I moved out of DC in February 1995, and haven’t been there since 2002. This is the first time I remember being homesick since I moved away. I’m so happy for my favorite Internet mogul, Ted Leonsis. His Washington Capitals, on the brink of elimination down 3 games to 1 have rallied back to force the best thing in all of sports: a game seven! Tonight! At home! Wish I could be there to “Rock the Red”.
Alex Ovechkin who’d been held without a goal for like four games regained his “Alexander the Great” status as the Capitals down two goals scored four unanswered goals to win the game 4-2. The game rated extremely well with men, with a 4.5/12 (rating/share) with men 18-49 years old and a 4.2/10 with men 25-54. Overall, it pulled in a 2.6/7 in the 18-49 demo. Which for an NHL game in Washington, DC is a big deal and the best demographic performances ever for a Capitals game.
Last night’s game in Philadelphia had an overall rating of 3.8 in the DC market, also a record.
And OK, so DC is not exactly Hockeytown USA like Detroit is (or Minneapolis, for that matter – they get amazing local ratings there too), but record ratings are record ratings and you have to like the trend.
Tonight marks the first game seven the Capitals have hosted since 1992. Good luck and go Caps!
Great blog. One question. Do you know how that rating for the Caps compares to the rating for the Wizards game (on TNT and a second Comcast channel) in the D.C. market?
Great blog. One question. Do you know how that rating for the Caps compares to the rating for the Wizards game (on TNT and a second Comcast channel) in the D.C. market?
Eric, thanks. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to dig up any info on the Wiz, but with them being blown out, I doubt it was anywhere near record performance — even if you combine the local TNT+ the Comcast Sports overflow ratings.
Eric, thanks. Unfortunately I haven't been able to dig up any info on the Wiz, but with them being blown out, I doubt it was anywhere near record performance — even if you combine the local TNT+ the Comcast Sports overflow ratings.
Thanks. I’m curious because in D.C. we’re constantly told by certain members of the sports media that no one really cares about hockey, etc. Tony Kornheiser likes to say that no one would recognize Alex Ovechkin if he walked down K Street at lunchtime, but that Gilbert Arenas would be mobbed. But for the Caps to score higher than the Wiz in a head-to-head TV ratings matchup would seem to indicate that times may be changing a little bit in Washington.
Are there any numbers for Saturday afternoon when the two teams also went head to head? (NBC vs. ESPN plus Comcast)
Thanks. I'm curious because in D.C. we're constantly told by certain members of the sports media that no one really cares about hockey, etc. Tony Kornheiser likes to say that no one would recognize Alex Ovechkin if he walked down K Street at lunchtime, but that Gilbert Arenas would be mobbed. But for the Caps to score higher than the Wiz in a head-to-head TV ratings matchup would seem to indicate that times may be changing a little bit in Washington.
Are there any numbers for Saturday afternoon when the two teams also went head to head? (NBC vs. ESPN plus Comcast)
I don’t have any of the local data for Saturday. We will get the national data at somepoint, but that’s not going to give you what you want.
While I am sure TK is right about recognizing Gilbert on site more easily than Ovechkin, it would be interesting to see the head-to-head comparision. I’ll see if I can dig up something head-to-head.
I don't have any of the local data for Saturday. We will get the national data at somepoint, but that's not going to give you what you want.
While I am sure TK is right about recognizing Gilbert on site more easily than Ovechkin, it would be interesting to see the head-to-head comparision. I'll see if I can dig up something head-to-head.
Robert sorry about the loss. How about throwing support behind the orange and black.
GO FLYERS!!!!!
Robert sorry about the loss. How about throwing support behind the orange and black.
GO FLYERS!!!!!
im surprised the caps fans there knew what a goal was. always nice to see dc folks watch enjoy a hockey game every now and then.
im surprised the caps fans there knew what a goal was. always nice to see dc folks watch enjoy a hockey game every now and then.
I was a nervous wreck the last 5 minutes of regulation into the OT. Now, I’m heart-broken. Great series though!
I was a nervous wreck the last 5 minutes of regulation into the OT. Now, I'm heart-broken. Great series though!
kayarn, I would not disappoint you. 22 year DC resident, been to one NHL game in my life.
I know what a goal is, and a puck, past that it gets dicey.
kayarn, I would not disappoint you. 22 year DC resident, been to one NHL game in my life.
I know what a goal is, and a puck, past that it gets dicey.
To the gentleman above, the Wizards drew a 2.1 national rating on ESPN for Game 1. So without complete numbers, you can pretty much guarantee that the local ratings (ESPN + Comcast) for the Wiz crushed the Caps.
To the gentleman above, the Wizards drew a 2.1 national rating on ESPN for Game 1. So without complete numbers, you can pretty much guarantee that the local ratings (ESPN + Comcast) for the Wiz crushed the Caps.
To Dan,
I don’t think you can assume that. The NBA is without a doubt a more popular league than the NHL nationally and thus would clearly get better numbers nationally–especially with a game featuring the league’s biggest star in LeBron James. That doesn’t mean the same held true for the particular market in Washington.
To Dan,
I don't think you can assume that. The NBA is without a doubt a more popular league than the NHL nationally and thus would clearly get better numbers nationally–especially with a game featuring the league's biggest star in LeBron James. That doesn't mean the same held true for the particular market in Washington.