Overview
- The first eight national telecasts after the Olympic break averaged 603,000 viewers across ABC, ESPN and TNT, up 23% versus pre‑Olympic levels.
- Season to date, ABC/ESPN are averaging 785,000 viewers (up 17% year over year) and TNT is averaging 353,000 (up 6%).
- ABC’s first post‑break doubleheader averaged 1.03 million viewers, trailing the final pre‑break twin bill that drew 1.3 million.
- TNT’s Feb. 25 doubleheader drew 172,000 viewers who had not watched NHL on TNT earlier this season, suggesting new audience sampling.
- Past surges tied to the Olympics and the 2024–25 Four Nations Face‑Off proved short‑lived, and some gains may reflect Nielsen’s Big Data + Panel shift and last season’s low baseline.