Posted by Bud on January 15, 2010 at 14:13:14:
Hard numbers show the score: By the numbers, the Blackhawks are turning into a television hit to rival their fellow United Center residents, the Bulls.
In one year, the Hawks have more than doubled their Nielsen ratings for games telecast on Comcast SportsNet. A CSN spokesman said Hawks telecasts have averaged a 2.12 rating (which represents about 74,221 homes in the Chicago metro area) for the 28 games aired entering Thursday -- a 102-percent increase over the average rating for last season to date.
The Bulls have averaged a 2.37 rating (about 82,974 households) in 19 games telecast on CSN -- a 17-percent increase over the average rating for the same period last season.
The Bulls ended last season with a 2.03 average rating for games televised on CSN, and the Hawks finished well behind with a 1.26 average rating.
Why the fast and significant gains for the Hawks?
''The ratings reflect the affection this community has developed for this young team,'' Hawks senior vice president of business operations Jay Blunk said. ''These players have made themselves available to the public in a way that wasn't always the case here at the Blackhawks.''
There's no doubt the Hawks' fast start has helped boost the TV ratings, as well. Chicago sports fans like nothing more than a winner, and among the city's major pro sports teams, only the Hawks have a winning vibe these days.