Record Audiences Tune Into HNIC

It was very successful opening weekend for CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada. From a CBC press release –

Saturday night’s game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators was a record-setter for CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA, with an average audience of 2.359 million viewers tuning in—nine per cent more than the previous record-holder for the first Saturday game of the season, set last year.

Ratings data from the Bureau of Broadcast Measurement (BBM) show the game had a total TV audience share of 31.3 per cent, reaching more than 7.55 million Canadians, almost a quarter of the country’s population.  The late game, which saw the Calgary Flames hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins, had a share of 17.5 per cent, reaching more than five million Canadians, garnering an average audience of just over one million viewers.

On Sunday, the first Winnipeg Jets home opener since 1996 drew an average total audience of 1.825 million Canadians.

The weekend numbers follow a tremendously strong start to the season, last Thursday, with the Molson Canadian NHL FACE-OFF pre-game show, attracting an average audience of 929,000 viewers—a 66 per cent increase over last year. That was followed by 1.935 million Canadians watching the classic Game 1 matchup between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs—beating last year’s opening-game mark of 1.923 million.

(Source: BBM Canada, Total Canada, Preliminary Overnights, Ind.2+, 2011)

* Based on metered television audience data only

It will be interesting to see if CBC can keep up this momentum. With all seven Canadian teams on the schedule this weekend, there’s a good chance that CBC can post big numbers. While I hate to say it, the Don Cherry controversy is likely to help too. Everyone will be curious to see what he says which is one reason why CBC is willing to keep him on board. He still draws attention and eyeballs.

 

Versus To Air Bruins Special

Versus will be a airing a behind the scenes special on Wednesday night. From the press release:

NEW YORK (October 11, 2011) — VERSUS will air a special inside look at the 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins tomorrow night from 6:30-7 p.m. ET, during the second half of the network’s new studio show, NBC SportsTalk, which airs weeknights from 6-7 p.m. ET. NHL Live will air immediately after the Bruins special at 7 p.m. ET, followed by VERSUS’ first exclusive Wednesday night Game of the Week when the Bruins face the Carolina Hurricanes live from Raleigh, N.C., at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The half-hour special will feature behind-the-scenes access for the Bruins’ triumphant return to TD Garden on Thursday, October 6, for the banner raising and championship ring ceremonies as well as the team’s three-day journey leading into opening night as the Bruins prepare to defend the Stanley Cup this season.

The show will focus on Boston’s history as one of America’s most fervent hockey towns and will highlight how the Bruins used hard work and determination to overcome many obstacles on their way to winning the city’s first Stanley Cup in 39 years. It will also draw parallels with Bobby Orr’s two championships in the 1970s and the city’s passion for the sport that was rejuvenated by the 2011 championship team. The special also features exclusive interviews with the player that emerged as the heart and soul of the team last season, goaltender Tim Thomas, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy for Most Valuable Player in the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Thomas’ career will be followed from the University of Vermont, to playing in the minors and around Europe, to finally becoming an elite goalie in the NHL.

Forward Shawn Thornton and Head Coach Claude Julien were wired for sound during the Bruins practices leading up to opening night and will be featured in the show along with one of the Bruin’s youngest talents, Brad Marchand. Additional vignettes will include the team’s summer with the Cup as well as interviews from other Bruins players and local fans.