FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, April 13th, 2012
NHL PLAYOFFS ON NBC SPORTS NETWORK UP 22% THROUGH TWO DAYS
NEW YORK – April 13, 2012 – Through two days of the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, NBC Sports Network’s viewership is up 22% compared to the first two days of last year’s playoffs (600,000 vs. 490,000), according to official national ratings data released today by The Nielsen Company. In addition, the second night of coverage on NBC Sports Network (formerly VERSUS) on Thursday was up 20 percent compared to last year’s Day 2 (541,000 vs. 451,000).
NBC Sports Network’s coverage of the Coyotes 3-2 overtime victory over the Blackhawks registered 499,000 viewers, up 31% vs. last year (381,000). Coverage of the Bruins 1-0 overtime win over the Capitals was watched by 576,000 viewers, up 13% vs. last year (510,000).
The Sharks 3-2 overtime victory over the Blues was watched by 320,000 viewers on CNBC. There was no comparable coverage last year as this is the first year in NHL history that all playoff games are being shown nationally.
OPENING NIGHT TOTAL AUDIENCE UP 34%: Wednesday night’s three-game Opening Night coverage of the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on both NBC Sports Network (double-header) and CNBC had a total audience of 3.59 million viewers, a 34% increase vs. last year, when NBC Sports Network (formerly VERSUS) was the only channel to show games (2.68 million).
