TV Ratings

[DaGreatGazoo]

NEW YORK -- The NHL Winter Classic between the host Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Rangers was the fifth-most watched regular-season NHL game in 37 years.

New York's 3-2 victory Monday at Citizens Bank Park, the fifth edition of the outdoor game, averaged 3.74 million viewers to NBC, according to fast national data provided by Nielsen Media Research on Tuesday.

The game produced a 2.1 rating and 4 share, tying the 2010 game. Last year's prime time game had a 2.3 rating and 4 share. The rating this year grew every half hour from 5 p.m. EST until the end of the game.

The 2010 game, featuring the Flyers at Boston's Fenway Park against the Bruins -- the previous Winter Classic played during the afternoon -- was watched by 3.68 million.

Last year's game was postponed into a night game because of rain at Pittsburgh's Heinz Field. The matchup between Alex Ovechkin's Washington Capitals and Sidney Crosby of the Penguins drew 4.5 million viewers, the most-watched, regular-season NHL game since 1975.

This year was the first time the Winter Classic was played on Jan. 2 instead of New Year's Day. The start time was pushed back from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. because of weather conditions.

Philadelphia led all markets with an 11.9 rating and 21 share, almost doubling the 6.0 rating and 11 in 2010, when the Flyers made their first appearance in the Winter Classic.

New York had a 4.3 rating and 9 share on Monday as the Rangers made their Winter Classic debut. That tied Washington for the fifth highest local market rating.

[orange_crush]

It was the lowest rated WC game in history..

[Digityman]

It was the lowest rated WC game in history..

Decent college bowl games, it being on a Monday and the time change didn't help.

Honestly, I think the winter classic is starting to loose it's luster. It's hyped big time but the quality of hockey isn't that great due to the crappy ice. The puck bounces all over the place so the flow isn't the greatest.

That's just my opinion anyway.

I was more interested in the HBO 24/7 series than the WC itself.

But in the end, I'm glad they are both over and the Flyers can get rid of the distractions and start focusing on actually playing again.

[orange_crush]

I agree Digi, I think it's losing it's appeal also. Like you said crappy ice makes for boring games.

Maybe have the All star game as the Winter Classic, should be more entertaining

[hf101]

UPDATE: Some decent news for the NHL to spin, via Neil Best of Newsday and Steve Lepore: "Winter Classic averaged 3.74M viewers, fourth best among the five played to date, but better than last one played in afternoon in 2010."

[Vincent05]

It being on Monday didn't help either, people are at work. I would think only the fans of both teams would take off and watch while others couldn't care for. I would imagine the ratings would've been higher on a weekend. They should have schedule it for Saturday evening.

[doom88]

I agree with most points here, except that it is losing its luster. While it isn't "new" anymore, in the right market, it will continue to be highly successful. The NHL playing games with time (both changing it and not putting it in the evening in the first place), day (against the Rose Bowl, etc and a weekday), and cheaping out on whatever coolant they use to make ice outdoors....well hopefully lessons all learned.

However, the outdoor ice still looked better than at Madison Square Garden, and the NHL has 41 games there.