By Sarah Kwak, SI.com
For all the talk about the NHL making monster strides on the ratings landscape, which is true to a certain extent, let's just consider that Monday night's 3 OT thriller was still beaten out in the 8 p.m., 9 p.m., and 10 p.m. slots by reruns of Bones, House and CSI: Miami, respectively. The 4.3 overnight rating and 8 share was the best a Stanley Cup Finals Game 5 has seen since 2002, but that's a little like bragging about being the thinnest kid at fat camp.
Still, relatively speaking, the NHL has seen some pretty encouraging numbers this postseason. Versus, the NHL's subterranean cable partner, has seen some considerable success with its playoff coverage; Game 2 of the Final garnered the highest rating the network has ever seen, meaning that over 2.5 million people, in fact, found Versus and tuned into the 3-0 Detroit win. But for a network that features bass fishing and cage fighting as its normal TV fare, the niche network still isn't pulling in the same kind of numbers that, say, ESPN would.
On NBC, the NHL is seeing some impressive stats. Saturday's Game 4, won by Detroit 2-1, also took prime time, the first time an NHL broadcast has won a night since June 9, 2001. It earned a 2.3/5 national rating and among adults 18-34 and the key adult-male demographics, it was the highest-rated program of the night. The ratings surge, which everyone at the NHL is giddy to point out, is proving that a dream match-up with marketable stars in marketable regions may just be enough to lift the NHL back to its pre-lockout status.
Even though Game 5 didn't beat primetime reruns, it did get hockey back into the conversation. More than one person reached out to me to say, at the very least, "I heard last night's game was great." Even if they don't watch, they're talking about it, which may be good news for tonight's Game 6. Although it'll be up against the first-place Tampa Bay Rays taking on the Boston Red Sox, the second do-or-die game for Pittsburgh has got people expecting another fantastic match and talking about a potential Game 7 in Detroit for Saturday.
Some interesting figures we saw from Monday night's game in the breakdown by market.
MONDAY'S TOP 10 MARKETS:
1. Pittsburgh, 35.4/52
2. Detroit, 29.6/46
3. Buffalo, 10.2/17
4. Denver, 7.2/12
5. Minneapolis, 7.1/13
6. St. Louis, 6.2/10
T7. Philadelphia, 4.9/9
T7. Nashville, 4.9/8
9. Washington, D.C., 4.7/9
10. Las Vegas, 4.4/7
Nashville, oft-cited as a terrible place for hockey and home of the (almost moved to Hamilton, Ont.) Predators, ties Philadelphia? I've heard that hockey is growing in popularity from some people in Nashville. This makes me sort of believe it. Same goes for Washington. I spoke with some D.C. residents recently, who explained that the last few months of Alexander Ovechkin's season and his team's playoff run had spread Caps Fever throughout the District.
"I hadn't watched a professional hockey game ever until then," a friend of mine said. But in a matter of weeks, everybody in the city was all about A.O. and it seems that maybe their fervor has carried over just a tad into the finals.
The presence of Sidney Crosby and America's most successful franchise (Red Wings) most certainly helps the NHL's cause. What would help even more?
A winner-takes-all Game 7.
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Comments (25) Add A Comment
The US has to do something about getting more fans to watch this great game and, I guess having one of the best Stanley Cup finals in years will do it! Surprised to see Nashville at #7 as well..., figured they had better things to do on a Monday night! Good to see though and, nice article.
Kev316
Peterborough, ON
Total Comments (679)
Detroit's number is of course depressed since many Detroiters watch the CBC rather than the NBC broadcast.
themapman
Dallas , TX
Total Comments (2)
Detroit's number is of course depressed since many Detroiters watch the CBC rather than the NBC broadcast.
themapman
Dallas , TX
Total Comments (2)
I watched CBC. NBC is terrible at calling an even game. Pierre McQuire is the biggest Moron of them all, its ALL Pittsburgh this and Pittsburgh that, Crosby Crosby Crosby, just stupid.
I bet when Detroit wins the cup tonight, Bettman hands it to Crosby first, just to get a feel for it.
Riffman
Garden City , MI
Total Comments (24)
Love to know how the ratings compared on Saturday night in similar and other markets for the CBS UFC card, especially in Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
AM
Carrollton , TX
Total Comments (25)
I watched CBC. NBC is terrible at calling an even game. Pierre McQuire is the biggest Moron of them all, its ALL Pittsburgh this and Pittsburgh that, Crosby Crosby Crosby, just stupid.
I bet when Detroit wins the cup tonight, Bettman hands it to Crosby first, just to get a feel for it.
Riffman | 06/04/08, 05:50 PM
Do Detroit fans ever get tired of complaining? All I hear is crying and no talk about actual hockey
runaway06
Gainesville , FL
Total Comments (343)
Yeah making fun of fat kids sure is appropriate and related to hockey?
adamns
Total Comments (1)
6 comments that's awesome, just shows how popular hockey is.
Hockey Rules in…
Rowland Heights , CA
Total Comments (3)
adamns, she didn't make fun of fat kids. get over your fat self.
marc andre fleury is…
Wichita , KS
Total Comments (103)
pierre mcguire is one of the smartest hockey poeple in the wolrd and one of the most passionate. hes a great commentator
gojays1234
Total Comments (6)
I live in Philly, and I only tuned into NBC to see Pittsburgh lose.
BobD
Philadelphia , PA
Total Comments (284)
Oh wow now 12 comments, man this sports is doubling in popularity. Watch out America, Hockey is soon going to take over Football!
Hockey Rules in…
Rowland Heights , CA
Total Comments (3)
Hockey although it is the fastest, toughest, and most difficult sport to play will never be a major sport in America because 90% of americans are slow, dimwitted, people who would rather watch baseball (which is crap). Baseball and Basketball have to be some of the worst sports ever invented. Just watching 10 mins of either sport makes me feel like my brain fell out of my head in into my ****. HOCKEY RULES!!!!!!!!!
sassagelink
Albuquerque , NM
Total Comments (1)
I'm just glad it's over because now GoCanada can switch his user icon. Haha.
Actually, it was a good game. Pittsburgh seems like they're almost there and threatening to become the closest thing to a dynasty since the Oilers. Detroit is an awesome team too, and if they keep it up, they could be a dynasty, as well. Too early too tell for sure, but both teams are good.
Congrats to Detroit for winning the cup!!!!
ImAHockeyFan
Farmington, MN
Total Comments (39)
DETROIT RED WINGS 2007-2008 CHAMPIONS!!!! ALL HAIL HOCKEYTOWN! on a second note nice job to the pens your time is coming! its been a great series
diks23
Harmony , PA
Total Comments (12)
The jokes about people not being able to find Versus on their cable line-up are tired, cliched and were never that funny to begin with.
SoccerHaus
Chicago , IL
Total Comments (10)
riffman you said it brother, that mcquire talking smack about all euros!!!!!!???? i mean what an idiot, i would've punched him in the face! i love you red wings
detroitred19
Total Comments (2)
riffman, you said it brother, that mcquire guy needs to go...who in there right mind would say the swedes and all euros are not tough enough to win the cup!!!!!! i hate him and all nbc girls!!! i love you red wings!!!!!!!!!!
detroitred19
Total Comments (2)
I agree with the guy who made the comment about baseball. Honestly, I can't imagine a slower, more mind numbing game (except maybe golf). And, I call it a game, because it is not a sport. You should only be able to call something a sport if it is impossible to play it and not break a sweat. You could play 20 innings of baseball and never break a sweat (unless, of course, it was really hot out).
The Red Wings were amazing this season, but I have to hand it to the Pens, they earned my respect (especially their goalie).
Juicedog
Arvada , CO
Total Comments (1)
Being from the State of Hockey (Minnesota). I feel I must justify our fifth place showing in the ratings with game 5 coinciding with the Minnesota Twins game. We love our hockey here in Minnesota and we show it by selling out every home game the Wild have ever had, but we also love our Minnesota Twins. I agree Hockey over baseball, but I promise you if it were the Wild playing the whole state would have been watching it, we just fell short this year. With the Wings getting older I see the Pens dominating the East for quite a long time to come.
TheRealSykes
Total Comments (19)
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