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[10/02/13 - 02:59 PM]
Blackhawks-Capitals on NBCSN Is Cable's Most-Watched Season Opener on Record
NBC Sports Network spins the numbers for Tuesday, October 1.
[via press release from NBC Sports Network]

BLACKHAWKS-CAPITALS ON NBCSN IS CABLE'S MOST-WATCHED SEASON OPENER ON RECORD

Matchup Draws 935,000 Viewers

Chicago Posts Regular-Season Game Record 7.3 Rating on NBCSN

Nearly 1 Million Minutes Consumed via NBC Sports Live Extra

STAMFORD, Conn. - October 2, 2013 - NBCSN's coverage of last night's game between the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks to start the 2013-14 NHL season was watched by an average of 935,000 viewers, making it the most-watched season opener on cable on record (data available since 1993), and the second-most watched regular-season game ever on NBCSN.

Viewership for the game (8:30-11:07 p.m. ET), in which the Blackhawks scored three times in the third period to defeat the Capitals 6-4 at home following a banner raising ceremony to commemorate their Stanley Cup championship, was up seven percent compared to the 2011-12 season opener (Phi-Bos, 874,000), the last time the season began in October.

Due to the lockout, last year's season began in January on NBC with regional coverage. Last year's inaugural Wednesday Night Rivalry game between the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers (1/23/13, 956,000) is the only NBCSN regular-season matchup with more viewers than last night's game. NBCSN began its NHL coverage in 2005-06.

Last night's game peaked with 1.045 million viewers from 10:45-11 p.m. ET, and posted a 0.51 HH rating. Chicago delivered a 7.32 rating, the highest ever for a regular-season game in that market on NBCSN, which was also the most-watched cable channel in Chicago during the game.

TOP FIVE MARKETS (Rating)
Chicago 7.3
Washington 2.3
Buffalo 1.4
Baltimore 1.3
Ft. Myers 1.0

Capitals-Blackhawks also set records in digital consumption. Viewers combined to watch 942,000 total minutes via NBC Sports Live Extra - NBC Sports Group's live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets. It is the most ever for a regular-season game that required "TV Everywhere," surpassing 87% of last season's "TV Everywhere" playoff games. "TV Everywhere" is the media industry's effort to make quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms.





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