NHL on TNT’s Exclusive Opening Night Regular Season Doubleheader Delivers Most-Watched Second Day of NHL Coverage Ever
TNT’s first-ever NHL regular season telecast – the New York Rangers facing the Washington Capitals (7:40-10:14 p.m. ET) – is the most-watched game to ever air on the second night of nationally televised NHL coverage, among total viewers and all key adult and male demos. That makes it the largest audience for the second night of nationally televised NHL regular season action in the nearly 30 years on record.
The Rangers/Capitals telecast delivered an average of 817,000 total viewers, up 139% vs. the comparable game window in 2020-21 (Buffalo vs. Philadelphia / 342,000 viewers) and an increase of 210% over the primetime game televised on the second night of NHL coverage in 2019-20 (Minnesota vs. Nashville / 238,000 viewers). Rangers/Capitals peaked with an average of 920,000 total viewers from 9-9:15 p.m.
The second game of last night’s NHL on TNT doubleheader between the Chicago Blackhawks and Colorado Avalanche (10:14p-12:53a) averaged 522,000 total viewers, up 284% vs. the same telecast window on the second day of NHL coverage in 2020-21 (Arizona vs. Las Vegas). The Blackhawks/Avalanche telecast peaked with an average of 887,000 total viewers from 10:15p-10:30 p.m.
NHL on TNT’s exclusive coverage will continue Wednesday, Oct. 20, with the Philadelphia Flyers hosting the Boston Bruins at 7:30 p.m., followed by the St. Louis Blues visiting the Vegas Golden Knights at 10 p.m.
TNT will feature 50 regular season games during its inaugural NHL season, including coverage on 25 Wednesday nights and seven weeks of Sunday afternoon telecasts in March and April 2022.
Announced earlier this year, Turner Sports’ multi-year NHL agreement will include crowning a champion through its exclusive live coverage of the Stanley Cup Final on TNT in three of the next seven years; half of the Stanley Cup Playoffs each year (half of the Conference Finals, First and Second Round games); and expansive digital and highlight rights for Bleacher Report, House of Highlights and additional platforms.
Source: Nielsen Media Research, based on Live + SD for 10/13/2021, compared historically to NHL Regular Season telecasts on ad supported cable networks. Online TVE Live Stream Starts, Users by Quarter Hour (rounded based on actual game time) from Conviva.
About Turner Sports
Turner Sports, a division of WarnerMedia, is an industry leader in the delivery of premium sports content across all platforms, widely recognized for its expansive partnerships with the NBA, Major League Baseball, the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship and the National Hockey League. The Turner Sports portfolio also includes Bleacher Report, the #1 digital destination for young sports fans driving engagement and video views across all social platforms and the B/R app, with premier brands including House of Highlights, B/R Football, B/R Gridiron, B/R Kicks, B/R Betting, B/R Walk-Off, B/R Open Ice, and B/R Gaming. Turner Sports co-manages NBA Digital – comprised of NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA LEAGUE Pass, the NBA App and NBAGLEAGUE.com – as well as NCAA.com and the NCAA March Madness Live suite of products. Visit the Turner Sports online pressroom for additional press materials; follow Turner Sports on Twitter at @TurnerSportsPR.