Ratings Roundup: NBCSN s Blackhawks-Red Wings Game 7 Most-watched Semifinal Ever on Cable; Sharks-Kings Game 7 Also Scores Big

Wednesday's Western Conference Semifinal Game 7 between the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings posted a 2.07 rating and averaged 3.354 million viewers, making it the highest-rated NHL game ever on NBC Sports Network, and the most-watched Semifinal game ever on cable (data available since 1994). The Blackhawks 2-1 win is the highest-rated non-Stanley Cup Final game on cable since 2002 (Detroit-Colorado, 5/29/02: 2.09) and was up 109% vs. last year's sole Semifinal Game 7 rating (Washington-NY Rangers, 0.99). Average viewership was up 99% (3.354 vs. 1.684). The telecast peaked at a 2.83 rating and 4.613 million viewers between 10:30 and 10:45 p.m. ET. In Chicago, the telecast received the highest local rating ever in the market for an NHL game on NBC Sports Network (17.21 HH rating). In Detroit, the telecast received a 14.96 HH rating.

Meanwhile, Game 7 between the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings on NBC Sports Network on Tuesday averaged 1.4 million viewers and was the most-watched Western Conference Semifinal game not involving Chicago or Detroit, since 2001 (Colorado-Los Angeles, 4/30/01: 1.7 million). The telecast peaked with 2 million viewers from 11:30-11:45 p.m. ET

TNT's coverage of Game 4 of the Heat-Pacers Eastern Conference Finals earned a 5.1 household rating, according to Nielsen Fast Nationals, with 8.1 million total viewers. With that score, TNT would have carried the four most-viewed 2013 NBA Playoff telecasts to date across broadcast and cable. Game 4 was up 26% in household rating and 24% in total viewers compared to the channel's coverage of the 2012 Western Conference Finals Game 4 a year ago. Through four game telecasts, TNT is averaging 7.7 million total viewers for the series, up 7% over 2012. The best-of-seven series continues tonight at 8p. (Cynopsis Sports)

The four-game Spurs/Grizzlies Western Conference Finals averaged a 3.1 U.S. rating on ESPN and ABC, down 50% from Heat/Celtics last year (6.2) and the lowest rated NBA conference final since Spurs/Jazz in 2007 (2.8). Game 4 of the Spurs/Grizzlies NBA Western Conference Finals drew 5.2 million viewers on ESPN Monday night, down 53% from Heat/Celtics Game 4 last year (11.1M). Compared to Game 4 of last year's Thunder/Spurs WCF on TNT (6.5M), Monday's viewership declined by 20%. Spurs/Grizzlies earned the smallest audience for a Game 4 in the Conference Finals since 2007, when Spurs/Jazz Game 4 drew 4.6 million on ESPN and Pistons/Cavaliers Game 4 drew 4.7 million on TNT. (SportsMediaWatch)

UEFA further expanded its digital media and TV outreach during Saturday's Champions League final. The final was aired in more than 200 countries to an estimated global average audience of 150 million, and a projected global unique reach of more than 360 million viewers. The final attracted a peak of 23.78 million (average 22.5 million) viewers in Germany, a record for a UEFA Champions League fixture in the country. (Sports Business Daily)

NBC's live broadcast of the Monaco Grand Prix this past Sunday morning was watched by nearly 1.5 million viewers, making it the most-watched Formula One race on U.S. television in six years, and up 241% vs. last year's race, which aired on SPEED, according to Nielsen Fast Nationals. The Monaco Grand Prix (7:59-10:30 a.m. ET/4:59-7:30 a.m. PT), which was broadcast live on U.S. network television for the first time, was watched by 1.456 million viewers and scored a 1.0 household rating. It is the most-watched F1 race on U.S. television in six years, since Fox broadcast the Canadian Grand Prix in the afternoon in 2007 (6/10/07, 1.494 million). Viewership for the race was up 241% vs. last year's Monaco telecast on SPEED (427,000 viewers), and was up 40% vs. FOX's four-race F1 average last year (1.038 million), all of which were broadcast in the afternoon .

The new WNBA season-opening Memorial Day doubleheader on ESPN2 Washington Mystics at Tulsa Shock, followed by Chicago Sky at the Phoenix Mercury averaged a 0.3 household coverage rating and an average of 366,000 viewers (P2+), including the most-viewed regular-season game on ESPN2 in nine years. The Washington at Tulsa 3 p.m. ET telecast earned a 0.3 rating (314,000 viewers), while at 5 p.m. Chicago at Phoenix produced a 0.4 rating (455,000 viewers). The later game is the most-viewed WNBA game on ESPN2 since Phoenix at New York on July 11, 2004 (487,000, based on a 0.5 rating). The 2012 WNBA regular season on ESPN2 averaged a 0.2 household coverage rating

Golf Channel recorded its most-watched May ever and has now opened 2013 with five consecutive record-setting months. Golf Channel drew 16.9 million unique viewers in May with a wide-spectrum of programming driving these record numbers, which have been built upon Golf Channel's success in 2011 and 2012 as the fastest-growing television network among those serving 80 million-plus homes a two-year span of unprecedented viewership growth since the network became part of the NBC Sports Group. For 24-hour Total Day (6AM-6AM), 133,000 average viewers per minute were tuned into Golf Channel in May, representing a 19% year-over-year increase compared to May 2012 (112,000), 58% vs. May 2011 (84,000) and 49% vs. May 2010 (89,000)

Univision Deportes announced that its live coverage of the Liga MX final on Sunday featuring Club America vs. Cruz Azul delivered 4.5 million Total Viewers 2+, 2.6 million Adults 18-49 and 1.3 million Adults 18-34, according to Nielsen. The final marked the highest rated Liga MX match on any network ever among Total Viewers 2+.

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