Winter Classic 2012: Why Game Should Be Moved to Prime Time

The NHL Winter Classic has been on in the afternoon in three of the four games in the history of the event. However, last year’s game played at 8 PM drew the highest ratings in the history of the game. This should alert NBC to move the game to be played at prime time. 

Last year’s Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Washington Capitals Winter Classic drew 4.5 million people to the game. This was higher than former highest Winter Classic when 4.4 million people watched the Detroit Red Wings-Chicago Blackhawks game in 2009 (via Yahoo! Sports).

Last year’s game was pushed to the evening because of rain. With little-to-no advertisement, not only was the game still the highest rated Winter Classic, it was the highest rated regular season hockey game since 1975. 

Yahoo! Sports hockey blog Puck Daddy’s Greg Wyshynski takes a look at why playing in prime time was a good thing for last year’s Winter Classic game:

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In one way, the NHL caught a break with the weather delay, avoiding bowl games featuring Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State that could have siphoned viewers from traditional hockey ratings strongholds. The main college bowl competition in the evening was the BCS Fiesta Bowl on ESPN, which featured a blowout win for Oklahoma over UConn. Can't wait to see the city-by-city breakdown, including the local numbers from D.C. 

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If this year’s game would be played at prime time, they would be going up against the Fiesta Bowl between Oklahoma State and Stanford. These two teams will provide an entertaining high-scoring game, however, their fanbases will not affect the television rating that much.  

Instead, with the expected start time of 1 PM, they are slated to go against Ohio State vs. Florida, Nebraska vs. South Carolina and Michigan State vs. Georgia.  

That’s three huge games with fanbases that will drive the television rating down for the Winter Classic and up for those bowl games.  

The move to prime time would put the game in a small window if the weather does not cooperate like last year. However, in four years of the Winter Classic, only once has the weather been a factor.  

With the move to prime time it would give the game an even bigger feeling, while going up against one bowl game. It’s the smart move and the right move to grow the Winter Classic into an even bigger event than it already is. 

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