The first-ever NHL Frozen Frenzy presentation on ESPN2 and ESPN+, a whiparound-style event featuring all 32 teams in action, had a successful debut with an average of 196,000 total viewers on the linear network.
57% of the audience emanated from the adults 18-49 demographic, which is 12 points higher than last season’s average for the NHL on ESPN. The P18-49 demographic averaged 113,000 viewers for the dynamic presentation, which was hosted by John Buccigross and Kevin Weekes.
By the numbers, the night featured 102 goals from 93 different scorers. There were never more than 10 minutes without a goal throughout the eight-hour course of events and three instances where at least three goals were scored simultaneously.
While it is unknown if ESPN will present this kind of broadcast again this season, it can point to success for its tripleheader on its primary linear channel. The three matchups – featuring the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Washington Capitals; Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks; and the Philadelphia Flyers taking on the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights – averaged 432,000 total viewers, 11% higher than last year’s average for the property.
Additionally, 195,000 of those viewers came from the P18-49 demographic, up 10% compared to average totals during the 2022-23 year. The Maple Leafs-Capitals game, which dropped the puck at 6 p.m. EST, was the most-watched regular season game featuring a Canadian team on cable television since 2017.
On the year, the NHL on ESPN is averaging a total of 616,000 viewers, which is 26% higher than totals at the same point last season. Furthermore, an average of 294,000 viewers come from the P18-49 demographic, which is up 29% from this time last year.
