Soccer Up, NHL Down in L.A. TV
The Spanish-language telecast of Monday’s U.S.-Czech Republic World Cup match on Channel 34 outdrew the English telecast on ESPN2 in Los Angeles nearly three to one, according to Nielsen Media research.
Channel 34 drew a 5.5 rating, an 18 share and 385,000 L.A. viewers. ESPN2 had a 2.1 rating in L.A. with 139,000 viewers.
The numbers for Sunday’s game between Iran and Mexico were even more impressive. Channel 34 had a 12.5 rating, a 29 share and 1,376,000 viewers for the telecast. Channel 7 had 4.9/11 with 423,000 viewers.
Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Channel 7 Sunday night drew a 10.6 rating, a 20 share and 818,000 viewers in L.A.
Nationally, Iran-Mexico on Univision drew 5.4 million viewers, making it the most-watched sporting event in Spanish-language TV history.
The U.S.-Czech Republic game on ESPN2 drew 2.14 million viewers and a 2.4 rating, making it the most-watched and highest-rating soccer telecast ever on ESPN2.
Meanwhile, national ratings for the Stanley Cup finals are respectable, now that NBC is showing the games, but ratings in Los Angeles remain dismal.
Game 4 on Monday between the Edmonton Oilers and Carolina Hurricanes got a 2.0 national rating but only 0.8 in L.A. Game 3 on Saturday had a 1.6 national rating and a 1.1 L.A. rating.
Old episodes of “I Love Lucy” on Channel 11 opposite the hockey in L.A. on Saturday got ratings of 1.1 and 1.2.
The 2.0 national rating for Game 4 was down slightly from a 2.1 for Game 4 of the 2004 finals on ABC between Tampa Bay and Calgary, but the 1.6 for Game 3 was up slightly from a 1.4.
NBC spokesman Brian Walker said the national ratings were in line with projections and added, “We’re thrilled with the product on the ice. The hockey has been fantastic.”
In 2004 in L.A., Game 3 got a 1.1 rating, Game 4 a 2.3, and Game 7 a 3.8.
In 2003, when the Mighty Ducks extended the New Jersey Devils to seven games in the finals, Game 7 got an L.A. rating of 10 with an 18 share.
The record hockey rating for L.A. was set by Game 4 of the five-game 1993 Stanley Cup finals between the Kings and Montreal Canadiens. That game drew a 10.5 rating on Prime Ticket and a 2.6 on ESPN, which also televised the game live.