FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 7th, 2013

Boston-Montreal is most-watched NHL regular-season game on cable involving a Canadian team in 13 years.

February 7, 2013

 

Following are viewership notes for NBC Sports Network’s Wednesday Night Rivalry telecast featuring the Boston Bruins 2-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. 

  • NBC Sports Network’s NHL Wednesday Night Rivalry game (Boston/Montreal, 7:30P-10:15P) was the most-watched NHL regular-season game involving a Canadian team in network history and the most-watched NHL regular-season game involving a Canadian team on cable in nearly 13 years.
    • The game surpassed NBC Sports Network’s (formerly VERSUS) Heritage Classic telecast between Montreal/Calgary on 2/20/11; 608,000 viewers.
    • It is the most-watched game involving a Canadian team on cable since 12/27/00 on ESPN2 (Toronto/Pittsburgh featuring Mario Lemieux’s return from retirement; 1.046 million viewers).
  • Boston/Montreal was the fourth-most watched regular-season game in NBC Sports Network history with 771,000 viewers.
  • The game posted a 0.43 HH rtg, 771,000 average viewers (+68% from NBCSN’s 2011/12 exclusive time period game average), 477,000 P18-49 (+100%), and 398,000 P25-54 (+66%).
  • The game peaked with over 1 million viewers (1.044 million) from 8:45-9 p.m. ET.
  • Through 10 games, the NHL on NBCSN has drawn 478,000 average viewers, +44% above last year’s full regular-season average (332,000).  This is the best start ever for the NHL on NBCSN after 10 games.
  • NBC Sports Network’s three Wednesday Night Rivalry games this season rank as three of the four most-watched regular-season games in network history.
  • Boston received a 7.16 HH rtg, which was the second-highest rated regular-season Bruins game ever on NBCSN (second only to 2011/12 Opening Night with Philadelphia/Boston: 7.39).  The game was +61% from the Bruins’ 2011/12 regular season average on NBCSN in the market (4.46).