Through thirty-two nationally televised games, the NHL is averaging 468,000 viewers across the networks of ESPN, TNT, and TBS. This is up 30% vs. the same point in the 2022-2023 NHL season (359K). With this, the NHL is currently on pace to have its most-watched regular season under the current TV deal.
ESPN, which has the “A” package for the NHL, has currently aired twelve games on its linear network with an average of 551,000 viewers. This is up 27% vs. the same point in the 2022-2023 season (399K). Obviously, a major player in this increase is with the NHL’s opening night audience between the Blackhawks and Bruins, which averaged the largest indoor regular season audience ever for the NHL on cable, 1.431M viewers.
TNT, which has the “B” package for the NHL, has currently aired nineteen games with an average of 426,000 viewers. This is up 31% vs. the same point in the 2022-2023 season (325K). The major factors behind this increase is the opening night game for the network between the Blackhawks and Bruins, which was the most-watched indoor regular season game ever on TNT with an average of 896K viewers. In addition, the network has also seen two big audiences with a couple original six matchups that they have not seen in years prior. On October 18th, the Penguins and Red Wings averaged 699K viewers, and then on November 29th, the Red Wings vs Rangers averaged 757K viewers. The Red Wings return to relevance has most certainly helped out the ratings department.
As the season rolls forward, there are still lots of unknowns for where this season’s viewership average ends up. There are still sixteen ABC game to be played (a previous article of mine displays the entire ABC scheudule this season), with the first of those beginning on January 16th between the Rangers and Capitals, and sixteen non-exclusive games for TNT, which are certain to product subpar ratings. The ABC schedule is definitely on the lighter end when it comes to audience pull this season, but with the amount of viewership gains we have seen in these early months, it may be enough to offset the two.
Whichever is the case, viewership continues to be steadily up vs. the 2022-2023 season, and in good margins. With an ESPN doubleheader tonight, and a TNT doubleheader on Wednesday (one of those games being a non-exclusive), we will continue to get an idea of what this season has in store.
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