Posted by Bud on May 28, 2010 at 12:29:58:
The Blackhawks' come-from-behind 2-1 victory Sunday over the San Jose Sharks in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals was a ratings winner locally for WMAQ-Ch. 5, according to preliminary overnight figures.
Early Nielsen Media Research estimates give the NBC telecast an average of 11.2 household rating (which translates to more than 392,000 homes) in Chicago, where a 26.9 percent share of all households watching television were tuned into the Hawks game.
That's more than the Cubs game on Chicago Tribune parent Tribune Co.'s WGN-Ch. 9, the Boston-Orlando basketball playoff game on WLS-Ch. 7 and the White Sox game on Comcast SportsNet Chicago got on Sunday afternoon -- combined.
The Hawks-Sharks numbers peaked on WMAQ with a 17.2 household rating (more than 602,000 homes) and 37.1 percent share in the quarter hour between 4:30 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. as the Hawks took the lead and then held on to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Because of when the game ended, the preliminary ratings include a final quarter hour of mostly post-game coverage leading into Channel 5's 5 p.m. news. The household ratings dropped to a 14.0 in the 15-minute span after 4:45 p.m.
But, any way it's dissected, this Blackhawks playoff run has been a ratings windfall.
For Comcast SportsNet Chicago, the team's primary TV outlet but done for the postseason this year, the last five Hawks postseason telecasts accounted for the five most-watched programs in the channel's 5 1/2 year history. That includes a CSN record 10.1 rating on May 5 for the Game 3 second-round victory over Vancouver.
Cable's Versus , which splits exclusive rights to the National Hockey League playoffs from here on out, including Tuesday's Game 2, has lifted the league to its best numbers in years nationally and locally is doing its best numbers ever.
Versus' 8.76 household rating in Chicago for the Hawks' Game 4 victory over Vancouver on May 7 well exceeds what had, until recently, been the top-rated Hawks telecast on Comcast SportsNet, a 7.82 rating for last season's come-from-behind Game 6 second-round clincher. also against Vancouver.
On radio, the Blackhawks have been largely bumped from their regular radio home, Tribune Co.'s WGN-AM 720, which is committed to Chicago Cubs broadcasts. Of the seven possible games, the Blackhawks indicate the first five have been shunted to WIND-AM 560. Those games will be joined in progress by WGN-AM, which will air Game 6 and Game 7 against San Jose if those games are needed.
(Phil Rosenthal, Chicago Tribune)