Versus sets new regular-season ratings record with Caps/Flyers

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Just in from Versus: Last night's Philadelphia Flyers/Washington Capitals game set a new regular-season ratings record for the network's NHL coverage: a 0.6 national rating.

That's up from the 0.5 the Capitals and Boston Bruins did on opening night. But no, the Capitals would have been a lousy draw for the Winter Classic, right NBC?

The Capitals/Bruins game still holds the title for "most watched" in Versus history based on total viewers (501,000). Viewership totals for last night's game will likely become available on Thursday.

Overall, the network says that ratings are up 33 percent for the NHL on Versus so far this season, and the viewership totals are up 15 percent -- and that's including some clunkers, like the Florida Panthers and Chicago Blackhawks from Finland.

What's that you say? The elephant in the room? Versus and DirecTV are still in negotiations and there's nothing new to report ... other than that we keep getting letters like this one from Puck Buddy Adrian R., a disgruntled DirecTV subscriber:

"If DTV wants to stick Versus on the regional sports tier, it would be in the NHL's best interest to make sure Versus games are included in the Center Ice package from now on. Center Ice costs $149, but virtually all the games that aren't on Versus are on the regional sports networks. I can buy the regional sports pack for $12 a month, and if Versus ends up there, I'll have no incentive to buy Center Ice. I'll just buy the sports pack for virtually the same annual price.
"It blows my mind that the NHL isn't doing more to settle this. It's their biggest U.S. broadcast partner."

You're not alone, sir. Versus getting ratings without DirecTV, and DirecTV being content to satisfy angry hockey fans with concessions like free services, are going to keep this thing at a stalemate for the foreseeable future.

UPDATE: Eric McErlain checked in and said that "all NHL games out of your area -- and all major league sports for that matter -- are blacked out on the DTV sports tier." And DirecTV says the same thing on its site.

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1. Posted by Kellys Tavern Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:57 pm EDT
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I have DTV. Even though the Fly Boys lost it would've been nice ti watch it. Lame!
2. Posted by brian52_99 Wed Oct 28, 2009 6:09 pm EDT
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I'd just like to point out that DirecTV blacks out all the games outside of your area on the regional sports networks. You'd still have to buy Center Ice.
3. Posted by ack Wed Oct 28, 2009 6:10 pm EDT
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Did the blackout rules change? I thought with the regional sports tier you didn't get NHL, MLB, and NBA games. You'd still need center ice to get the NHL games (and the associated MLB and NBA packages for them).
4. Posted by Dan H Wed Oct 28, 2009 6:12 pm EDT
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That reader is off base with his comments.
When you buy the sports pack, any game that is available on one of the sports subscription packages is blocked out. I buy the sports package....since I have Center Ice, I'm able to get the NHL games; however, NBA and MLB games are blocked out.
His plan would not work. If he does not have the CI package, any out-of-market NHL game would not be available to him.
5. Posted by capshckygirl Wed Oct 28, 2009 6:21 pm EDT
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What an awesome game last night between the Caps and Flyers. I was at the game and forgot to set the DVR to record the game on Versus. (I have DISHNetwork, so no worries for me! :) I am mad that there is no replay of the game on VS or the NHL Network so I can re-watch it!
As far as the Winter Classic goes, I think the Caps/Flyers would of been a MUCH more interesting match-up to watch. I'm tempted to boycott the 2010 Winter Classic because the Caps were jipped. With the Penguins and now the Flyers already in a Winter Classic, not sure who that would leave as a "rival" for the Caps to play in one.
6. Posted by Tom Wed Oct 28, 2009 6:34 pm EDT
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At this point in the season i dont really care about not being able to see the games on directv. It is so easy to watch the games streamed online.
7. Posted by dfreshhookup Wed Oct 28, 2009 6:34 pm EDT
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Wyshynski post, crying about something Capitals related. Copy, paste repeat.
8. Posted by Peter D Wed Oct 28, 2009 6:43 pm EDT
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@#7. you would rather watch the bruins than the caps at the winter classic?
9. Posted by Wyshynski Wed Oct 28, 2009 6:47 pm EDT
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@ dfreshhookup --
Yes, I'm the world's biggest Caps fan who roots for the Devils. Outed again.
10. Posted by Lambo-Greenie Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:06 pm EDT
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@#5-
NBC screwed this up, NHL wanted the caps in the Classic, NBC didn't. Of course that should be no surprise since their shows rank last in all the TV ratings, they obviously don't know how to pick anything right. As for who the Caps could possibly play... The Sens. I know its not a rivalry, but its each countries Capital. Ottawa and DC.
11. Posted by fshelp@... Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:23 pm EDT
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dfresh owned again....
Wysh, if you're going to include a reader anecdote, make sure its factual. Buying the regional sports pack does not give you access to all NHL games on all regional networks.
You want to know why people think you're in the pocket of Comcast? You use ridiculously false statements like "Adrian R." 's. You also (unintentionally? intentionally?) ignore how those ratings compare to other cable TV networks ratings in primetime.
I trust Sports Business Daily in that they're a reputable source, but where are they getting the ratings info from? I know for a FACT its not first-hand information because SBD does not do TV ratings.
Just as a comparison, here are the top cable programs' average viewership (from tvbythenumbers.com, using Nielsen ratings for October 19-25, 2009)
Network (000s)
ESPN 3,509
USA 3,267
TBSC 2,868
DSNY 2,654
FOXN 2,203
NAN 1,662
TNT 1,595
TOON 1,519
A&E 1,494
SYFY 1,408
FAM 1,363
FX 1,292
HGTV 1,219
FOOD 1,207
DISC 1,201
CMDY 1,152
TRU 1,088
SPK 1,033
HIST 1,025
TLC 1,001
LIFE 937
HALL 922
BRAV 882
AMC 863
NKJR 751
Remember, Versus just got a "0.6" rating which translates to about 605,000 viewers.
Hockey on Versus is being outrated by NICKOLODEON JUNIOR. Not regular nickolodeon. NIck JUNIOR. For kids. Not even TeenNick. Yet DirecTV is supposed to kowtow to Versus/Comcast's demands. Versus isn't in the top 25 cable networks. The NHL is Versus' top ratings grabber, right? I would HOPE so, considering IndyCar season is over, Cycling is out of season and the PBR..... is.... ???? So assuming that for the 5 other days of the week where the NHL isn't on in primetime (along with EXACTLY ZERO NHL-RELATED PROGRAMS), Versus gets a 0.1, MAYBE a 0.2?
Why don't you report ALL of the facts, Wysh?
12. Posted by fshelp@... Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:25 pm EDT
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in the interest of clarity, it should read cable networks average PRIMETIME viewership (7-11pm) The data isn't cherrypicked.
13. Posted by fshelp@... Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:30 pm EDT
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Just to throw more ice on Versus' congratulatory praise, the 2nd most boring sport to watch on tv (of the big 4) got FOUR MILLION PEOPLE to watch Cavs-Celtics opening night, and 3.4 MILLION to watch the CLIPPERS!!!!! (granted against the Lakers).
Versus Opening Night = 0.5! We deserve a raise from DTV!
TNT Opening Night = 4.0 (3.4 on the low end)
TNT's coverage of the NBA is tons better than Versus coverage of the NHL. TNT gives an hour long postgame show with an entertaining group of people (i will admit i watch the last minute of the last game of the TNT doubleheader and the FULL postgame show because its entertaining). Versus "Hockey Central" gives you about 5 minutes of talk shoehorned in as they try to get off the air by 6:58:00 so they can run 2 minutes of promos for The Soup and Billy Mays ads (may he RIP)
14. Posted by Russin Machine Wed Oct 28, 2009 8:01 pm EDT
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Fshelp, just wondering how many households versus is in as compared to TNT, espn, etc. And regardin the NBA numbers, you had lebron in one game and the defending champs in the other game on opening night. Not saying that the NBA doesn't outdraw the NHL, but a better comparison would be a midweek game in nov, not opening night.
15. Posted by Dutch Wed Oct 28, 2009 8:19 pm EDT
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@fshelp, keep in mind that most of your other "Prime Time" network programs are counted in Prime Time for the entire country, IE. the History Channel shows something at 8PM EST that same show is on at 8PM PST. Sports events such as flyers-Caps started at 4:30PST, sure the numbers aren't great compared to a lot of other cable programming but the trends are up and as Wysh points out and some of you are well aware, DirecTV not offering VS. probably cost the show about 100-200K of viewership.
16. Posted by ZacharyB Wed Oct 28, 2009 8:39 pm EDT
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I like DirecTV, I like satellite, and I don't care much for cable. But cable got me this game. Bummer, D-TV. Bummer.
Oh, and the game rocked.
17. Posted by jon Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:23 pm EDT
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OMG, hockey tv ratings are pathetic.
18. Posted by Karl Hungus Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:42 pm EDT
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So I live in KY, I can throw a stone from my front step into TN. I am a Directv customer, have been for years. I am livid about the versus coverage. I had to watch the game on the internet. ( http:''channelsurfing.net/watch-nhl.html ) Bad-a$$ website, good quality on full screen. Not bad, but it doesn't come close to my 52" flat screen. The site has all the versus games by the way. On another note I can't watch any of the Predators games. Not that I care that much, but I do live 45 min from Nashville so I am close enough to be blacked out by FNSTN. FSNTN is supposed to be a channel I get due to where I live. Directv says no, and I would have to pay the extra 12$ a month to get the sports channels, then the lady said I could watch the games. But I already have the center ice package so why would I get blacked out? They carry the FSNTN feed on the package, but I have to tune to the actual channel to watch thte game. WTF!!!! If it wasn't for the Sunday ticket I would have ditched Directv long ago. Go die Directv!!
19. Posted by The Canuck Fan Wed Oct 28, 2009 11:04 pm EDT
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@ Russin Machine
It looks like he was comparing opening night in the NHL to opening night in the NBA, in theory it should be the same.
If DirecTV is costing Versus 30% of their ratings (you said potentially an additional 200k), wouldn't that be enough motivation for Versus to get off the pot?
As for the comparison with other networks, you got to remember that Versus has pretty much nothing after hockey year round. Sure they havE WEC every now and then, but thats not enough programming to justify a rate increase. The NHL didn't force Comcast to overpay for hockey. I am fully on DirecTV's side. I absolutely feel for the flyers and red wings and rangers and b-hawks fans outside of those local markets with directv cause you're missing out on games you should be seeing. as a Canuck fan, i'm glad there are 0 Canucks regular season games on Versus, or i'd be livid. Its bad enough that Centre ice doesn't give me rogers sportsnet or CBC feeds in HD.
@ Karl Hungus
I had a similar issue with Comcast Sportsnet California last year. I live in Sunnyvale, CA, 8 miles from San Jose, CA. San jose Earthquakes (MLS, plz don't laugh too hard) games last year were on Comcast Sportsnet California. I got blacked out from games all last season because DirecTV claimed that I was outside of the CSN California Territory. I let CSN California know what was going on and it got fixed for this season.
Long story short, contact FSN South and FSN TEnnessee and let them know that your'e well within the Predators market and DirecTV is blacking out Predators games in your area. Also, LET THE PREDATORS KNOW TOO. you bet your ass the Nashville franchise is going to do something if their product is being blacked out incorrectly.
20. Posted by Professor Farnsworth Wed Oct 28, 2009 11:16 pm EDT
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I could say shameless plug for the Caps, but i will say.... Oh, wait, lets not forget these ratings are based on, o yea, a league regaining its fan base post lock out on a network that never carried hockey pre-lockout. BOLD PREDICTION (puck daddy likes these) The first broadcast on Verses next season is the highest rated broadcast ever for an NHL game on versus.
Before handing all the credit to Versus, and for that the teams that versus airs, lets remember this is a league rehabilitating itself.
PS. Wysh cover some %@&^ing west coast hockey. Anze Kopitar leads the league in scoring!!! Hockey exists beyond the Mississippi river! Love the blog but the difference between a good hockey blog and THE elite hockey blog is covering teams within a thousand miles of that pesky pacific ocean. As unbelievable as that sounds to main steam hockey media.
21. Posted by Someguy Wed Oct 28, 2009 11:34 pm EDT
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Hockey won't even be televised in the United States soon enough because Bettman can't negotiate a decent contract to save his life. And those ratings for Versus are nothing to be bragging about. DirecTV has no intentions on getting a deal done. Again..Versus needs DirecTV more than DirecTV needs Versus.
22. Posted by Professor Farnsworth Wed Oct 28, 2009 11:37 pm EDT
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PPS. Did i miss it or was there any story on here about the Vs. president and all he said about the Direct TV disagreement on NHL live?
23. Posted by Professor Farnsworth Wed Oct 28, 2009 11:39 pm EDT
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Because if a story was run about the previous, number 21's comment would not seem so unintelligent.
24. Posted by dwfma Wed Oct 28, 2009 11:42 pm EDT
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Flyer fans still would have to live in the Philadelphia area to see most of their games, no matter which dish you buy. God bless PRISM.
25. Posted by George W Wed Oct 28, 2009 11:47 pm EDT
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@fshelp
Wow. Three straight comments and posting every other network's ratings. That's a lot of anger towards a small story about ratings. What time are you due back at DirecTV headquarters? As a Leafs fan living in the US, I'm not the biggest fan of versus - don't hate them as much as you apparently - but I am a hockey fan so if five more people or 500,000 more people are watching hockey in this country, I consider that a good thing. Hope the trend continues.