Through four weeks, the 2023-2024 NHL season is averaging 535,000 viewers across the networks of ESPN, TNT, and TBS, up 13% compared to the same point last season (472K).
For the previous week, the NHL’s national action began on Sunday with the 2023 edition of the Heritage Classic between the Flames and Oilers. On TBS, this game averaged 271,000 viewers, which is the second lowest viewed game to start the season, but the game also went head-to-head with NFL competition. Previously, the 2022 edition of the Heritage Classic between the Sabres and Maple Leafs averaged 348,000 on a Sunday in March.
Moving onto Tuesday, there was a Halloween special between the Kings vs Maple Leafs on ESPN, which averaged 418,000 viewers. Last season, the comparable window was a doubleheader on ESPN between the Bruins and Penguins (699K) and the Ducks vs Sharks (234K).
On Wednesday, TNT aired a doubleheader between the Sabres-Flyers and Blues-Avalanche. These two games were the first of nineteen non-exclusives for TNT this year, which means fans in the Buffalo or Colorado market watched via their regional channel. The doubleheader averaged 309,000 viewers for the Sabres and Flyers, along with 212,000 viewers for the Blues vs Avalanche. Last season, the comparable window was a singular non-exclusive game, that wasn’t available in the Pittsburgh market, between the Penguins and Sabres which averaged 236K viewers.
For Thursday, there was an ESPN+/Hulu exclusive game Maple Leafs and Bruins, but as is always the case with exclusive games on streaming, there were no numbers available.
At this point in the season, through 10 games, ESPN is averaging 558,000 viewers, up 22% vs the same point last season. In addition, TNT is averaging 491,000 viewers through 5 games, which is up 21% vs the same point last season.
This week, the NHL’s national action carries on with an Election Day doubleheader on TNT, along with a typical Wednesday doubleheader, and then an ESPN+/Hulu doubleheader on Thursday to close the week.