• Loading stock data...
Friday, October 24, 2025

Lack of Game 7 Hurts ABC’s Stanley Cup Final Viewership

  • TV audiences soared from last season’s pandemic delayed Final — but were down 13% from 2019.
  • Lack of dramatic Game 7 hurt overall TV numbers for Avalanche vs. Lightning.
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

There’s an unspoken saying in sports media. TV executives don’t root for specific teams in a series; they root for the series to go seven games.

The Colorado Avalanche beat the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 to win the Stanley Cup. The lack of an all-or-nothing Game 7 might help explain the solid, but far from stellar, TV audiences for the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.

Game 7’s propel viewership and make advertisers happy. ABC’s coverage of the six-game series averaged 4.6 million viewers. 

  • That’s up 84% from last year’s pandemic-delayed five-game Final between the Lightning and Montreal Canadiens. 
  • But down 13% from the 5.3 million average for the St. Louis Blues’ seven-game win over the Boston Bruins in the pre-pandemic days of 2019. 
  • That Game 7 averaged nearly 9 million viewers — making it the most-watched NHL game ever on U.S. airwaves.

The matchup of two relatively “small-market” teams didn’t help either. 

Discounting the last two pandemic-delayed Finals, the Avalanche vs. Lightning ranked as the least-watched Final since the Pittsburgh Penguins vs. San Jose Sharks in 2016 (3.95M) and second-least-watched since the Los Angeles Kings vs. New Jersey Devils in 2012 (3.01M), according to Sports Media Watch.

Still, the NHL and The Walt Disney Co. had plenty to be happy about as hockey broadcasts returned to ABC/ESPN for the first time in 17 years. 

ABC’s telecast of the series-clinching Game 6 on Sunday averaged 5.8 million viewers, making it the most-watched telecast of the day among the advertiser-targeted 18-49 year old audience.

The six-game Final averaged 1.8 million viewers among viewers 18-49. That’s up 99% from last season. All six game telecasts ranked as the most-viewed of their respective days among both total viewers and people 18-49. 

Female viewership for the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs rose 64%. Among females aged 18-49 and 2-17, viewership rose 109% and 90% respectively.

Disney’s coverage of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs across ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 averaged 1.6 million viewers. That’s up 60% vs all playoff telecasts on cable and broadcast TV last year.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Brian Windhorst

Brian Windhorst Details Emergency Landing on Omaha–L.A. Flight

The pilots and flight attendants had a communication issue.

Raptors, Leafs Shift Games to Make Way for Blue Jays’ World Series..

The Maple Leafs and Raptors adjust game times during the World Series.

As the NFL, NBA, and NHL Go Global, The Masters Is Looking..

The tournament’s chairman touted new qualification measures.
ESPN

‘Inside the NBA’ Keeps Irreverence Intact in ESPN Debut

The foursome were back together ahead of Wednesday’s doubleheader.

Featured Today

Christie's

Lou Gehrig’s $4M Jersey and the Exploding Sports Memorabilia Market

An ultra-rare sports collection is about to hit the auction block.
@chef__tezz/Instagram
October 19, 2025

Inside the NFL’s Private Chef Network

Private chefs are the unsung architects of player performance.
October 18, 2025

How Vanderbilt Went From SEC Doormat to Dark Horse CFP Candidate

After beating LSU, Clark Lea said: “Internally, we expect to win.”
May 27, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) shoots a three point basket over New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) during the third quarter of game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
October 18, 2025

NBA Stars Swap Wine With League Friends and Foes

A wine-exchange tradition emerged from the bubble season’s close quarters.
Oct 21, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) keeps the ball away from Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) during the second half at Paycom Center

NBA’s NBC Return Draws 5.9M Viewers, Best Opener Since 2010

Thunder vs. Rockets peaked at 7.1 million viewers.
October 22, 2025

YouTube Stars Help Bring Back Golf Channel’s ‘Big Break’

The show will return in 2026 after an 11-year hiatus.
May 17, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Jasson Dominguez (24) shakes hands with New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) after the top of the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium.
October 23, 2025

Mets, Yankees, and the Nielsen Debate That Won’t Go Away

Weeks after the end of the MLB regular season, viewership issues remain.
Sponsored

How HOKA is Reimagining the NIL Relationship

Fans can now follow their favorite golfers and experience every marquee moment at the Ryder Cup — thanks to innovation from T-Mobile.
Candace Parker
October 22, 2025

Candace Parker Wants NFL-Style Coverage From NBA Media

Amazon will stream its first NBA doubleheader Friday.
Netflix
October 21, 2025

Netflix Staying on the Sidelines As TNT Sports Parent Seeks Buyer

The streaming giant shows little interest in acquisition possibilities.
Apr 11, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view of an NBA basketball and backyard and NBA logo before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Toronto Raptors at the American Airlines Center.
October 17, 2025

NBA Tries to Solve Fragmentation Issue It Helped Create

A new “Tap to Watch” feature will direct fans to live games.
Mar 12, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; General view of ESPN broadcast camera during a game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena.
October 16, 2025

ESPN’s New NBA Segment Resists Hot Takes

LeBron James tweeted in favor of the new segment.