×
Top Stories
Phillies blast Rockies to continue road successStars escape two-goal hole, down Oilers in openerAnthony Edwards fined $50,000 by NBA for profanity in postgame interviewAaron Nesmith, Pacers rally late, stun Knicks in OTBlue Jays shut out Padres for a second consecutive gameJasson Dominguez's walk-off shot sends Yankees past RangersReports: BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff sued for sexual assaultBrett Baty, Mets salvage series finale against Red SoxGiants to place RHP Justin Verlander (pectoral) on 15-day ILRangers C Jonah Heim leaves game vs. Yankees due to hand injuryDeep Thunder seeking 2-0 series lead over TimberwolvesDeep Thunder seeking 2-0 series lead over TimberwolvesStanley Cup Playoffs ratings continue to sagColts owner/CEO Jim Irsay dies at 65Colts owner/CEO Jim Irsay dies at 65Thriving on road, Panthers seek 2-0 edge over HurricanesRain washes out Braves-Nationals, moved to split DH in SeptemberRain washes out Braves-Nationals, moved to split DH in SeptemberGavin Williams helps Guardians shut down TwinsGavin Williams helps Guardians shut down Twins

Stanley Cup Playoffs ratings continue to sag

By NHL Premium News May 22, 2025 | 3:48 AM

Television ratings for the Stanley Cup Playoffs continue to be weighed down in the United States by the heavy presence of Canadian teams.
Playoff games on ESPN networks have averaged 886,000 viewers, down 28 percent from last year’s record through two rounds. Meanwhile, TNT Sports has seen a 19 percent drop to an average of 882,000 viewers, per Nielsen ratings cited by Sports Media Watch.
Second round games averaged 1.2 million viewers on each platform, down from 1.6 million on ESPN and 1.5 million on TNT Sports last year.
The Dallas Stars will meet the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday, while the Florida Panthers hold a 1-0 series lead on the Carolina Hurricanes in the East.
While three of the remaining teams are from the United States, three of the eight teams that reached the second round were from Canada. That marked the first time since 2004 that three second-round series featured at least one Canadian team.
That is believed to be a significant factor in the lower ratings this year, with 21 of the first 34 games on TNT Sports involving a Canadian team. ESPN and TNT broadcast only to U.S. viewers.
ABC did set a new record for the current media rights deal with an average of 2.27 million viewers tuning into Game 6 of the Dallas-Winnipeg series on Saturday. And Sunday’s Game 7 between Florida and Toronto averaged 1.9 million across TNT and truTV, up from last year’s 1.66 million for Game 7 between Edmonton and Vancouver on ESPN.
The NHL does have separate media rights deals in Canada, and reported that ratings across the two countries for the second round were up 12 percent. According to the league, second-round games were up 45 percent to an average of 2.2 million viewers in Canada.