servo 15 Report post Posted June 1, 2009 Stanley Cup Finals ratings drop slightly Posted by George James Malik June 01, 2009 08:13AM The Associated Press reports that the Red Wings and Penguins haven't drawn all that well for NBC: May 31, Associated Press: American television ratings for Game 1 of the Red Wings-Penguins Stanley Cup final rematch were down from last year's levels. The NBC telecast drew a 2.6 rating and a 5 share. That's compared with a four-game NBC average of a 3.2 rating and a 6 share one year ago. Detroit beat Pittsburgh 3-1 in Saturday night's Game 1 and won the Cup over the Pens in six games in 2008. The first Cup final game on NBC last year - a Pittsburgh win in Game 3 - earned a 2.8 U.S. rating. The rating is the percentage watching a program among homes with televisions, and the share is the percentage tuned into the broadcast among those households with TVs on at the time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
edicius 3,269 Report post Posted June 1, 2009 So much for the weekend being the hot time to showcase hockey. Probably would have done better airing a game on Tuesday night, but NBC didn't want to rearrange their schedule (specifically Conan's first week on the Tonight Show, understandably so) if the game went to OT. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
#2WingsFan 0 Report post Posted June 1, 2009 I prefer to watch on CBC. Much better coverage than NBC. You don't get as much Crosby stroking either! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StevieY9802 6 Report post Posted June 1, 2009 I think they would have done better on the weekday too. Now I hope it's a sweep just so that NBC gets screwed out of the winning game. ESPN anyone home? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris L 0 Report post Posted June 1, 2009 I prefer to watch on CBC. Much better coverage than NBC. You don't get as much Crosby stroking either! You're lucky, here in Chicago, I don't get CBC. I'm not sure I can even get Comcast to give it to me. Maybe the NHL Center Ice package has it, but I'm not biting on it now, perhaps next year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maltbymaniac 13 Report post Posted June 1, 2009 whats up with cbc HD,does anyone get it in HD???i dont so i watch nbc Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C-TownWing 0 Report post Posted June 1, 2009 Not really surprising...rematches are generally ratings murder anyway, even when they involve popular and marketable teams. Been there, done that for the casual viewer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cusimano_brothers 1,655 Report post Posted June 1, 2009 From: TSN. Among the other topics Bettman touched on during his address: -- The decision to start the Stanley Cup with games on consecutive nights was made a year ago. "We wanted to try something different, we wanted to try and build an intense start to the series," said Bettman. Inspector Gadget is a very poor liar and an absolute fool; I'm glad to see the ratings for G1 tanked in the US. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StevieY9802 6 Report post Posted June 1, 2009 From: TSN. Inspector Gadget is a very poor liar and an absolute fool; I'm glad to see the ratings for G1 tanked in the US. He's so full of it. He can't even admit when he's wrong. That's why the league will struggle. The Preds, Thrashers and Coyotes could have 400 fans at every game and he would still say hockey is strong there. BUT if it's a team that moved or started while he wasn't the commish thats ok they can move to hawaii for all he cares. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cicada 4 Report post Posted June 1, 2009 (edited) it's game 1 on a Saturday night... you can;t compare it to a game 3,4,5,6 average... the AP report is crap Edited June 1, 2009 by Cicada Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vladifan 680 Report post Posted June 1, 2009 The Wings' game five with the Hawks was the highest-rated game/program that Versus has ever had, including the Lance Armstrong Tour de France adventure. Not sayin' much I know, but I'm thinking viewers in general are thinking it's a given that the Wings are going to win the Cup again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esteef 2,679 Report post Posted June 1, 2009 NBC could care less about hockey. They don't even have a pre-game show for Christs sakes! esteef Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingslionstigers 12 Report post Posted June 1, 2009 Yeah NBC is *** i tune into CBC way better coverage. I can't even believe the league allows NBC to cover the Cup with there s***ty coverage its a disgrace to the NHL. Stanley Cup with very minimal coverage you kidding me? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RyanK 1 Report post Posted June 1, 2009 whats up with cbc HD,does anyone get it in HD???i dont so i watch nbc I wish, I'd so much rather watch CBC but after 5 minutes or trying to sit through it I find NBC's Crosby love far less obnoxious than CBC's blurry broadcast. Ugh.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Datsook 0 Report post Posted June 1, 2009 whats up with cbc HD,does anyone get it in HD???i dont so i watch nbc I do:) but I live in Canada Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Casey 145 Report post Posted June 1, 2009 Does anyone else agree that part of the NHL's troubles is down to poor officiating? Fans like consistency- random officiating like the NHL would have refs being hung in the NFL. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pirateasaurus 0 Report post Posted June 1, 2009 Does anyone else agree that part of the NHL's troubles is down to poor officiating? Fans like consistency- random officiating like the NHL would have refs being hung in the NFL. I believe the ratings were poor far before everyone started freaking out about officiating. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xBrave_Heartx 0 Report post Posted June 1, 2009 The officiating has been great thus far imo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
McCartyFanForLife 17 Report post Posted June 1, 2009 Does anyone else agree that part of the NHL's troubles is down to poor officiating? Fans like consistency- random officiating like the NHL would have refs being hung in the NFL. Red Wings and Pens played last year so that part is consistent. The Cavs vs Magic series was on the same night as the SCF game #1. That is why the ratings were so low. The NBA Eastern Conference TV ratings were very high this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChitownWingsfan 54 Report post Posted June 1, 2009 You're lucky, here in Chicago, I don't get CBC. I'm not sure I can even get Comcast to give it to me. Maybe the NHL Center Ice package has it, but I'm not biting on it now, perhaps next year. Tried it with RCN, I'm not even sure they understood what I was asking for. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Electrophile 3,554 Report post Posted June 1, 2009 If the Penguins were a better team than the Red Wings, and there was a chance they could sweep us or even just beat us in general, ratings might be higher. The reasoning being, people like watching the mighty fall. If the Wings look strong to repeat as champs, people outside of die-hard fans aren't really going to be interested. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fatal 1 Report post Posted June 1, 2009 DETROIT (AP) — Television ratings for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup finals are up from the first game. The NBC telecast drew a 3.4 rating and a 6 share. That's up from the 2.6 rating and 5 share of Saturday's Game 1. Detroit beat Pittsburgh 3-1 in Sunday night's game to take a 2-0 lead in the series. The Red Wings won the Cup over the Penguins in six games in 2008. The rating is the percentage watching a program among homes with televisions, and the share is the percentage tuned into the broadcast among those households with TVs on at the time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Husker BigGuy 0 Report post Posted June 1, 2009 I'm a new Red Wings fan. I would not yet say I am an NHL fan because I have not yet watched anyone else's games. If the Wings weren't in the playoffs, I wouldn't watch them either. So I think I bring a fresh take on NHL on TV. There is no GOOD reason for hockey to fail to draw fans in America, IMO. It's a sport made for TV. That being said, the NHL has to lose it's Canadian orientation if it wants to become big time. It doesn't matter that the players are Canadian, the whole presentation of the sport needs to go American. Canadians have a chip on their shoulder about the US and it just shows all the time. Way too much little league broadcasting. Probably the first thing the NHL should do is start mixing in Americans into the broadcast, and into the Commissioner's office. The broadcasts need to educate Americans more on the ins and outs of the games, including the rules. To the seasoned fan, that may not sound very interesting, but I notice there are folks on this forum that don't know the rules all that well either. Statistics are a big enough part of Hockey to include them more often as is done is baseball. Not so-o-o often, but the key stats like points and their breakdowns need to be more readily available in the broadcasts. With line changes happening every minute or less, there needs to be an easy way to see who is now playing on a broadcast. Someone can get creative and show that info, I am sure. Finally, and this will actually upset the die-hards out there, the sport needs to lose some of its WWF features (and fans). American viewers' favorite sport is a contact sport with incredible hitting inside the rules throughout the game. But the rasslin' aspect of the NHL just must go. If you don't want to see this aspect of the NHL go the way of the two-hand set shot, or the flying wedge, then don't complain about not getting even 3% of viewers watching the most competitive trophy match-up in sports. Once people in the States start watching, the league will start to draw some more great athletes, and will become more of an American sport. Of course, the Canadians wouldn't really want what comes with that success, as the Canadian players would then become a minority. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hossa7.4 0 Report post Posted June 1, 2009 So much for the weekend being the hot time to showcase hockey. Probably would have done better airing a game on Tuesday night, but NBC didn't want to rearrange their schedule (specifically Conan's first week on the Tonight Show, understandably so) if the game went to OT. it was "Conan the hockey destroyer" all along. Saturday night is the WORST night for all TV ratings, sports or otherwise. it's no surprise it failed. and considering NBC doesn't even pay anything for the rights. ugh. the NHL is a joke. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Casey 145 Report post Posted June 1, 2009 The officiating has been great thus far imo In the Finals, sure. Throughout the playoffs and in the regular season, officiating was capricious at best. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
