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Through the first two weeks of the 2023-2024 NHL regular season, there have been nine nationally televised games across the networks of ESPN and TNT. With those nine games, the NHL is currently averaging 684,000 viewers, which is the best opening two weeks the NHL has on record to start the season.
Currently, the NHL is up 40% versus this same point in the 2022-2023 season (490K) and up 17% versus the same point in the 2021-2022 season (587K).
Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks have no doubt been a prominent factor in the reasoning behind this increase. Chicago has already given ESPN and TNT their two most-watched opening nights in history. However, they are not the sole reason for the increased ratings, as every window to start the season is up from last year. This past Wednesday, the Penguins-Red Wings gave ESPN their most-watched regular season weeknight in history, outside of opening night (699K). In addition, this past Tuesday ESPN doubleheader was up 28% versus the same window last season.
This week, the NHL has another opportunity to capitalize on their ratings increases with an ESPN tripleheader on Tuesday (Maple Leafs-Capitals, Bruins-Blackhawks, Flyers-Golden Knights) and a sole game of the night on TNT for Wednesday (Capitals-Devils).