Down huge from prior years. Not off to a good start.
NHL/hockey TV ratings 2024-25
- Thread starter LadyStanley
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varsaku
Registered User
I don't think it is that. About 75% of the US population live in ET and CT. So of course everything will be catered to those time zones. The other time zones make up a much smaller percentage of viewership numbers which is hurt by the kickoff/puck drop timings.
Kirk Van Houten
Registered User
- May 7, 2019
- 1,444
- 1,616
So tomorrow opening night what's the number going to be? Thinking about last season tripleheader I would say:
Blues @ Kraken - 650K
Bruins @ Panthers - 1.25M (if played)
Blackhawks @ Utah HC - 975K
Blues @ Kraken - 650K
Bruins @ Panthers - 1.25M (if played)
Blackhawks @ Utah HC - 975K
HamiltonNHL
Resigning Marner == Running it back
- Jan 4, 2012
- 22,339
- 13,523
-NHL on ESPN avg viewership last night-
Blues-Kraken: 348k
*Bruins-Panthers: 790k
Blackhawks-Utah: 522k
*Non-exclusive game
Blues-Kraken: 348k
*Bruins-Panthers: 790k
Blackhawks-Utah: 522k
*Non-exclusive game
Last edited:
Kirk Van Houten
Registered User
- May 7, 2019
- 1,444
- 1,616
varsaku
Registered User
There were so many other possible combinations that would have drawn more interest than these. Aside from the Bruins and Panthers game, I had zero interest in the other two. They need to look to the NBA on how to schedule important dates. NBA is starting with Knicks and Celtics.
Kirk Van Houten
Registered User
- May 7, 2019
- 1,444
- 1,616
The NHL probably should just lean more on Toronto for openning night. Also how on earth is the first game non exclusive? That's just abysmal by the league.
The NHL and it's broadcast partners aren't particularly good at scheduling / putting together the national broadcast schedule. Tis known. When the national broadcast schedule came out this year a ton stood out, negatively. Not just "opening night."
No matter what the early game wouldn't do a great number so that wasn't unexpected. Though, it still didn't reach the low expectations it had to start with. PTZ and CTZ in that game obviously makes little sense. From what I was told when the schedule was released, and what I read recently, Seattle basically wanted to be a part of opening night on ESPN -who was going to have a tripleheader either way- and for all intents and purposes volunteered for that game. Doesn't excuse the NHL/ESPN actually scheduling it. The resulting average viewership is what happens when you make decisions like that.
The late game, always was going to showcase Utah as the "new team." That seemed predictable in advance of the schedule release, to me. So I don't have much issue with the choice and I was surprised at the number. Expected better. In normal circumstances, obviously would want another game there.
That was solely due to the hurricane. Was late change to make it available locally in Panthers market. And obviously was a late decision to make it a remote broadcast by ESPN. I think they handled everything well enough in that regard, considering the circumstances.
So the non-exclusive didn't help the BOS-FLA #, but the Panthers aren't exactly a national draw in the regular season, historically. But sort of like how Utah 'had to' be part of opening night, so did the Cup champs/banner raising.
Which isn't ideal with Florida since they naturally took the premier slot on opening night, that you would otherwise want Bruins-Rangers and/or the like in.
LadyStanley
Registered User
Pushing the boundaries
Kirk Van Houten
Registered User
- May 7, 2019
- 1,444
- 1,616
Well then it change much I thought for a moment non exclusive could've been in Boston too so clearly not the factor of the low number.
I do wonder if the NHL should consider starting the season a week later next season and beyond. I think the early part of October there is a ton of competition with the MLB postseason and WNBA playoffs now becoming bigger event as that league’s popularity grows. You would only be up against a LCS game if they did that way and I bet ESPN would fine with that as well.
Would put the SCFs near the end of June. And they're already talking about adding more games to the regular season. (Two I think)
Granted, part of the reason the SCFs ended so late this year was their abysmal scheduling that dragged it out over three weeks.
Not necessarily, the NBA starts two weeks later than NHL and their Finals ends at the same time period. Starting a week later isn’t gonna move the end of the season imo. Maybe more games on certain days of the week to offset that.
Starting a week later wouldn’t compress the schedule enough for them not to look at imo
In the last 5-7 years they've added a bye week to stretch it out. Doubt they move an inch the other way that quickly.
Especially given that they keep kicking the tires in BoG meetings about making the regular season 84 games.
Well you are underestimating the TV aspect of the schedule, the reason the season starts at its current time frame is because of ESPN. Looking at the ratings for opening night up against Game 5 of Sun/Lynx on ESPN 2, that game likely hits over 1 million viewers if it was unopposed on ESPN. If ESPN suggested they have that time slot for WNBA semifinals instead of NHL opening night, then NHL would have to listen. Likely won’t be an issue after next season since WNBA new media rights deal will have Amazon and NBC so those games won’t all be on ESPN. So you are likely right that season will remain at current start time.
The TV rights deals could affect it for sure, but I still don't think the players are gonna like adding more games while compressing the schedule.
And realistically it's probably not good for the teams either if it leads to more injuries.
For sure, it didn't keep it from being disappointing but almost certainly kept it from breaking 800k so played a part in the optics, at least, of starting with a 7 instead of an 8.
