CBC and TSN had a friend this year in BBM’s Personal People Meters, which helped grow audiences to new heights over the NHL’s 2009/10 regular season.

CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada averaged 1.8 million viewers with its first game on Saturdays, the slot’s highest average audience ever. Game two averaged one million viewers versus 739,000 last season. (All numbers 2+.)

TSN also saw a spike in viewers with an average 714,000 per game this season compared to 479,000 last year – the highest average audience ever recorded for regular season games on the sportscaster. The regular season wrapped on Sunday.

BBM’s new measurement system, which kicked in Aug. 31, has been particularly beneficial to live sports programs because it also records viewing habits out of home – such as at bars or in other people’s homes. The impact of PPMs was instantly noticeable as CBC’s first regular season NHL game in October scored a whopping 2.5 million viewers, while other events such as the World Juniors, Super Bowl and Winter Olympics also broke records for CTV and TSN this year.

Meanwhile, CBC and TSN laid out coverage plans for the NHL playoffs, which got underway this week. The pubcaster has exclusive coverage of two Canadian teams in the post-season including Ottawa versus defending champions the Pittsburgh Penguins (the latter team features ratings draw Sidney Crosby) and the Vancouver/Los Angeles series. It also has two US matchups including Buffalo/Boston and San Jose/Colorado.

The Montreal Canadiens will headline TSN’s playoff coverage as they face off against the Washington Capitals and marquee player Alexander Ovechkin. TSN will also broadcast the New Jersey/Philadelphia, Chicago/Nashville and Phoenix/Detroit series.

From Playback Daily