Stanley Cup game seven sets historic viewership record
In a historic moment in sports broadcasting, Game 7 of the NHL Stanley Cup finals between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers broke viewership records. The series showdown captivated a massive audience and set new benchmarks for non-Original Six team matchups. With impressive numbers across various demographics, this game has become a significant milestone in NHL history. Read more Stanley Cup game seven sets historic viewership record.
Record-Breaking Viewership
The final game of the 2024 Stanley Cup, played on a Monday night, averaged 7.7 million viewers. This figure represents a significant increase from previous years, highlighting the growing interest in the NHL. Notably, the game reached an average of 3.1 million viewers in the 18-49 age group, a demographic crucial for advertisers. The ratings are up 182% and 170% over last year’s Stanley Cup Final Game 5 clincher between Florida and Vegas and 32% and 39% over the 2022 Stanley Cup Final Game 6 on ABC, featuring Colorado and Tampa Bay.
The peak viewership for the Oilers-Panthers Game 7 hit 10.3 million during the 10:45 p.m. ET quarter-hour, setting a new record for the largest non-Original Six audience ever. It became the most-viewed NHL game on ESPN+, demonstrating the platform’s growing influence in sports streaming.
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Season and Playoff Averages
The 2024 Stanley Cup Final averaged 4.2 million viewers and attracted 1.5 million people in the 18-49 demographic. These numbers represent a 58% and 43% increase, respectively, compared to the 2023 Stanley Cup Final.
The 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, across ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC, averaged 1.8 million viewers and 724,000 in the 18-49 age group. This marked a 60% and 46% increase from the 2023 averages and a 14% and 19% rise from the 2022 averages.
Female Viewership Surge
One of the standout statistics from the 2024 Stanley Cup Final was the dramatic increase in female viewership. Female viewers for the final game rose by 66% compared to the 2023 final.
The broader Stanley Cup Playoff viewership among females aged 18-34 increased by 73%, while viewership among females aged 18 and older and those aged two and older saw notable increases of 63% and 62%, respectively. These figures underscore the expanding appeal of hockey across diverse audiences.
ESPN’s NHL digital content saw substantial growth during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. From the beginning of the playoffs through June 24, 35 million unique visitors accessed digital content on ESPN.com and the ESPN App, spending 983 million minutes engaged with the content. This represents an 11% increase in unique visitors and a 28% increase in total engagement time compared to 2023.
Digital and Social Media Growth
On social media, ESPN’s NHL content generated 27.8 million total engagements and 300.5 million total video views across platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X/Twitter.
These figures are up 43% and 44% from the previous year, respectively. Additionally, the NHL on ESPN TikTok account surpassed 1 million followers during the Stanley Cup Final, highlighting the league’s growing presence on emerging social media platforms.
In 2021, the NHL signed a landmark seven-year media rights agreement worth $625 million with the Walt Disney Company and Turner Sports.
This deal included streaming up to 75 games per season on ESPN+ and Hulu and simulcasting select playoff games on HBO Max. This strategic move aims to expand the league’s reach and cater to fans’ evolving media consumption habits.
NHL Media Rights and Future Prospects
Amazon’s recent success with NFL Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime Video provides a promising model for the NHL’s future media strategy. By leveraging its robust Prime platform and deep integration with viewership analytics, Amazon has demonstrated its capability to enhance viewer engagement and deliver targeted advertising opportunities.
This success could pave the way for similar innovations in how NHL content is distributed and monetized, potentially attracting more advertisers and enhancing the overall viewer experience.
The media landscape for the NHL is poised for further transformation, with potential new players entering the arena.
As YYZ Sports Media’s Sigel noted, “Amazon’s interest in securing a foothold in the NHL broadcasting arena speaks volumes about the company’s broader strategy.”
With deep ties to the NHL and a robust Prime platform, Amazon is positioning itself to compete with industry giants like Walmart and Loblaws, especially in the competitive grocery sector.
The record-breaking viewership of the Oilers vs. Panthers Game 7 in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final underscores hockey’s growing popularity and the NHL’s successful strategies in engaging diverse audiences. With substantial increases in viewership across traditional and digital platforms, the NHL is well-positioned for continued growth and innovation in sports broadcasting. As new media deals unfold and more players enter the field, fans can look forward to even more exciting developments in hockey.
