The live TV sports calendar for the first weekend in June starts on the ice as TNT drops the puck on the NHL Stanley Cup Finals. 

TNT, along with TBS and truTV, will carry Game One of the Florida Panthers-Vegas Golden Knights NHL Stanley Cup series. The Warner Bros. Discovery-owned networks will air every game of the NHL finals after ABC aired last year’s Colorado Avalanche-Tampa Bay Lightening Stanley Cup series.

Also: TNT Hopes Its First Stanley Cup Finals Will Maintain Hockey’s Ratings Momentum

The NBA Finals continue on ABC Sunday night as the Miami Heat look to even up its series with the Denver Nuggets after losing the first game on Thursday. 

On the baseball diamond, Peacock Sunday morning will stream the St. Louis Cardinals-Pittsburgh Pirates game, while ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball telecast will feature long-time interleague rivals the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Week eight of the USFL Football league begins Saturday with coverage of the Houston Gamblers-Pittsburgh Maulers game on USA Network and the Philadelphia Stars-Birmingham Stallions on NBC. Sunday’s action includes Fox’s telecasts of the Memphis Showboats-New Jersey Generals and Michigan Panthers-New Orleans Breakers games. 

On the links, CBS and the Golf Channel will offer weekend coverage of the final rounds of PGA Memorial golf tournament, while on the tennis court NBC and Tennis Channel will offer live coverage of the French Open.

In the octagon, ESPN on Saturday will televise a UFC Fight Night card featuring a main event bout between flyweights Kai Kara-France and Amir Albazi.  

Below is a snapshot of TV by the numbers for the week of June 20-26, highlighting the most-watched shows and networks using glass-level data from Vizio’s Inscape, and network and show TV ad impressions insights via iSpot.tv.

Most-Watched Shows and Networks

Via Inscape, Vizio’s TV data product with glass-level insights from a panel of more than 19 million active and opted-in smart TVs. Data is linear, live TV only and includes all episode types (new and reruns). Rankings are by percent share duration (i.e., time spent watching).

The Stanley Cup Final concluded on Sunday, as the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games. From June 20-26, the exciting series led the way, with 1.45% of all minutes watched.

Some additional insights about the top programming on TV:

• As the field narrows for the Men’s College World Series, the event is earning more watch-time, jumping up to No. 3 in our ranking (up from No. 8 the previous week).
• Thursday night’s NBA Draft netted 0.48% of watch-time on the week — good for No. 17 overall.
• Family Feud climbs from No. 27 to No. 23 week-over-week, courtesy of a consistent presence on Game Show Network.
• Chicago Fire stays hot, even weeks after season 10 has concluded, landing at No. 14 by watch-time despite only airing syndicated episodes.

ABC stays at the top of our list of most-watched networks in part due to the Stanley Cup Final, which played four games in primetime from June 20-26. The network accounts for 6.31% of watch-time, which is down from 8.17% the week before.

Additional insights around the most-watched networks from June 20-26:

• Airing the PGA Tour’s Travelers Championship helped CBS leapfrog NBC for No. 2 in our ranking, with 5.96% on the week.
• CNN increases minutes watched from 1.72% to 1.99% week-over-week, leading to a jump from No. 13 to No. 10 by most-watched networks.
• BET flies into our ranking after Sunday’s 2022 BET Awards, increasing watch-time from 0.84% to 1.10% week-over-week.
• History Channel moves from No. 26 to No. 22 by minutes watched week-over-week, on a steady diet of reality shows like Pawn Stars, American Pickers and Alone (among others).

Top Shows and Networks by TV Ad Impressions

Via iSpot.tv, the always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company. Rankings are by TV ad impressions, for new episodes only. 

The week of June 20-26 concludes with the NHL’s Stanley Cup Final as the top program by impressions, with 3.91% of the total. That’s more than a 2.33x week-over-week increase for the series, which also broadcast twice as many games this week versus last.

More data about the top programs by TV ad impressions:

• Morning shows deliver a larger share of impressions week-over-week, with Good Morning America climbing from 2.09% to 2.42%, and Today moving from 1.65% to 1.97%.
• MLB games catch a larger share of impressions on the week, with 1.79% – propelling a jump from No. 9 to No. 5 in our ranking.
• The 2022 BET Awards soar to No. 15 by impressions, courtesy of a live simulcast across Paramount cable networks including BET, BET Her, Pop, TV Land and more.
• The NASCAR Cup Series grabs the No. 25 spot in our ranking, as the Ally 400 and race qualifying account for 0.84% of the week’s impressions.

ABC parks in the No. 1 spot for another week in our ad-impressions-by-network ranking, collecting 12.76% of impressions (down from 17.23% the previous week, which featured both the Stanley Cup Final and NBA Finals).

Additional insights around the top networks by impressions:

• Fox News Channel hops from No. 3 to No. 2 week-over-week, with 24.46% of impressions delivered during the early fringe daypart.
• While Fox News’s share of impressions increased slightly week-over-week (from 11.74% to 11.75%), it was part of a trend for cable news as MSNBC’s grew from 6.00% to 6.27% and CNN went from 5.10% to 5.36%.
• The Men’s College World Series helped power ESPN2 from No. 17 to No. 13 week-over-week as the tournament field narrowed to the final teams.
• Hallmark Channel springs from No. 32 to No. 23 by impressions week-over-week, thanks in large part to the premiere of TV movie Two Tickets to Paradise, starring Ashley Williams and Ryan Paevey.

Below is a snapshot of TV by the numbers for the week of June 13-19, highlighting the most-watched shows and networks using glass-level data from Vizio’s Inscape, and network and show TV ad impressions insights via iSpot.tv.

Most-Watched Shows and Networks

Via Inscape, Vizio’s TV data product with glass-level insights from a panel of more than 19 million active and opted-in smart TVs. Data is linear, live TV only and includes all episode types (new and reruns). Rankings are by percent share duration (i.e., time spent watching).

U.S. Open coverage scored with TV audiences over the weekend, picking up 2.71% of all minutes watched to lead the way from June 13-19. The event appeared on both NBC and USA Network from Thursday through Sunday.

Some additional insights about the top programming on TV:

• Games five and six of the NBA Finals combined for 1.97% of watch-time, as the Golden State Warriors eliminated the Boston Celtics to win the championship on Thursday.
• Interest was high for live sports on the week, with Major League Baseball climbing from No. 7 to No. 5 by minutes watched, and the 2022 Men’s College World Series and the Stanley Cup Finals both appearing among the top 10 programs as well.
• Law & Order returns to our weekly rankings, hopping from No. 35 to No. 20 week-over-week by watch-time.
• MSNBC’s coverage of the Jan. 6 hearings was a hit in primetime, as The January 6th Hearings: The House Investigates tallies 0.43% of minutes watched (24th in our ranking).

ABC remains on top of our list of most-watched networks thanks in part to both the NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Finals. While the NBA’s champion was crowned, the Stanley Cup is just getting started as the Colorado Avalanche take on the Tampa Bay Lightning. The network scored 8.17% of watch-time – up from 7.30% the previous week.

Additional insights around the most-watched networks from June 13-19:

• U.S. Open coverage helped spring NBC up from No. 3 to No. 2 week-over-week, while USA moves from No. 12 to No. 11.
• MSNBC’s primetime airings of the Jan. 6 hearing helped move the network from No. 13 to No. 10 by watch-time week-over-week.
• Paramount Network climbs from No. 34 to No. 23 by minutes watched week-over-week, as the network continues to lean into Yellowstone.
• FX and INSP are also newcomers to our top 25 network rankings this week, with the former receiving a boost from Jeff Bridges drama The Old Man.

Top Shows and Networks by TV Ad Impressions

Via iSpot.tv, the always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company. Rankings are by TV ad impressions, for new episodes only. 

The NBA Finals hang onto the impressions lead for one more week, securing 2.65 billion (6.14% of the total) over the series’ final two games. That edged out the U.S. Open for the top spot, as the golf event sits second with 2.33 billion (5.40% of the week’s impressions).

More data about the top programs by TV ad impressions:

• News and talk continue to deliver a large share of impressions on TV, accounting for 16 of the top 25 programs in our ranking from June 13-19.
• Speaking of news, impressions for CBS Mornings rise 16% week-over-week as the program climbs from No. 15 to No. 10 in our ranking.
• ABC World News Tonight With David Muir also witnesses its own impressions jump, up nearly 20% week-over-week.
• With the field narrowed to the final two teams, the NHL moves from No. 17 to No. 6 in our ranking.

ABC stays at No. 1 for another week in our ad-impressions-by-network ranking, scoring 17.24% of impressions. That’s up from 14.14% the previous week.

Additional insights around the top networks by impressions:

• U.S. Open TV ad impressions helped fuel a 27% week-over-week increase for NBC (plus a 203% climb for USA Network, which also aired portions of the tournament).
• For the second consecutive week, three of the top six networks by impressions served are cable news channels (Fox News at No. 3, MSNBC at No. 5 and CNN at No. 6).
• As baseball interest rises, so do MLB Network TV ad impressions – climbing 11% week-over-week.
• Bravo leaps from No. 23 to No. 19 by impressions, on the strength of various Real Housewives franchise programs, among others.

Below is a snapshot of TV by the numbers for the week of June 12, highlighting the most-watched shows and networks using glass-level data from Vizio’s Inscape, and network and show TV ad impressions insights via iSpot.tv.

Most-Watched Shows and Networks

Via Inscape, Vizio’s TV data product with glass-level insights from a panel of more than 19 million active and opted-in smart TVs. Data is linear, live TV only and includes all episode types (new and reruns). Rankings are by percent share duration (i.e., time spent watching).

The NBA Finals remained appointment viewing as games three and four combined to secure 1.58% of all minutes watched from June 6-12. It’s the second straight week the series between the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors is No. 1 by watch-time among all programs.

Some additional insights about the top programming on TV:

• College baseball is a hit, with minutes watched climbing from No. 11 to No. 3 week-over-week as the postseason continues to narrow.
• Fox News programs Fox & Friends and America’s Newsroom end a one-week hiatus outside of the top 25 in our ranking, landing at No. 14 and No. 20 this week, respectively.
• Even after its season nine finale, Chicago P.D. climbs from No. 37 to No. 15 by watch-time as audiences catch up on ION and USA Network.
• Speaking of Chicago, Chicago Fire roars from No. 21 to No. 8 week-over-week, via its own ION and USA syndication play.

ABC stays atop the list of most-watched networks, in part due to the NBA Finals. The network had 7.30% of watch-time on the week, up slightly from 7.23% from May 30-June 5 as audiences also tuned into ABC’s coverage of the Jan. 6 hearings in primetime on Thursday.

Additional insights around the most-watched networks from June 6-12:

• USA springs from No. 16 to No. 12 by watch-time week-over-week, on a steady dose of syndicated procedurals plus WWE Monday Night Raw.
• MSNBC moves from No. 19 to No. 16 in our ranking, in part due to increased Thursday viewership around the Jan. 6 hearings.
• ESPN2 jumps from No. 32 to No. 17 week-over-week, via NCAA coverage including college baseball, the Women’s College World Series and the NCAA Track and Field Championships.
• The latest episode of Little People, Big World helped lift TLC from No. 20 to No. 17 week-over-week in our watch-time rankings.

Top Shows and Networks by TV Ad Impressions

Via iSpot.tv, the always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company. Rankings are by TV ad impressions, for new episodes only. 

As the NBA Finals continue, the series once again nets the most TV ad impressions on the week, with 2.08 billion – 4.8% of the total. That’s down slightly from the previous week (5.3% of the total) as the final minutes of each game have become increasingly one-sided in the series.

More data about the top programs by TV ad impressions:

• College baseball doubles impressions week-over-week as the field gets close to the final eight teams headed to Omaha for the College World Series.
• ABC World News Tonight With David Muir is one of several news programs to increase impressions week-over-week, along with Fox & Friends, America’s Newsroom and NBC Nightly News With Lester Holt, among others.
• Resuming its five-episodes-per-week schedule after taking Memorial Day off the previous week, The View sees impressions increase by 33.8% week-over-week.
• Speaking of news and talk shows, they made up 14 of the top 25 programs by impressions in our ranking for June 6-12.

ABC remains No. 1 in our ad-impressions-by-network ranking, with 14.14% of impressions on the week. The NBA Finals accounted for 33.5% of those as advertisers continue to benefit from a tight series through four games.

Additional insights around the top networks by impressions:

• Fox News increased impressions by more than 14% week-over-week.
• CNN and MSNBC both saw impressions leap thanks to Jan. 6 hearings coverage – as the former jumped by 10.8% and the latter by 31.8% week-over-week.
• Fox Sports 1 delivered more impressions on the week than Fox, via NASCAR Cup Series and UEFA Nations Cup action.
• CNBC hops from No. 26 to No. 20 in our ranking week-over-week, as stock market concerns continued to fuel greater interest in business-focused news.

Below is a snapshot of TV by the numbers for the week of May 30-June 5, highlighting the most-watched shows and networks using glass-level data from Vizio’s Inscape, and network and show TV ad impressions insights via iSpot.tv.

Most-Watched Shows and Networks

Via Inscape, Vizio’s TV data product with glass-level insights from a panel of more than 19 million active and opted-in smart TVs. Data is linear, live TV only and includes all episode types (new and reruns). Rankings are by percent share duration (i.e., time spent watching).

The NBA Finals are just two games in, but that’s enough to secure a watch-time lead for the association’s championship round. Games one and two between the Boston Celtics and Golden States Warriors combined for 1.68% of all minutes watched from May 30-June 5 — No. 1 among all programs during the timeframe.

Some additional insights about the top programming on TV:

• French Open action swings to No. 2 by watch-time as audiences watched Rafael Nadal take the men’s title (the 14th time he’s done so), while Iga Świątek won her second French Open in three tries.
• Our rankings are littered with live sports, especially at the top. Beyond the NBA Finals and French Open, the NHL (No. 4), MLB (No. 7) and PGA Tour (No. 9) all finish in the top 10 as well.
• Seinfeld soars to No. 18 in our rankings thanks to a Comedy Central marathon, after not appearing among the top 50 programs by watch-time the previous week.
• Among the other syndicated sitcoms included in this week’s rankings: Friends (No. 12), The Golden Girls (No. 20) and Two and a Half Men (No. 23).

ABC leaps to the top spot as the most-watched network, thanks in part to the NBA Finals. The network had 7.23% of watch-time on the week, up from 6.14% from May 23-29, when it placed third in our rankings.

Additional insights around the most-watched networks from May 30-June 5:

• HGTV climbs the ladder into the top 10 in our rankings, as audiences tuned into an abundance of Love It or List It episodes.
• Hallmark Channel also hops into the top 10 by minutes watched with an assist from the premiere of new movie Hidden Gems.
• History Channel bounds from No. 25 to No. 18 by watch-time week-over-week, in part due to a two-night documentary on Theodore Roosevelt.
• Paramount Network continues to lean into hit show Yellowstone, fueling a modest move from No. 23 to No. 21 by minutes watched week-over-week.

Top Shows and Networks by TV Ad Impressions

Via iSpot.tv, the always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company. Rankings are by TV ad impressions, for new episodes only. 

The NBA Finals scored the most TV ad impressions on the week, with 2.23 billion — 5.3% of the total. Those impressions are up nearly 40% year-over-year compared to the first two games of last year’s Finals, which took place in early July.

More data about the top programs by TV ad impressions:

• Despite the short week with the Memorial Day holiday, Good Morning America still increased TV ad impressions by over 6% compared to the previous week.
• MLB impressions increased by 63.7% week-over-week despite just four additional minutes of ad time (but this week featured action on ESPN, while the previous week had games on ESPN2 instead).
• The French Open’s later rounds led to more TV ad impressions, as the event delivered 175% more week-over-week.
• America’s Got Talent’s 17th season premiered on NBC on May 31, to the tune of 364.4 million impressions (0.86% of the total for the week and No. 18 in our ranking).

ABC nabs the top spot in our ad-impressions-by-network ranking, with 15.53 of impressions on the week. The NBA Finals accounts for over 32% of those after airing in primetime on Thursday night and Sunday night, respectively.

Additional insights around the top networks by impressions:

• With new episodes almost nightly, La Casa de los Famosos helped fuel Telemundo’s move from No. 11 to No. 9 by impressions week-over-week.
• College baseball and the Women’s College World Series combined for almost 29% of TV ad impressions on ESPN2, pushing the network from No. 17 to No. 14 by impressions week-over-week.
• Lifetime more than doubled impressions week-over-week, thanks in part to the most recent “where are they now?” episode of Married at First Sight (30% of Lifetime impressions on the week).
• Bravo impressions rose by 29% week-over-week as the Real Housewives of Dubai premiered as the newest addition to the successful franchise.

Below is a snapshot of TV by the numbers for the week of May 23-29, highlighting the most-watched shows and networks using glass-level data from Vizio’s Inscape, and network and show TV ad impressions insights via iSpot.tv.

Most-Watched Shows and Networks

Via Inscape, Vizio’s TV data product with glass-level insights from a panel of more than 19 million active and opted-in smart TVs. Data is linear, live TV only and includes all episode types (new and reruns). Rankings are by percent share duration (i.e., time spent watching).

With conference finals concluded, the NBA once again keeps its watch-time lead with 2.81% of all minutes watched from May 23-29. That’s up from 2.69% the previous week despite fewer games, as the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors both secured trips to the NBA Finals.

Some additional insights about the top programming on TV:

• Beyond the NBA, live sports remains hot, making up seven of the top 25 programs – including the NHL (No. 3), college softball (No. 9), college baseball (No. 11), PGA Tour golf (No. 13), French Open tennis (No. 15) and MLB (No. 16).
• Good Morning America and Today both make week-over-week moves by minutes watched, with the former jumping from No. 7 to No. 4 in our ranking.
• “Regular” SportsCenter is joined by SportsCenter With Scott Van Pelt in our ranking. The two combined for 1.29% of minutes watched from May 23-29.
• NCIS moves from No. 6 to No. 2 in our ranking week-over-week, securing 0.90% watch-time.

CBS keeps the top spot as the most-watched network, thanks in part to the PGA Tour’s Charles Schwab Challenge, which featured Sam Burns besting Scottie Scheffler in a playoff. The network had 6.61% of watch-time on the week.

Additional insights around the most-watched networks from May 23-29:

• Watch-time increased for both CNN and MSNBC amid coverage of the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
• In anticipation of Memorial Day cookouts, Food Network leaned into holiday-specific content – and saw total minutes watched rise from 1.23% to 1.36% week-over-week.
• Yellowstone wins again as Paramount Network climbs from No. 40 to No. 23 by watch-time week-over-week thanks in large part to marathon viewing of the show.
• NBC and ABC flip-flop as the former benefits from the Indy 500 (among other programming) to hop from No. 3 to No. 2 in our ranking week-over-week.

Top Shows and Networks by TV Ad Impressions

Via iSpot.tv, the always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company. Rankings are by TV ad impressions, for new episodes only. 

NBA TV ad impressions rose by over 6% week-over-week, with the conference finals delivering 3.25 billion impressions – or nearly 3.5 times more impressions than the nearest program (SportsCenter).

More data about the top programs by TV ad impressions:

• With an assist from its two-part season 18 finale, Grey’s Anatomy arrives in our ranking at No. 25 by impressions, after finishing outside the top 50 the previous week.
• Speaking of finales, Survivor wrapped up season 42 and delivered 0.95% of TV ad impressions on the week (No. 18 in our ranking).
• National MLB game TV ad impressions climbed by nearly 5% week-over-week, while minutes of advertising climbed by slightly more (over 7% on the week).
• Today made big moves week-over-week, as impressions soared by almost 15% week-over-week, and the show’s third hour saw a 16% climb.

CBS leads our ad-impressions-by-network ranking once again, with 14.37% of impressions on the week. Quiz and giveaway shows (including The Price Is Right and Let’s Make A Deal) account for close to 20% of the network’s impressions for the week.

Additional insights around the top networks by impressions:

• ESPN jumps from 6.3% to 7.7% of TV ad impressions week-over-week, with the NBA and NHL combining for nearly half of the network’s impressions from May 23-29.
• Discovery Channel boosts impressions by 18.7% week-over-week, leaning on new episodes of shows such as Expedition Unknown: Uncovered, Deadliest Catch and Street Outlaws: America’s List.
• Spanish-language networks Univision, Telemundo, and Galavision all make week-over-week gains by impressions share of voice, with Univision leading the way at 4.46% (No. 7 overall).
• History Channel climbs to No. 22 in our ranking (up from No. 24 the previous week), with TV ad impressions for The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch nearly doubling week-over-week.

Below is a snapshot of TV by the numbers for the week of May 16-22, showcasing the most-watched shows and networks using glass-level data from Vizio’s Inscape, and network and show TV ad impressions insights via iSpot.tv.

Most-Watched Shows and Networks

Via Inscape, Vizio’s TV data product with glass-level insights from a panel of more than 19 million active and opted-in smart TVs. Data is linear, live TV only and includes all episode types (new and reruns). Rankings are by percent share duration (i.e., time spent watching).

As the NBA Playoffs progress to the conference finals, they retain a lead by watch-time with 2.69% of minutes watched from May 16-22. Close on the NBA’s heels, however, is the 2022 PGA Championship, with 2.54% of watch-time.

Some additional insights about the top programming on TV:

• SportsCenter jumps to No. 4 by minutes watched, up from No. 10 the previous week, while increasing share of watch-time from 0.62% to 0.96%.
• The regional round of the Women’s College World Series helps college softball climb from No. 42 by minutes watched to No. 13 week-over-week.
• Coinciding with the theatrical release of Downton Abbey: A New Era, audiences watched plenty of Downton Abbey on TV, as the show accounted for 0.52% of the week’s watch-time.
• The First 48 gained a larger share of minutes watched week-over-week, from 0.42% to 0.48%, fueling a move from No. 20 to No. 16 by watch-time.

CBS supplants ABC as the most-watched network, thanks in part to the 2022 PGA Championship. The network hits 7.56% of watch-time on the week, which is up from 6.49% the previous week.

Additional insights around the most-watched networks from May 16-22:

• PGA Championship coverage has also been a boon to ESPN, which progresses from No. 7 to No. 6 by watch-time week-over-week.
• Paw Patrol powers part of Nickelodeon’s own week-over-week rise by minutes watched, from No. 19 to No. 16.
• TLC makes a modest climb from No. 20 to No. 19 week-over-week, thanks in part to both 90 Day Fiancé and 90 Day: The Single Life.
• USA Network makes a week-over-week watch-time move from No. 18 to No. 15, with assists from WWE Monday Night Raw and coverage of the final weekend of English Premier League action.

Top Shows and Networks by TV Ad Impressions

Via iSpot.tv, the always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company. Rankings are by TV ad impressions, for new episodes only. 

Despite fewer playoff games week-over-week, the NBA maintains its TV ad impressions lead, with 3.06 billion from May 16-22 — 5.98% of the week’s impressions overall. That’s almost double the share of impressions for the second-place programming, the PGA Championship, with 3.22% on the week.

More data about the top programs by TV ad impressions:

• More than half of this week’s top 25 programs by impressions are news and talk-related, led by Good Morning America at No. 4 (with 1.90% of impressions).
• Speaking of, GMA increased week-over-week impressions by 10.7%, despite slipping from No. 3 to No. 4 in our ranking.
• Impressions for The View climbed by more than 5% week-over-week, fueling a move from No. 16 to No. 14 in our ranking.
• Sports accounts for four of the top 10 spots by impressions, with that programming programs — the NBA, PGA Championship, SportsCenter and the NHL — accounting for 12.9% of the week’s ad impressions.

CBS stays at No. 1 in our ad-impressions-by-network ranking, collecting 15.95% of impressions on the week, which is up from 13.37% the previous week.

Additional insights around the top networks by impressions:

• ESPN got a boost from the PGA Championship (and other programs), making a short climb from No. 6 to No. 5 by impressions week-over-week.
• Of the cable news networks, both Fox News and MSNBC increased impressions week-over-week, with the former jumping by 6.4% and the latter by 0.7%.
• College softball accounts for about a third of ESPN2’s impressions on the week, as the network hops from No. 18 to No. 15 in our ranking.
• The Weather Channel is a week-over-week newcomer in our ranking, growing impressions from 0.44% (No. 29) to 0.49% (No. 25).

Below is a snapshot of TV by the numbers for the week of May 9-15, showcasing the most-watched shows and networks using glass-level data from Vizio’s Inscape, and network and show TV ad impressions insights via iSpot.tv.

Most-Watched Shows and Networks

Via Inscape, Vizio’s TV data product with glass-level insights from a panel of more than 19 million active and opted-in smart TVs. Data is linear, live TV only and includes all episode types (new and reruns). Rankings are by percent share duration (i.e., time spent watching).

The NBA and NHL continue their dominance of both TV watch-time and ad impressions. The NBA leads with 4.70% of overall watch-time, up from 3.92% last week. Meanwhile the NHL maintains a close second at 1.38% of watch-time, roughly even with the 1.33% from the previous week. 

Some additional insights about the top programming on TV:

• Crime procedurals remain viewer favorites, with seven populating the list. Of them, Chicago P.D. saw the highest week-over-week spike, rising from No. 23 last week to No. 11 this week.
• Law & Order re-entered the top 25, as did Family Feud.
• Syndicated sitcoms continue to do well, with Friends (No. 7), Two and a Half Men (No. 17) and The Golden Girls (No. 23) all roughly maintaining their relative positions week-over-week.

ABC continues its run as the most-watched network for a fifth consecutive week, largely due to the NBA Playoffs. The network fell slightly in overall minutes watched to 6.67% (from 7.05% last week) — which was still good enough to ward off a surging CBS, which passed NBC to take second place with 6.49% of minutes watched. NBC fell to third with 6.20%. 

Additional insights around the most-watched networks for the week:

• Ion and IFC flip positions, with Ion jumping a spot in the rankings from No. 9 to No. 8, and vice versa.
• TNT retains its No. 6 position on the strength of NHL and NBA playoff games, while overall minutes watched increased from 3.55% to 3.83%.
• The week’s biggest jump comes from TBS, spiking from No. 18 to No. 16 on the back of a 7% increase in minutes watched.
• Bravo enters the list at No. 25 — the only newcomer for the week.

Top Shows and Networks by TV Ad Impressions

Via iSpot.tv, the always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company. Rankings are by TV ad impressions, for new episodes only. 

The top TV shows by ad impressions ranking is dominated by NBA playoff games, which increased overall impressions to 4.9 billion from 4.3 billion last week. Second-place NHL playoffs increased ad impressions from 1.02 billion to 1.08 billion. 

More data about the top programs by TV ad impressions:

• The PGA Golf Tour rose to No. 8 from No. 18, increasing to over 566 million impressions.
• American Idol fell to No. 19 from No. 10, shedding over 193 million impressions vs. the previous week.
• Game shows increased their presence, with The Price Is Right rising a spot to No. 5, and Let’s Make a Deal entering the list at No. 14 after not appearing at all last week.
• Primetime news shows both gained and lost. ABC World News Tonight and NBC Nightly News both rose a spot week-over-week, while America’s Newsroom fell from No. 16 to No. 22, and Special Report With Bret Baier fell off the list completely, replaced by Jesse Watters Primetime at No. 24.

There was little change in the ad-impressions-by-network ranking, with ABC continuing to ride the NBA playoffs to the No. 1 spot despite impressions falling to 6.93 billion from 7.05 billion the previous week. 

Additional insights around the top networks by impressions:

• The top six networks all held their chart positions, despite a slight decline in overall impressions week-over-week.
• Univision overtook CNN for the No. 7 spot by a hair (just 7 million impressions), while Fox gained ground over Telemundo to enter the top 10.
• Bravo entered the list this week at No. 20, while the History Channel fell off completely.

Below is a snapshot of TV by the numbers for the week of May 2-8, showcasing the most-watched shows and networks using glass-level data from Vizio’s Inscape, and network and show TV ad impressions insights via iSpot.tv.

Most-Watched Shows and Networks

Via Inscape, Vizio’s TV data product with glass-level insights from a panel of more than 19 million active and opted-in smart TVs. Data is linear, live TV only and includes all episode types (new and reruns). Rankings are by percent share duration (i.e., time spent watching).

Entertaining conference semifinal series mean the NBA playoffs are once again the most-watched programming in this week’s watch-time ranking. From May 2-8, the NBA accounted for 3.92% of all TV minutes watched -- up from 3.53% the previous week, despite fewer games.

Some additional insights about the top programming on TV:

• The first round of the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs meant wall-to-wall hockey across ESPN networks and TNT, and 1.33% of the week’s minutes watched.
• Despite a race that ran just two minutes, the 148th Kentucky Derby still scored 0.69% of TV watch-time on the week.
• Along with hockey and the Kentucky Derby, ABC World News Tonight With David Muir is the other week-over-week newcomer in our ranking by watch-time, moving up from No. 30 to No. 24.
• Syndicated sitcoms held strong for another week, with Friends (No. 9), Two and a Half Men (No. 15) and The Golden Girls (No. 22) all appearing in this week’s ranking.

ABC remains the most-watched network for a fourth consecutive week, thanks in part to the NBA playoffs. The network scored 7.05% of minutes watched for the week, edging out NBC (6.45%) and CBS (6.40%) for the top spot.

More insights around the most-watched networks from May 2-8:

• IFC climbs again, from No. 9 to No. 8 by watch-time, once again relying on syndicated sitcoms like Two and a Half Men, Everybody Loves Raymond and Parks and Recreation.
• NHL and NBA playoff action fueled a modest minutes-watched climb for TNT, increasing watch-time from 3.14% to 3.55% week-over-week.
• History Channel vaults from No. 23 to No. 20 by watch-time, via new episodes of The Curse of Oak Island, among other programs.
• INSP is the lone week-over-week network newcomer, moving up from No. 26 to No. 25 by minutes watched thanks in part to Gunsmoke syndicated airings.

Top Shows and Networks by TV Ad Impressions

Via iSpot.tv, the always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company. Rankings are by TV ad impressions, for new episodes only. 

NBA playoff games still reign supreme with the most TV ad impressions from May 2-8, delivering more than 4.3 billion -- 8.3% of the total on TV and more than four times the impressions served by the Stanley Cup playoffs (the No. 2 program).

More data about the top programs by TV ad impressions:

• The Kentucky Derby is No. 7 by share of impressions on the week, with 1.37% as viewers tuned in both before and after the country’s most popular horse race.
• With over a billion TV ad impressions during the first week of playoff action, the NHL increased impressions by nearly 25x compared to the final week of the regular season.
• Live sports remained a big impressions draw this week, with the NBA (No. 1), NHL (No. 2), Kentucky Derby (No. 7), MLB (No. 11) and PGA Tour (No. 18) all finishing among the top 25 programs by impressions.
• The View increased impressions by nearly 16% week-over-week, inching up from No. 18 to No. 17 in our ranking.

ABC’s NBA Playoffs emphasis delivers the top spot in our ad-impressions-by-network ranking again, from May 2-8. The NBA accounted for nearly 15% of the network’s impressions on the week.

Additional insights around the top networks by impressions from May 2-8:

• Kentucky Derby coverage is among the biggest reasons for NBC’s 15% week-over-week impressions increase, as the race accounted for over 700 million impressions for the network.
• Popular reality show Exatlón Estados Unidos delivered over 22% of Telemundo impressions for the week, powering a jump from No. 11 to No. 10 in our ranking, week-over-week.
• Fox Sports 1 impressions rise 31% week-over-week, thanks in large part to NASCAR coverage on the network (accounting for over 53% of FS1’s impressions for the week).
• Programming on May 2 accounted for almost 25% of Fox’s impressions for the week, thanks to 9-1-1 and 9-1-1: Lone Star.

The list of major live TV sports programming airing during the extended July 4 holiday weekend revs up on Saturday with CBS's primetime airing of the new Superstar Racing Experience series, which offers short, sprint races featuring a wide range of drivers and courses, according to the network. This week's race will take place from Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis. 

Also from the racetrack on Saturday, NBC will televise the Henry 180 NASCAR Xfinity Series race. On Sunday, NBC will air the Honda Indy 200 NTT IndyCar Series race as well as the Jockey Made in America 250 NASCAR race.

In other sports, TNT will conclude its 2021 NBA Playoffs coverage this weekend with Saturday’s Eastern Conference Finals game six between the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks. If Atlanta wins, TNT will air the seventh and final game of the series Monday night. 

Also Read: ESPN Finishes NBA Playoffs Coverage on High Note

Tonight NBC and streaming service Peacock will air game three of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Montreal Canadiens. The defending champion Lightning hold a 2-0 advantage over the Canadiens going into tonight's game. Game Four of the series airs Monday on NBC and Peacock. 

From the soccer field, ESPN and ABC will offer quarterfinal coverage of the UEFA Euro 2000 soccer tournament on Friday and Saturday. Today ESPN provides coverage of the Spain-Switzerland and Belgium-Italy games, while televising the Czech Republic-Denmark game on Saturday. Also on Saturday, ABC will televise the Ukraine-England contest. 

Copa America quarterfinal games will air Friday on FS1 (Peru-Paraguay and Brazil-Chile) and Saturday on FS2 (Uruguay-Columbia) and FS1 (Argentina-Ecuador).

Also Read: Peacock to Stream Remaining Stanley Cup Final Games

ESPN and ESPN2 will offer third round coverage of the Wimbledon tennis tournament throughout Friday, Saturday and Monday. 

CBS and Golf Channel will tee off with weekend coverage of the PGA Rocket Mortgage Classic Tournament, while NBC continues its Breeders’ Cup: Challenge Series horse racing coverage with live race telecasts on Saturday and Sunday. NBCSN will provide continuing weekend coverage of the Tour de France cycling event. 

TBS on Sunday will feature afternoon baseball with the San Diego Padres-Philadelphia Phillies telecast while ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball coverage will feature the Subway Series matchup between the New York Mets and the New York Yankees. 

In the ring, Showtime will feature a live fight card headlined by the Chris Colbert-Tugstsogt Nyambayar super featherweight championship fight. 

Also Read: Showtime to Replay Davis-Barrios PPV Fight as Part of July 3 Boxing Telecast

Live sports programming has generated some strong ratings numbers so far this summer as fans settle into having their favorite sports events return to their traditional seasonal time periods.

The NBA playoffs have scored big for the league and for ESPN thus far. The league’s conference semifinal round which ended June 20th averaged 4.1 million viewers over 24 telecasts across ESPN, TNT and ABC, up 33% from the same 24 games during last year’s conference finals, which took place during the late summer/early fall of 2020 due to the pandemic, per a Sports Business Journal analysis.

The NBA Playoffs have helped propel TNT and ESPN to the top of the cable network ratings charts. Through June 20, TNT has averaged more primetime viewers during the last four weeks than any other cable network, topping perennial chart leader Fox News, while ESPN finished among the top five rated cable networks in primetime during those weeks. While the league’s playoff ratings are slightly down compared to 2019, the league was able to rebound nicely with viewers after struggling while in a COVID-avoiding bubble last year. 

Read also: Weekly Cable Ratings: TNT Tops Primetime; Fox News Rules in Total Day

It’s not just basketball that’s scoring on the ratings front. NBC Sports two weekends ago generated its second-most watched U.S. Open golf tournament in five years, while ESPN last week reported Sunday Night Baseball viewership is up 31% from last year’s full season average and up 7% compared to the same time period in 2019. 

Read also: TV By the Numbers: NBA, U.S. Open Soar in Watch-Time, TV Ad Impressions

“With sports coming back to a somewhat normal schedule, the excitement of the  crowd as well as the relief of people going back to their daily routines all contribute  to driving up sports ratings,” said sports analyst Lee Berke.

The live sports programming lineup will continue to heat up in July, with high profile events like the NBA Finals, NHL Stanley Cup finals, the Copa America and UEFA Euro 2020 soccer tournaments and the Summer Olympics -- along with major pay-per-view events like the July 10 UFC 264 Conor McGregor-Dustin Poirier 3 event and the July 24 Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder 3 heavyweight boxing event.

Even as people return to their normal lives after the pandemic shutdown, Berke says viewers will continue to return home to watch must-see live sports events on the small screen.

“If they are going to be outside for a picnic or a party they know they can watch a movie or series later on demand,” he said. “But when it comes to watching a game seven or other big sports event, they’ll have to be in front of the TV set watching the game.” 

Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, said it will carry all of the remaining Stanley Cup semifinal games, starting Monday.

Coverage of the games will be available on Peacock Premium, a step up from the free version of the service.

NBC Sports will also be televising the National Hockey League playoff games on cable networks NBCSN or USA Network. They will also appear on NBC Sports digital platforms.

Rights to NHL games will be shifting from NBCU properties to Disney’s ESPN and Turner Sports under a new deal reached in March. 

On Monday, Peacock coverage will begin with the NHL Live pregame show at 8:30 p.m. ET. After the game it will have the NHL Overtime post-game coverage.

Sports have been moving to streaming, with the new NFL deals signed by NBCUniversal and other TV rights holders including the ability to put games on their emerging direct-to-consumer platforms.

Legendary sportscaster Marv Albert will retire this summer after calling the 2021 NBA playoffs for TNT, Albert said Monday.

Albert, who has served as a radio and television sportscaster for more than a half-century, will retire at the conclusion of TNT's coverage of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals. During his illustrious career Albert has called 25 NBA All-Star games, 13 NBA Finals, eight NHL Stanley Cup Finals, eight Super Bowls, and numerous boxing telecasts and baseball games.

“Marv’s legendary voice will forever be linked to many of the greatest moments in sports history,” WarnerMedia News and Sports chairman Jeff Zucker said in a statement. “He has entertained and informed generations of fans, and his broadcasting legacy will unquestionably stand the test of time."

TNT will pay tribute to Albert with a 30-minute special during the NBA Eastern Conference Finals next month. The network will also celebrate some of the most memorable calls from his broadcasting career throughout the NBA Playoffs. Albert has worked with TNT for more than 22 years, including 19 as an NBA play-by-play announcer, as well as an announcer for Turner Sports and CBS's NCAA March Madness men’s college basketball tournament.

In a 2015 video interview with Multichannel News, Albert discussed the appeal of offering every March Madness game live to fans on both digital and traditional television.

The National Hockey League will team with WarnerMedia's Turner Sports to distribute live NHL games -- including the Stanley Cup Finals -- beginning with the 2021-22 season, both parties announced Tuesday.

The seven-year deal will give TNT and TBS rights to NHL post-season games, including the Stanley Cup Finals, as well as live streaming rights for HBO Max. The deal completes the NHL’s television rights package, which also includes a seven-year deal with the Walt Disney Company and ESPN reached last month. It also ices out NBC, which has carried NHL games since 2005. 

See Also: ESPN Scores NHL Package With Stanley Cup on ABC

“Turner Sports is known for its outstanding sports coverage, quality and innovation and we are thrilled that this new partnership will provide our fans with the content they love on the platforms and devices of their choice,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. "Having WarnerMedia join the NHL family as co-rightsholders for the next seven years gives us incredible reach, positions us well for the future as the media landscape continues to evolve, and will fuel continued growth for the NHL and our Clubs.”

As part of the deal, TNT will air the Stanley Cup Finals in three of the seven years and half of the Stanley Cup Playoffs games each year. TNT will also air 72 exclusive national regular season games each season. The network will also exclusively present the NHL Winter Classic each year.  The deal gives Turner Sports rights to three of the four major sports leagues -- the NHL, NBA and Major League Baseball --  as well as the March Madness men's college basketball tournament, which it shares with CBS.

“This agreement with the National Hockey League brings one of the most prestigious championships in sports to TNT and fuels our entire Turner Sports and Bleacher Report portfolio with even more premium content for many years to come,” WarnerMedia News & Sports chairman Jeff Zucker said in a statement. “We’re delighted to spotlight the world’s best hockey league on our leading networks, while continuing to further elevate this marquee property through an ever-expanding array of digital platforms in the years to come.”

On the digital side, HBO Max will have live streaming and simulcast rights to NHL games, while Turner Sports will have TV Everywhere rights, allowing its networks to make games and related programming available to authenticated subscribers across all WarnerMedia platforms. Zucker said during a Tuesday conference call that HBO Max will not air live games right away but rather later into the deal. 

"What we're really focused on here as we begin are the Turner Networks," he said. "What we are excited about is that we do have optionality to put these games on HBO Max as well, and that will happen in the years to come. But for now the focus will be on the Turner Networks." 

The National Hockey League Player elected not to play in Stanley Cup playoff games Thursday and Friday.

The NHL said it supported the players’ decision and will reschedule those four games beginning Saturday and adjust the remainder of the second round schedule.

The NHL played its games Wednesday night while NBA players opted not to play in reaction to the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisc. The WNBA also did not play, along with some Major League Baseball games.

Related: NBA Playoff Games Postponed Over Shooting in Wisconsin

NBCUniversal’s NBC and NBCSN televise carry the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Many NHL players were critical of the decision to play Wednesday.

“Black and Brown communities continue to face real, painful experiences. The NHL and NHLPA recognize that much work remains to be done before we can play an appropriate role in a discussion centered on diversity, inclusion and social justice,” the league and players said in a statement. “We understand that the tragedies involving Jacob Blake, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others require us to recognize this moment. We pledge to work to use our sport to influence positive change in society.”

The National Hockey League on Tuesday said its Stanley Cup Qualifiers games will start Aug. 1, with NBC Sports airing up to 120 hours of coverage.

The NHL’s regular season was canceled in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The league will resume play with 16 teams competing in a round of qualifying games, and eight other teams playing in a round robin to determine playoff seeding. Those will be followed by the Stanley Cup playoffs and championship.

NBC Sports will show games on NBC, NBC Sports Network and USA Network, with 10 hours of action each day from Aug. 1 to Aug. 5 starting with the New York Rangers taking on the Carolina Hurricanes.

NHL Network will air seven round robin and qualifying games over the first five days of the playoffs. The network will also offer  studio coverage, including NHL Tonight, before and after each game.

The league also said that 21 games will be available on NHL Center Ice for streaming on NHL.TV, with local blackouts. NHL.TV costs $4.99. 

The 12 Eastern Conference teams are playing in Scotiabank Arena in Toronto and the 12 Western Conference teams will compete at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

Fox Sports’ weekend coverage of the U.S. Open golf championship and the FIFA Women’s World Cup capped an impressive five-day run of strong viewership performances for marquee sports telecasts.

Fox broadcasting continued to set soccer telecast milestones with its Sunday afternoon coverage of the US women’s soccer team’s 3-0 win over Chile. The network drew 5.3 million viewers for the game, making it the most-watched English-language soccer telecast in the country since the 2018 FIFA Men's World Cup final in Russia, according to Nielsen.

The telecast was also most-watched, FIFA Women’s World Cup Group Stage match ever in the U.S., according to Fox Sports.

Later that evening, the network moved to the greens for its final round coverage of the US Open golf championship. The network’s primetime coverage of the championship from Pebble Beach, California -- in which Gary Woodland (pictured) took home the prized trophy -- delivered 7.3 million viewers, according to Nielsen. Overall, 31.7 million viewers watched all or part of the tournament, making it Fox Sports’ most watched U.S. Open ever.

Fox Sports kicked off its U.S. Open coverage this past Thursday (June 13) with FS1 focusing cameras on the play from two groups of golfers -- including Tiger Woods and Brooks Koepka -- while Fox Sports handled main coverage duties for the championship. The telecasts drew a combined 3.4 million viewers -- the best first round coverage on a broadcast network since 2002, according to Fox Sports.

RELATED: Fox Takes Swing At Alternative Feed During U.S. Open Golf Event

Also on June 13, ABC concluded its coverage of the Golden State Warriors-Toronto Raptors NBA Finals by drawing more than 18 million viewers to the sixth and final game of the series, won by the Raptors. While ABC’s ratings were hampered by having the Canadian-based Raptors -- the Toronto market is not rated by Nielsen -- in the finals, the network’s game telecasts on the nights aired were the most-watched shows on television, according to Nielsen.

The NBA Finals ended a day after the NHL Stanley Cup finals finished a thrilling Game 7 between the now champion St. Louis Blues and the Boston Bruins by averaging 8.7 million viewers on NBC -- the most watched Nielsen-rated NHL telecast, which dates back to 1994, according to Nielsen.

The high cost of sports programming and the value proposition of sports networks will always be a subject for debate within the industry, but what is indisputable is the ability of marquee sports events to still draw big audiences and, more often than not, score more viewers up against any other content on traditional television.

The National Hockey League and National Basketball Association finals are headed to exciting conclusions this week.

June 12 broadcast network NBC will air the seventh and final game of the NHL Stanley Cup championship between the St. Louis Blues and the Boston Bruins. The game is the first Stanley Cup Game seven to take place since the Bruins beat the Vancouver Canucks in 2011.

NBC is hoping to build on its audience for game six, which drew a Total Audience Delivery of 6.6 million—the most viewed game of the series thus far, according to NBC Sports.

Overall, this year’s NHL Stanley Cup finals are averaging 4.8 million viewers, slightly down from the 4.9 million viewers generated by last year’s five-game Washington Capitals-Las Vegas Golden Knights finals, according to Nielsen.

Broadcast network ABC on Thursday will continue its NBA Finals coverage with Game six between the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors and the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors are up three games to two, but the Warriors are coming off an emotional win Monday night on the road and will look to even the series at home.

Game five, in which Warriors’ superstar Kevin Durant made his first on the court Finals appearance—only to suffer a serious Achilles injury in the first half—drew a 4.4 rating among adults 18-49, the highest rating for the series so far, according to Nielsen.

If the Warriors win Thursday, ABC will air game seven of the NBA Finals live on Sunday from Toronto.

When ESPN suffered double-digit ratings losses last year for Monday Night Football, industry naysayers immediately began to predict the beginning of an overall ratings decline for live sports content amid a crowded TV environment and growing competition from video streaming services.

Yet ratings numbers from the first round of the National Basketball Association and National Hockey League playoffs during April show that live sports programming can still ring the ratings bell for cable nets.

Both ESPN and TNT generated double-digit ratings gains for their respective coverage of an entertaining and surprisingly competitive opening round of the NBA Playoffs. TNT averaged 3.4 million viewers during its first-round coverage, up 13% over last year — the network’s most-watched playoff coverage in three years.

TNT’s first round NBA postseason games also helped the network dethrone Fox News Channel atop cable’s weekly primetime ratings chart for the past two weeks.

ESPN averaged 3 million viewers for its first-round NBA postseason coverage, up 14% from the 2.6 million viewers in 2016. The network’s increases came as ESPN also posted several live streaming records during the first round, including a whopping 135 million total minutes streamed for its games, up 40% from last year.

NBC Sports Group’s coverage of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs also skated to strong first-round ratings performances. The group averaged 557,000 viewers for its first round coverage across NBCSN, USA Network and CNBC, an 11% increase from the same period last season, even with the inclusion of five Canadian teams compared to an all-American playoff lineup last year.

Related: NBC Chases The Cup Across Platforms

NBC’s cable networks were able to televise first round games side by side with regional sports networks in most markets (excluding Pittsburgh and Boston) for the first time, helping the group to post its highest first round audience since 2012, according to network officials.

It remains to be seen if cable can continue its ratings streak as the NBA and NHL playoffs enter the later rounds, but early results show that its still game on for live sports on cable.

Dish customers in 33 markets across the country lost access to 42 Tribune Media stations at 7 p.m. Sunday after the two couldn’t reach a retransmission consent agreement.

Tribune began warning Dish customers of the possibility they could lose the stations on Saturday. In addition, about 7 million Dish customers across the country also lost cable channel WGN America. Dish claimed that Tribune is asking for an exorbitant retrans rate hike and is forcing it to carry the cable network in all of its markets.

Dish has argued WGN America has declined about 20% in the ratings ever since its conversion from a superstation to a cable network in 2014,  and has much of the same programming available on other networks.

“Consumers shouldn’t have to pay twice for the same programming,” said Dish EVP of programming Warren Schlichting in a statement. Dish is offering customers free over the air antennas to capture the Tribune local broadcast stations while negotiations continue.

Tribune countered that WGN America shows like Outsiders and Underground have increased the network’s total prime-time audience by more than 50% since last year and that both shows consistently ranked among the Top 15 scripted cable shows for the 2015-16 TV season.

The Tribune stations involved include ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC affiliates in New Orleans, Indianapolis, San Diego and Oklahoma City as well as stations in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.  Dish customers in Indianapolis; Richmond, Va.; Memphis and three other markets are missing tonight’s CBS broadcast of the Tony Awards, as subscribers in New Orleans; Scranton/Wilkes Barre, Pa.; and the Quad Cities will miss Game 5 of the NBA Championship Finals on CBS and customers in Des Moines, Ia.; and Oklahoma City won't see Game 6 of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on NBC.

Tribune has said it offered Dish a 60-day extension while it tried to hammer out a deal, but the satellite TV company declined.

“We want to reach an agreement, just as we have with every one of our other cable, satellite and telco distributors, but Dish refuses to reach an agreement based on fair-market value,” said Tribune Media senior vice president for corporate relations Gary Weitman in a statement.  “We want to keep servicing our local communities and we have repeatedly offered Dish a lengthy extension to continue negotiations—unfortunately, Dish rejected these offers.”

Dish has countered that it offered a short-term extension with a retroactive true-up to the new rates once a deal was reached, but that offer was rejected by Tribune.

Tribune has disputed Dish’s claims that its rates are too high, adding that it is offering the satellite TV service provider the same deal it offers other distributors.

“We’ve offered the same kind of fair market rates that Dish already pays other local station groups with ABC, CBS, NBC and CW affiliates with top-rated local news, and other similarly valued cable networks,” said Weitman in a statement.  “At the same time, we’re willing to accept the same rates for our local stations and WGN America that others are currently paying us.”

Dish said in a statement that the dispute highlights the need for real retransmission consent reform.

“Actions like these are precisely the reason that Congress has mandated, and the FCC has opened, a formal process to investigate tactics like this,” said Dish EVP and general counsel Stanton Dodge in a statement. “We also believe the FCC has the opportunity to investigate remedies like arbitration with interim carriage which could end broadcaster blackouts while preserving the interests of all parties.

Mediacom Communications is trying to lessen the blow of its ongoing retransmission consent spat with Granite Broadcasting, hosting its second NHL Stanley Cup Finals viewing party this Saturday for fans in tiny Chillicothe, Ill.

Granite’s NBC stations in Fort Wayne, Ind., Duluth, Minn., and Peoria, Ill. went dark to Mediacom customers on June 1 after the parties could not reach an agreement. There are about 10,000 to 15,000 residents in Chillicothe, located north of Peoria, and the surrounding communities.

The NHL Stanley Cup Finals, pitting the Chicago Black Hawks against the Tampa Bay Lightning, kicked off on June 3 with the Black Hawks winning 2-1. The second game is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Saturday June 6 on NBC.

Games Three and Four of the Finals are being aired on NBC Sports Network, so Mediacom customers can watch them at home. The Best-of-7 series returns to NBC broadcast for Games Five through Seven, if needed.    

Mediacom Lincoln Region senior manager of marketing and sales James Friske said the first viewing party was held at a local bar and restaurant (Castaways) in Chillicothe and attracted about 45 or 50 customers, who were treated to snacks, appetizers and giveaways for Black Hawks merchandise, including team jerseys, hats and T-shirts. Friske said he expects a bigger turnout on Saturday, given there is more lead time to promote the party and several big community events – including a large softball tournament – are taking place that same weekend.

“For a small population town it becomes one of the biggest events of the year.” Friske said.

Other cable operators have held similar events during broadcast or cable network blackouts when the fall around major sporting events – as they often do –and this isn’t the first time that Mediacom has had to host a viewing party. But Friske said that in addition to providing a little extra good will to customers , it is also an opportunity for the cable company to get to know its subscribers a little better.

Friske said he spoke with several customers during the first viewing party, adding that while they weren’t particularly happy with the blackout, they understood why it was happening.

“It’s a great opportunity to talk with more customers that you don’t see on a day to day basis,” Friske said.

Mediacom has said that Granite has asked for rate increases of more than 100% to renew its carriage agreement, costs that would be passed directly to their customers.

On its website, Granite says that it has successfully negotiated with other cable, satellite and telco providers.

“We will continue to negotiate with Mediacom,” Granite said in a statement. “Unfortunately, we do not know if, or when, an agreement will be reached. In the meantime, we hope you will continue supporting local television and watch us through alternative means including free over the air service via antenna, through DirectTV, Dish Network or another cable provider.”

The dispute comes as Granite is winding through a sale process with Quincy, Ill.-based Quincy Newspapers. Quincy agreed in February to acquire three Granite stations – WISE-TV Fort Wayne, Ind. (NBC); WBNG-TV (CBS/CW) Binghamton, N.Y.; WEEK-TV, (NBC) Peoria; and KJBR-TV, (NBC) Duluth. – for $191 million. That deal is still expected to close by the end of the year.