...Gary Bettman! Hockey has taken a nose-dive since during his tenure as NHL Commissioner (1993). Additionally, no offense toward the find folks in Edmonton and Raleigh, but I don't think the Stanley Cup finals could have spotlighted two more unpopular teams by viewship - they really needed a New York, Philly, LA, Detroit, Chicago, Colorado or two involved. It's unfortunate that Game 1 wasn't even on the radar screen.

Didn't Bettman come to the NHL from the NBA as a GREAT marketing guy that was going to save the world, ah NHL, I mean ................

I still enjoy hockey, I don't watch it as much as I would if the Red Wings were in the playoffs.

I did watch the first 2 games, while also keeping an eye on the Tigers.

I think Edmonton was a good story because Roloson got on a great roll, now that he's gone, I would expect the Canes to win the series.

Cam Ward appears to be stealing the spotlight !!!

Jimbo

 

[Purogamer]

Maybe i'd watch more if they got rid of the blue jackets. I feel like a traitor because I don't care or support the home team. I've never really had a home team (Flyers and Red Wings are favorites) so I SHOULD love the idea of having a team in the state, but I just don't care...

 

[Jimbo]

Maybe i'd watch more if they got rid of the blue jackets. I feel like a traitor because I don't care or support the home team. I've never really had a home team (Flyers and Red Wings are favorites) so I SHOULD love the idea of having a team in the state, but I just don't care...

One positive for being where you are,
It's much easier to go to Columbus and see the Red Wings than the Joe.

I did once this year and am hoping to again next year.

Jimbo

 

[Digital Dude]

Maybe i'd watch more if they got rid of the blue jackets. I feel like a traitor because I don't care or support the home team. I've never really had a home team (Flyers and Red Wings are favorites) so I SHOULD love the idea of having a team in the state, but I just don't care...

Or if the Blue Jackets had a real name. The way they got their name is a perfect example of Bettman's meddling and mucking things up. The Jackets actually have filled more seats than most teams in the league, pathetic as they've been.