- May 7, 2019
- 1,116
- 1,703
NHL TV ratings 2022/2023
- Thread starter Kirk Van Houten
- Start date
154k (0.04) for NHL on TNT Face Off (Pregame)
Minnesota was non-exclusive, game was on Bally Sports North and Bally Sports Wisconsin.
Been 2 ESPN and 2 TNT games since, so guess we can update averages, this is what I have:
National (ESPN & TNT)
352k (36 games)
-376k (30 exclusive)
--232k (6 non-exclusive)
ESPN
415k (13 games)
TNT
316k (23 games)
-346k (17 exclusive)
--232k (6 non-exclusive)
ThreeOfAPerfectPair
Registered User
I have at the same point of the season but there was a vastly fewer number of national TV games at this point last season.
As of Dec 15 2021 & Dec 15 2022
National (ABC, ESPN & TNT)
2021/22: 476k (17 games)
2022/23: 352k (36 games)
National Exclusive Games
2021/22: 476k (17 games)
2022/23: 376k (30 games)
ESPN & TNT (excluding ABC BF game & non-exclusives)
2021/22: 429k (16 games)
2022/23: 376k (30 games)
TNT
2021/22: 347k (12 games)
2022/23: 316k (23 games)
TNT Exclusive Games
2021/22: 347k (12 games)
2022/23: 346k (17 games)
ESPN
2021/22: 677k (4 games)
2022/23: 415k (13 games)
ABC
2021/22: 1.2M (1 game / Black Friday)
2022/23: N/A (No OTA games yet)
varsaku
Registered User
Great work tracking it.
Seems like it is overall down across the board. Could we just be moving to normal levels now after last season's bump from viewer curiosity with a move to a new network? I think the benchmark should be the pre ESPN/TNT viewership numbers. As long as we are above that I consider this move a win.
I definitely think that's part of it but also a lot of other factors:
-Been over twice as many national games at this point this season compared to last season. More games generally doesn't mean the avg. rating going up, it moves it down.
-We all know non-exclusive games are ratings killers (same happened on NBCSN) which is new this year compared to last.
-As previously mentioned in this thread, there is/was the huge difference of the Black Friday "Thanksgiving Showdown" game being on ABC at the traditional 1pmET slot v. being a later in the day TNT doubleheader. If you take the TNT BF games out of this year and replace it with the viewership ABC BF got last year then the "exclusive games only" average for this season would jump up to 402k. Would still be down from 476k at this point last season but the more national games as well as last years bump of "new" on ESPN/TNT would explain some of that.
We're only in the first three months of the season, Oct-Dec only really has opening night (for both networks) and the Black Friday game(s), otherwise in America it's essentially NHL on TV during football season. I'm more interested to see what happens in the new year.
Last season's top-18 regular season games were:
Winter Classic on TNT - Hasn't happened yet this season.
Black Friday on ABC - Wasted on TNT this season.
ABC Saturday x9 - ABC has had 0 of their 15 games this season so far.
ESPN Opening Night x2 - Was down in viewership this season
TNT Opener - Down in viewership this season
Stadium Series on TNT - Is on ABC this season, hasn't happened yet.
ESPN Thurs x2 - Post Jan1, hasn't happened yet.
and a TNT Wed. game - Which came post Jan1, not there yet this season.
So at the same point of the year, only 4 of last years top 18 games have happened this year. We still have those 14 to go this season plus an additional 5 games on ABC this season compared to last.
So looking forward to rest of this season:
-Winter Classic on TNT (most viewed reg. szn game last season)
-15 ABC games (including a bump for the Stadium Series game)
-ESPN games on Thursday which gets better ratings than Oct-Dec Tuesday games (excluding opening night.)
-TNT's most viewed (excluding their opening night) Wednesday night game(s) are more likely than not to be coming in 2nd half of the season.
-TNT's Sunday games.
-TNT has 7 more non-exclusive games remaining this season which will continue to drag averages down.
So, for me, as far as the regular season it's too early. The games that will matter ratings/viewership wise for the most part, a majority haven't happened yet this season.
Coinneach
Registered User
NHL TV ratings 2022/23
10/11/2022 Rangers - Tampa Bay 744k (ESPN)
10/11/2022 Los Angeles - Vegas 556k (ESPN)
10/12/2022 Boston - Washington 629k (TNT)
10/12/2022 Chicago - Colorado 526k (TNT)
10/18/2022 Philadelphia - Tampa Bay 494 (ESPN)
10/18/2022 Los Angeles - Nashville 339 (ESPN)
10/19/2022 Philadelphia - Florida 338k (TNT)
10/19/2022 St. Louis - Seattle 300k (TNT)
10/23/2022 Anaheim - Detroit 187k (ESPN)
10/25/2022 Colorado - Rangers 750k (ESPN)
10/25/2022 Vegas - San Jose 319k (ESPN)
10/26/2022 Rangers - Islanders 550k (TNT)
10/26/2022 Tampa Bay - Anaheim 270k (TNT, non-exclusive)
1/11/2022 Boston - Pittsburgh 699k (ESPN)
1/11/2022 Anaheim - San Jose 234k (ESPN)
2/11/2022 Pittsburgh - Buffalo 236k (TNT, non-exclusive)
6/11/2022 Toronto - Carolina 213k (ESPN)
8/11/2022 Edmonton - Tampa Bay 374k (TNT)
8/11/2022 Nashville - Seattle 175k (TNT)
9/11/2022 Pittsburgh - Washington 408k (TNT)
9/11/2022 Minnesota - Anaheim 183k (TNT, non-exclusive)
10/11/2022 Chicago - St. Louis 264 (TNT, non-exclusive)
10/11/2022 Los Angeles - Edmonton Oilers 242k (TNT)
13/11/2022 Tampa Bay - Washington 236k (ESPN)
23/11/2022 Philadelphia - Washington 373k (TNT)
23/11/2022 Ottawa - Vegas 176k (TNT)
25/11/2022 Philadelphia - Pittsburgh 488k (TNT)
25/11/2022 St. Louis - Tampa Bay 332k (TNT)
30/11/2022 Detroit - Buffalo 314k (TNT)
30/11/2022 Edmonton - Chicago 239k (TNT)
6/12/2022 Buffalo - Columbus 219k (TNT)
6/12/2022 Rangers - Vegas 181k (TNT, non-exclusive)
11/12/2022 St. Louis - Colorado 240k (ESPN)
13/12/2022 Washington - Chicago 378k (ESPN)
14/12/2022 Detroit - Minnesota 259k (TNT, non-exclusive)
14/12/2022 Vancouver - Calgary 195k (TNT)
18/12/2022 Rangers - Chicago 281k (ESPN)
10/11/2022 Rangers - Tampa Bay 744k (ESPN)
10/11/2022 Los Angeles - Vegas 556k (ESPN)
10/12/2022 Boston - Washington 629k (TNT)
10/12/2022 Chicago - Colorado 526k (TNT)
10/18/2022 Philadelphia - Tampa Bay 494 (ESPN)
10/18/2022 Los Angeles - Nashville 339 (ESPN)
10/19/2022 Philadelphia - Florida 338k (TNT)
10/19/2022 St. Louis - Seattle 300k (TNT)
10/23/2022 Anaheim - Detroit 187k (ESPN)
10/25/2022 Colorado - Rangers 750k (ESPN)
10/25/2022 Vegas - San Jose 319k (ESPN)
10/26/2022 Rangers - Islanders 550k (TNT)
10/26/2022 Tampa Bay - Anaheim 270k (TNT, non-exclusive)
1/11/2022 Boston - Pittsburgh 699k (ESPN)
1/11/2022 Anaheim - San Jose 234k (ESPN)
2/11/2022 Pittsburgh - Buffalo 236k (TNT, non-exclusive)
6/11/2022 Toronto - Carolina 213k (ESPN)
8/11/2022 Edmonton - Tampa Bay 374k (TNT)
8/11/2022 Nashville - Seattle 175k (TNT)
9/11/2022 Pittsburgh - Washington 408k (TNT)
9/11/2022 Minnesota - Anaheim 183k (TNT, non-exclusive)
10/11/2022 Chicago - St. Louis 264 (TNT, non-exclusive)
10/11/2022 Los Angeles - Edmonton Oilers 242k (TNT)
13/11/2022 Tampa Bay - Washington 236k (ESPN)
23/11/2022 Philadelphia - Washington 373k (TNT)
23/11/2022 Ottawa - Vegas 176k (TNT)
25/11/2022 Philadelphia - Pittsburgh 488k (TNT)
25/11/2022 St. Louis - Tampa Bay 332k (TNT)
30/11/2022 Detroit - Buffalo 314k (TNT)
30/11/2022 Edmonton - Chicago 239k (TNT)
6/12/2022 Buffalo - Columbus 219k (TNT)
6/12/2022 Rangers - Vegas 181k (TNT, non-exclusive)
11/12/2022 St. Louis - Colorado 240k (ESPN)
13/12/2022 Washington - Chicago 378k (ESPN)
14/12/2022 Detroit - Minnesota 259k (TNT, non-exclusive)
14/12/2022 Vancouver - Calgary 195k (TNT)
18/12/2022 Rangers - Chicago 281k (ESPN)
Last edited:
Will the Winter Classic being on January 2 this year, will that severely hurt ratings vs. last year on TNT?
Yes, Boston vs. Pittsburgh at Fenway is certainly much sexier than Wild vs. Blues at Target Field -- but who knows, really?
I heard January 2 is an official U.S. holiday? At least this year, maybe because the 1st is on a Sunday? Same for Canada and many other countries?
And is January 2 now the official Winter Classic day...well, as long as TNT airs it?
Yes, Boston vs. Pittsburgh at Fenway is certainly much sexier than Wild vs. Blues at Target Field -- but who knows, really?
I heard January 2 is an official U.S. holiday? At least this year, maybe because the 1st is on a Sunday? Same for Canada and many other countries?
And is January 2 now the official Winter Classic day...well, as long as TNT airs it?
- May 7, 2019
- 1,116
- 1,703
right here folks is what I’m talking about goalpost changing and excuses
Those years and this year, I think the issue is that January 1st is a Sunday and they do not want to compete with NFL Sunday. NCAA adjusts major bowls to move around Sunday January 1st too.
I think a big reason why there has been a drop in the numbers beside the problems with non-exclusive games is that a lot of these matchups have been straight-up bad. Gotta give them a lot of credit for trying new aspects out there, but nobody is watching the Blue Jackets this year, likewise with Blackhawks, Flyers, Ducks, Sharks, Senators, and others in this fashion. These are currently dead franchises that haven't done much of anything recently. It's just very strange for me, you air Edmonton vs Chicago and a day or so later you had Boston Bruins visiting the Colorado Avalanche (granted Avs were suffering a lot of injuries in that game). It's not rocket science here, you air the likes of the Edmonton Oilers when they're playing a big broadcast team such as the Rangers. You don't air them on national telly against a rebuilding club, where a lot of the fans have tuned out.
I don't completely buy that. The NBA has similar matchups this season with bad teams against good teams on national TV and they do well. IMO ita due to not marketing the stars enough and lack of interest in the NHL on a national level.
awfulwaffle
Registered User
It's completely different NBA versus NHL. NBA, your star player could play 85% of the game. People watch the NBA because that's the reality, they watch for the players and not necessarily the teams. Hawks you have Trae Young, Grizzlies you have Ja Morant, etc. etc. And when you watch the NBA, you know who the star player is and where they are at. Because the NHL is changing lines, a casual viewer is going to struggle noticing when the star player is out there and such. To compare NBA numbers to NHL numbers isn't really fair. All you can really hope for is that the NHL numbers increase.
So far the numbers are down compared to last season. Everyone seems to have an excuse to why that is. IMO there is no excuses and the answer is and always will be that your casual sports fan isn't interested in the NHL.
281k for the Rangers-Blackhawks on ESPN on Sunday night.
I projected between 250-300k so not a surprising number.
I projected between 250-300k so not a surprising number.
Coinneach
Registered User
awfulwaffle
Registered User
Because it's a Sunday, you are going up against the NFL?
As awfulwaffle said, NFL Sunday during football season.
It's actually the highest rated Sunday ESPN game of the season so far. Which isn't saying much.
-SUNDAY ESPN GAMES-
Anaheim - Detroit 187k
Toronto - Carolina 213k
Tampa Bay - Washington 236k
St. Louis - Colorado 240k
Rangers - Chicago 281k
ESPN only have one more Sunday game left this season:
Jan 1st Isles-Kraken
Coinneach
Registered User
NHL needs to follow the steps of the NFL and not worry about the NBA. I also agree that NBA vs NHL is apples vs oranges, even if they seem like rivals, the situation is that both are completely separate leagues considering the economic status of either fanbase and demography. However, the biggest aspect for me and why NBA gets more viewership is due to grassroots levels. That's where I consider the NHL or hockey to be generally very far behind baseball, throwball, and basketball. The majority of kids play three of those four sports in every other P.E. class all the way to senior year in high school. Ball hockey was either nonexistent in P.E. or was played very seldom (some of that has changed recently though). One of my buddies told me he played more cricket during a P.E. schoolyear than a shoe version of hockey in the USA....cricket does not exist in the US at any level. This is quite significant because even if a 13-year-old girl dislikes sports, they are required to play them during P.E. like basketball. And if she is hosting a get-together with some of her friends and boyfriends when she's 25 years old and needs to put something as background noise on the telly, more likely chance she will gravitate towards something she knows and played in the past than something new like hockey. She might know hockey exists as a sport, but doesn't really care nor understand it as she was never really introduced to it during her childhood.
This makes no sense, ESPN should have more Sunday games after throwball season ends. What stupid marketing on their part.
TNT has Sunday games in MAR-APR, 4 Sundays, 3 with doubleheaders so 7 total Sunday games.
I agree, though. Especially Sunday night games post-football season. Don't want to go on about my ideas for the NHL on U.S. TV schedule, more of an offseason thing. Just will leave it at that I think the NHL and it's partners don't do a great job of putting together the national TV schedule.
4mats4
Registered User
- Sep 15, 2019
- 179
- 387
I mean it’s an every 4 year international event, not surprising it’s higher than the domestic hockey championship. It’s worth nothing however that the 2010 olympic gold medal hockey game averaged 26 million viewers in the US, peaking at 34 million so this supposed soccer takeover that’s been supposed to happen since the 94 world cup in the US still hasn’t happened yet
Sunday NHL games up against the NFL always get destroyed. This game in particular was a blowout early and I’d assume many New Yorkers switched from the Ranger game (7:30 start) to the Giants SNF game (8:20ish start) after going up 3-0 in the first. Giants haven’t made the playoffs since 2016 and this was a huge division rivalry game that could very well determine who goes to the playoffs
