FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, October 8th, 2015

BYTES: RANGERS-BLACKHAWKS NHL OPENER IS MOST-STREAMED REGULAR-SEASON GAME EVER ON NBC SPORTS LIVE EXTRA

NBC SPORTS DIGITAL “BYTES”

October 8, 2015 – Vol. 70

NBC Sports Digital “Bytes” is a collection of highlights, information and metrics for NBC Sports Digital properties. Previous editions can be found on NBCSportsGroupPressbox.com.

Rangers-Blackhawks NHL Opener is Most-Streamed Regular-Season Game Ever on NBC Sports Live Extra

Last night’s season opening NHL game between the New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks delivered 3.7 million live minutes and 64,000 unique users, making it NBC Sports Live Extra’s most-streamed regular-season NHL game ever. The game was up 128% in live minutes and 56% in unique users versus last season’s opener (Philadelphia Flyers vs. Boston Bruins; 1.6 million minutes, 41,000 unique users). The game topped the previous regular season record, Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (2011 Winter Classic, 1/1/11), which was unauthenticated, by 17% in unique users.

NBC Sports Group Introduces Contest To Determine The Best American Bar For Premier League Fans

As previously announced, NBC Sports Group introduced a contest this week searching for the best Premier League bar in America. From now through December 6, NBC Sports Group is asking fans to “show their pub some love” by submitting nominations  to help their bar take the throne atNBCSports.com/BestPLBarContest. Additionally, fans can support their pub by:

  • Checking in on the NBC Sports Matchmaker App
  • Sharing stories, images and videos by tagging their bar and using #BestPLBarContest on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
  • Describing how much their Premier League pub means to them here.

The contest site also features a full list of participating bars, a list of trending bars, a social media feed with Facebook, Twitter and Instagram posts with the hashtag #BestPLBarContest, and a schedule of upcoming Premier League fixtures. Bars will be judged by an NBC Sports Group judging panel, and the winning bar will be based on the number of in-bar check-ins as well as fan content submitted and shared. The winning bar will receive a cash prize of $50,000 to upgrade their viewing experience, a party hosted by NBC Sports Group for all fans who helped them earn the ultimate bragging rights, along with a national TV commercial to showcase that their pub is #1 in America. Click here for more information.

ICYMI on NBC SportsWorld, NBC Sports Digital’s Long-Form Website

Renowned baseball authority Joe Posnanski writes about the Chicago Cubs’ playoff berth, and how Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta‘s performance in the Wild Card game, shutting out the Pittsburgh Pirates, was the stuff of legend. Click here for the long-form story on NBC SportsWorld.

Posnanski caught up with NASCAR great Jeff Gordon to discuss “life after the race,” as he prepares to retire at the end of this season. Click here for the long-form story on NBC SportsWorld.

Jason Quick Joins Comcast SportsNet Northwest, CSNNW.com

Comcast SportsNet Northwest announced that long-time, respected Oregonian writer Jason Quick is joining the network as its Trail Blazers Insider beginning Monday, October 19 (watch announcement).

In his new multi-faceted role, Quick will cover the Trail Blazers at home and on the road, delivering insightful, comprehensive coverage of the team to CSN viewers and CSNNW.com users, including team news and updates, breaking stories, analysis, interviews, opinion pieces, and more. Additionally, he’ll be a regular fixture on CSN’s pre- and post-game programs Rip City Live, Talkin’ Ball and Trail Blazers Pulse.

Prior to joining CSN, Quick’s extensive career at The Oregonian spanned 21 years, which included 16 seasons covering the Trail Blazers. Quick is a two-time Oregon Sportswriter of the Year (2002, 2008), and is an award-winning writer with four prestigious APSE Top 10 awards, including two Top 5 finishes.

CSN Mid-Atlantic Celebrates Social Media Success 

After CSNmidatlantic.com posted records for monthly and daily traffic in September, CSN Mid-Atlantic is now celebrating many social media successes. Since October 2014, CSN Mid-Atlantic has registered a 577% increase in Facebook likes, which has generated a more than 600% growth in engagements and a more than 1,400% increase in link clicks. On Twitter, CSN Mid-Atlantic and has earned 24% more followers to its primary account in the last year, leading to 56% more engagements.

— NBC SPORTS DIGITAL —