ESPN delivered its most-watched NHL season of the current rights era, dating to 2021-22. The network aired games across ESPN and ABC. The company averaged 760,000 viewers across 54 games. That figure jumped 30% year over year. It also topped last season’s previous high of 667,000 viewers.
Audience growth extended across key demos. Females increased 36%. Viewers ages 2-17 rose 46%. Adults 25-34 climbed 32%.
Individually, ESPN averaged 602,000 viewers across 38 games. ABC averaged 1.1 million viewers across 16 games. Both marks set new highs for the current rights cycle.
ESPN game telecasts rose 48% compared to last year. ABC increased 33%. ESPN surpassed its 2023-24 average of 487,000 viewers. ABC beat its 2022-23 mark of one million viewers.
On a per-game basis, ESPN dominated the season’s top audiences. The network aired nine of the ten most-watched games. The 2026 NHL Stadium Series led the way. The February 1 matchup drew 2.1 million viewers. That made it the most-watched regular season NHL game ever on cable.
The audience increased 30% versus last year’s Stadium Series game. It also stands as ESPN’s most-watched NHL regular season broadcast on record.
ABC also delivered a strong performance. A Penguins-Red Wings matchup averaged 1.6 million viewers. That figure rose 51% from last year’s first ABC Hockey Saturday game. It marked ABC’s most-watched game of the current deal.
Other tentpole events added momentum. The Opening Night tripleheader averaged 768,000 viewers. Penguins-Rangers ranked as ESPN’s second-best opening night game on cable. The third Frozen Frenzy also showed growth. The Oct. 28 event featured all 32 teams. ESPN’s tripleheader increased 20% year over year.
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