Fans consumed record amount of video at NHL.com after Game 5 of the 2008 Stanley Cup Final

NEW YORK  -- After Monday night’s triple-overtime thriller during Stanley Cup Final Game 5 between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings, on Tuesday National Hockey League (NHL) fans consumed more streaming video at NHL.com than any other single day in the history of the site.

On Tuesday, fans flocking to the NHL Network Online, and tuning to the Game Highlights Channel presented by Verizon Wireless, consumed 50 percent more streaming video than NHL.com’s previous daily record.  The achievement is particularly notable because the amount of highlight video consumed in the wake of Game 5 eclipsed nights when the NHL has had 15 games being played across North America. 

The record amount of video is further indication that, in addition to the high quality of play, star power and drama on the ice, the NHL Network Online is successfully keeping its avid fans engaged and active since end of the regular-season.  On Tuesday, the Game Highlights Channel presented by Verizon Wireless saw a record number of visitors and concurrent users.

“The NHL has made digital a central platform for activating avid fans and scaling the business, and video is the key part of that strategy,” said John Collins, NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Business and Media.  “As a League, we’re demonstrating in record numbers the ability to deliver a large audience, both to traditional media as well as New Media platforms that are widely consumed by the most appealing demographics.”

The achievement comes on the heels of the news that NBC earned a 3.8 overnight rating and a 7 share for Game 5, the best overnight rating for a Stanley Cup Final Game 5 in six years, and the best for an NHL game on NBC since NBC reacquired the NHL in 2004.   The average of 6.2 million viewers made it the most-watched Stanley Cup Final game since Game 5 in 2002 between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Red Wings (6.8 million).

Also, NBC's Saturday night Game 4 coverage ranked No. 1 in primetime in Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34 and all key adult-male demographics. This marks the first time Stanley Cup coverage has scored a primetime win since Saturday, June 9, 2001 (Stanley Cup Final Game 7, Colorado-New Jersey).  So far, NBC’s three-game Stanley Cup Final average of 3.0/6 is an 88% increase over last year (1.6/3).