Ratings Roundup: 2024 Stanley Cup Final 16.3 Million Viewers Is Second Most Watched Final on Record in North America
Story Highlights
Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent rating news and is derived from press releases and reports around the industry. In this week’s edition, WNBA on ION hits highest record for viewership; 2024 US Olympic track and field trials sees highest viewership since 2012; and more.
16.3 Million Viewers Watched Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final Across North America, Second Most-Watched NHL Game on Record
- Game 7 of the 2924 Stanley Cup Final delivered an average audience of 16.3 million viewers across North America (CBC/SN/TVA Sports/ABC/ESPN+). This is the second most-watched NHL game across North America on record (data since 2004)
- Across North America, the 2024 Stanley Cup Final averaged 8.8 million viewers (CBC/CN/TVA Sport/ABC/ESPN+), up 85% YoY. This was the most watched Stanley Cup Final across North America since 2013.
Stanley Cup Final Game 7 is Sportsnet’s Most-Watched Broadcast Ever
Sportsnet’s coverage of the Stanley Cup Final Game 7, which saw the Florida Panthers defeat the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 to capture its first championship in franchise history, delivered Sportsnet’s most-watched broadcast ever with an average minute audience of 7.55 million across Sportsnet, Citytv, and CBC. The broadcast is the second most-watched NHL game ever in Canada (*data since 2009).
Game 7 reached 15 million Canadians, or 39% of the population.
The broadcast is also the most-watched program ever on Sportsnet+, reaching 1.93 million streamers.
Prior to puck drop, Sportsnet’s Hockey Central pre-game show delivered an average audience of 4.1 million.
2024 Stanley Cup Final Game 7 Viewership Averaged 7.7 Million Viewers, Up 182% Versus Last Year’s Stanley Cup Final Clincher
- Oilers-Panthers Game 7 Draws Largest Non-Original Six Audience on Record and is Most-Viewed NHL Game Since 2019’s Stanley Cup Final Game 7
- 2024 Stanley Cup Final Averaged 4.2 Million Viewers and 1.5 Million P18-49, Up 58% and 43% Versus Last Year’s Five-Game Stanley Cup Final
- 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs on ESPN Platforms Averaged 1.8 Million Viewers, Up 60% Versus 2023’s Average and Up 14% Versus 2022’s Average
Sunday’s Star-Studded Show on NBC and Peacock Marks Most-Watched Night of US Track and Field Trials Since 2012
The U.S. Olympic Team Trials on Sunday night on NBC and Peacock delivered the largest Track & Field Trials audience since 2012, headlining a standout first week of U.S. Olympic Team Trials across swimming, diving, and track & field, according to official data from Nielsen and Adobe.
Highlighted by Noah Lyles’ 9.83-second victory in the 100-meter final, 16-year-old Quincy Wilson’s performance in the 400-meter semifinals, and commentary from Snoop Dogg, Sunday’s show (8:37-11 p.m. ET), averaged 5.2 million viewers across NBC and Peacock – marking the most-watched night of U.S. Olympic Trials in track & field since July 1, 2012. Sunday night’s viewership peaked at 5.7 million from 10:45-11 p.m. ET as Lyles won the 100-meter final.
One night earlier, headlined by Sha’Carri Richardson qualifying for her first Olympics with a victorious 10.71 in the 100-meter final, and two-time Olympic gold medalist Ryan Crouser winning the shot put, NBC and Peacock averaged 4.1 million viewers – topping by 41% the corresponding Saturday night for the 2021 Olympic trials.
In addition, NBC stations won the night in broadcast primetime on both Saturday and Sunday nights, averaging 3.7 million and 4.1 million viewers, respectively.
Across Peacock and NBC Sports Digital platforms, viewers have streamed more than 255 million live minutes of 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials competition – already three times greater than the full 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials (79 million minutes).
The swimming trials, which were contested in front of a record 285,000+ fans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and featured Michael Phelps in the booth this past weekend alongside Dan Hicks and Rowdy Gaines, delivered an average of 3.4 million primetime viewers over nine nights on NBC and Peacock – UP 26% from 2021.
Viewership for the live primetime and weekend afternoon diving competition from Knoxville, Tenn., averaged 2.3 million viewers – UP 18% from 2021.
The Olympic Trials have delivered more than 100 million impressions on NBC Sports’ YouTube page, with Richardson’s victory in the 100 meters the most-watched clip with approximately 1.5 million views.
Fans are engaging with NBC Olympics content more than twice as much as the 2021 Olympic Trials (up 107%), with more than 3.6 million interactions across all social media platforms.
The trials for track & field and gymnastics — starring sprinters Richardson, Lyles, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and the last two Olympic all-around gold medalists Simone Biles and Suni Lee — continue this Thursday through Sunday nights across NBC, Peacock and USA Network. The Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympics is Friday, July 26 on NBC, Peacock, and Telemundo.
Record Viewership for WNBA on ION
Fever/Dream on ION averaged 1.18M viewers on Friday, June 21, making it the most-viewed WNBA telecast on ION ever. (The previous record was 1.02M from the June 7 Fever-Mystics game.) The June 21 Fever/Dream game on ION peaked at 1.38M viewers between 9:00-9:14pm.
9.7 Million Viewers Across North America Watched Game 6 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final
- Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final delivered an average audience of 9.7 million viewers across North America (ABC/ ESPN Platforms / CBC / SN / TVA Sports). This was the most watched Stanley Cup Playoff game across North America since 2019.
- Across North America, the Stanley Cup Final is averaging 7.6 million, up 59% YoY
2024 Stanley Cup Final Game 6 Delivered 4.2 Million Total Viewers
- Friday, June 21, Panthers-Oilers Game 6 averaged 4.2M total viewers (peaking at 4.9M) and 1.4M P18-49, up 54% and 28% vs. last year’s SCF Game 5 clincher (Florida/Vegas)
- Through 6 games, the Stanley Cup Final is averaging 3.5M total viewers and 1.3M P18-49, up 36& and 19% vs. last year’s 6-game SCF
- Through 47 games, the Stanley Cup Playoffs on ESPN platforms are averaging 1.7M total viewers dn 671K P18-49, up 48% and 36% vs. 2023’s average, and up 6% and 1% vs. 2022’s average
US Olympic Team Trials for Swimming and Diving Make Viewership Splash on NBC and Peacock
The U.S. Olympic Team Trials for swimming and diving – presented in primetime on NBC and Peacock since last Saturday – have posted viewership increases over the 2021 Olympic Trials, according to official data from Nielsen and Adobe.
In front of record crowds at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the swimming trials are averaging 3.2 million primetime viewers across NBC and Peacock – UP 20% compared to the 2021 Trials average (data from Saturday through Tuesday; Wednesday night data will be available tomorrow). The swimming trials have been headlined by Katie Ledecky winning three events, world records set by Gretchen Walsh and Regan Smith, and veteran Olympic gold medalists Ryan Murphy, Caeleb Dressel, and Simone Manuel all qualifying for the Olympic team.
Primetime viewership for the diving competition (Monday-Tuesday), which is being held in Knoxville, Tenn., is UP 39% from the 2021 Trials average, averaging 2.9 million viewers.
The trials for swimming, diving, track & field and gymnastics continue tonight through June 30 across NBC, Peacock and USA Network. The Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympics is Friday, July 26 on NBC, Peacock, and Telemundo.
