US, Canadian NHL broadcasters set ratings records on opening night
On Wednesday, NHL broadcast networks - NBC in the United States, and Rogers Sportsnet in Canada - set rating records as hockey starved fans tuned in to view live NHL action in droves on opening night.
From the Globe and Mail's James Mirtle:
Sportsnet announces that it set a network record last night with Leafs-Habs at 2.01 million viewers.
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) October 9, 2014
NBC says it set a record last night as well with 956,000 viewers watching Bruins-Flyers. Highest rated regular season game on NBCSN.
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) October 9, 2014
That's a good start for Rogers Sportsnet, who paid $5.2 billion for the NHL's Canadian broadcast rights last Spring and were making their debut as the place to watch live hockey in Canada on Wednesday.
It's also a solid start for NBCSN, who enter their third season as the NHL broadcast rights holder in the U.S.