Even Game 7 of stanley cup finals is not a big hit with US TV viewers

Wrigley · Jun 20, 2006

What can the league do to get people to watch this sport they missed a good game 7

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In the 3 hours of coverage Game 7 failed to win in any of the 3 hours of ratings blocks

In the first hour finished 4th
In the second hour 4th
In the 3rd hour 2nd although Fox networks go to local programing in the 3rd hour so they finished 2nd out of 3 of the major networks.
CBS Maintains Monday Control

June 20 2006

David Caruso of 'CSI: Miami'

Fast National ratings for Monday, June 19, 2006.

Despite an exciting Stanley Cup Game 7, NBC could do little to challenge CBS' Monday night dominance. The Tiffany Network crushed the competition overall, though FOX was able to eke out a slim demographic win.

For the night, CBS averaged a 5.8 rating/10 share, far ahead of the 3.9/7 for FOX. ABC was right behind in third with a 3.6/6, nipping the 3.5/6 for NBC (though NBC averaged more viewers). The WB and UPN continued to play out the string with matching totals of 1.3/2 on the night.

FOX won the night among adults 18-49 with a 2.7 rating in the all-important demographic, just topping the 2.6 rating for CBS. NBC's hockey earned a 2.3 rating for third place, beating the 2.0 rating for ABC. UPN had a 0.8 rating, thumping the 0.7 rating turned in by The WB.

CBS began its evening sweep at 8 p.m. with the 4.6/8 averaged by "The King of Queens" and "How I Met Your Mother." ABC's "Wife Swap" had a 4.1/7 for second, while FOX's "Hell's Kitchen" repeat was third with a 3.2/6. On NBC, the start of Carolina's NHL win was fourth. The WB's "7th Heaven" (which The CW kept instead of "Everwood") was fifth with a 1.4/2, though UPN's "One on One" and "All of Us" averaged more viewers.

At 9 p.m., a pair of "Two and a Half Men" episodes averaged a 5.3/9 for CBS. FOX's new "Hell's Kitchen" improved to a 4.7/7 and second place, dropping ABC to third with "Supernanny." NBC's NHL coverage was fourth with a 3.4/5. Another episode of "7th Heaven" on The WB and episodes of "Girlfriends" and "Half and Half" on UPN did roughly the same 1.3/2.

CBS closed the evening strong with the 7.5/13 for "CSI: Miami." The end of the hockey game had a 4.1/7 for NBC, destroying the 2.8/5 for ABC's "How to Get the Guy." What kind of network programming loses to hockey?

BizzyB · Jun 20, 2006

Wrigley said:
What can the league do to get people to watch this sport they missed a good game 7

------------------------------------------------

In the 3 hours of coverage Game 7 failed to win in any of the 3 hours of ratings blocks

In the first hour finished 4th
In the second hour 4th
In the 3rd hour 2nd although Fox networks go to local programing in the 3rd hour so they finished 2nd out of 3 of the major networks.
CBS Maintains Monday Control

June 20 2006



David Caruso of 'CSI: Miami'

Fast National ratings for Monday, June 19, 2006.

Despite an exciting Stanley Cup Game 7, NBC could do little to challenge CBS' Monday night dominance. The Tiffany Network crushed the competition overall, though FOX was able to eke out a slim demographic win.

For the night, CBS averaged a 5.8 rating/10 share, far ahead of the 3.9/7 for FOX. ABC was right behind in third with a 3.6/6, nipping the 3.5/6 for NBC (though NBC averaged more viewers). The WB and UPN continued to play out the string with matching totals of 1.3/2 on the night.

FOX won the night among adults 18-49 with a 2.7 rating in the all-important demographic, just topping the 2.6 rating for CBS. NBC's hockey earned a 2.3 rating for third place, beating the 2.0 rating for ABC. UPN had a 0.8 rating, thumping the 0.7 rating turned in by The WB.

CBS began its evening sweep at 8 p.m. with the 4.6/8 averaged by "The King of Queens" and "How I Met Your Mother." ABC's "Wife Swap" had a 4.1/7 for second, while FOX's "Hell's Kitchen" repeat was third with a 3.2/6. On NBC, the start of Carolina's NHL win was fourth. The WB's "7th Heaven" (which The CW kept instead of "Everwood") was fifth with a 1.4/2, though UPN's "One on One" and "All of Us" averaged more viewers.

At 9 p.m., a pair of "Two and a Half Men" episodes averaged a 5.3/9 for CBS. FOX's new "Hell's Kitchen" improved to a 4.7/7 and second place, dropping ABC to third with "Supernanny." NBC's NHL coverage was fourth with a 3.4/5. Another episode of "7th Heaven" on The WB and episodes of "Girlfriends" and "Half and Half" on UPN did roughly the same 1.3/2.

CBS closed the evening strong with the 7.5/13 for "CSI: Miami." The end of the hockey game had a 4.1/7 for NBC, destroying the 2.8/5 for ABC's "How to Get the Guy." What kind of network programming loses to hockey?

That's a good rating considering CBC covers pretty much all of the Canadian viewers. Not only that, but these are the two smallest markets in the NHL.

Calgary/Tampa in 04 was only a 2.9 rating overall average. Things are looking up.

Sugarbear · Jun 20, 2006

It was great 8 week hockey season for me. Cant wait for next spring to do it again.

Wrigley · Jun 20, 2006

BizzyB said:
That's a good rating considering CBC covers pretty much all of the Canadian viewers. Not only that, but these are the two smallest markets in the NHL.

Calgary/Tampa in 04 was only a 2.9 rating overall average. Things are looking up.

Hopefully NBC will stick with them , But the writer for Zapit should not make a smart personal comment on the story you see how he ends the article with a cheap shot at hockey.

http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/zap-ratings061906,0,2974349.story?coll=zap-tv-ratings-headlines

The end of the hockey game had a 4.1/7 for NBC, destroying the 2.8/5 for ABC's "How to Get the Guy." What kind of network programming loses to hockey?

FairWarning · Jun 20, 2006

Probably more important to see what the ratings are in each US city with a team.

Akillies · Jun 20, 2006

the Raleigh Designated Market Area (DMA) is ranked 29th in the us, ahead of columbus, nashville, and buffalo.
I think those ratings for hockey are great all things considered. All the talk of low ratings was due to very few homes having access to OLN for all games until NBC picked up the last 5 games.

WildBill · Jun 20, 2006

I don't give two shits about who is watching. You watch something else you miss out on the best "reality" show on TV. Enough said.

Ladeda · Jun 21, 2006

I don't know why but I jsut don't find hockey exciting to watch on TV anymore. I grew up watching a lot of hockey on TV and used to love it. Over the last decade however my interest has almost dwindled to zero in the sport.

I made a point to clear time to watch the game 7 yesterday, but ended up changing the channel to watch the phils/yanks game halfway thru the first period. I did tune in to the last period which was somewhat exciting.

Fun sport to watch in person, terrible on TV.

TTinCO · Jun 21, 2006

That's sad, but I consider it the "OLN factor".

PatPatriot · Jun 21, 2006

I know one thing after last nites game I'm going to start watching hockey again.What a great game and what great atmosphere.It was the first game I watched in 2 years and my heart was racing all the way through it.
Go Whalers!
I think with the advent of HDTV it will help the sport a lot.I think hockey players are the toughest and best atheletes around.I'll take it over the NBA anyday.

FairWarning · Jun 21, 2006

WildBill said:
I don't give two shits about who is watching. You watch something else you miss out on the best "reality" show on TV. Enough said.

Exactly.

I watched Sportscenter last night, and the first 15 minutes was dedicated to Cuban's fine. Then they go into the 48-hour watch until Clemens comes back. About 30 minutes into the show, they finally bring up hockey. Something tells me if ESPN or ABC were covering it, it would be the lead or second item.