OT: NHL no longer on ESPN?

I predict next year's TdF rating will equal John Blutarsky's GPA.

[Q]Tub(a) Wrote:
OLN decided to program something that ESPN didn't see the value in (even with the previous 6 victories by Armstrong) and got very good ratings. It's not too much of a stretch to compare that to the NHL. A little change of attitude from "it's break-even filler" to "cornerstone of our programming and we love it" couldn't hurt.[/q]
Was this year's TDF even up for bid? I've been watching it on OLN (yes, Keith, some of us watch it on TV) for at least 4-5 years now - I suspect that OLN had a long-term contract for the rights, so ESPN wouldn't have even had a chance to bid on it this year - they may very well have recognized the value of Armstrong's last year.

Certainly, OLN's historical ratings expectations have been quite low compared to ESPN, but I heard an NPR piece yesterday (with one of their VPs), and he said they are planning to make a run at becoming a major national sports network - hockey is just their first step. They're even talking about trying to bid on NFL rights when they come up again (I think 2007, but perhaps 2008). They even changed the official name of the network from "Outdoor Life" to "OLN" to distance themselves from the "bark eaters," which was the actual term used in the interview.

I'd be willing to bet that NESN will be showing Bruins games... for those who get NESN, that is.

[Q]dss28 Wrote:

I'd be willing to bet that NESN will be showing Bruins games... for those who get NESN, that is.[/q]

I'm sure the local/regional broadcasting rights will remain intact, or go through whatever normal changes that market might experience. The national rights going to OLN though, remains pathetic. Let's hope, if anything, the OLN is successful in it's transformation and/or that the NHL gets off of there quickly.

Personally, I think a change in broadcasting, even if it proves to be for the better, won't be enough. What gets the masses excited about hockey? Hard hits, an occasional fight, and the rare goal. Sure for us die-hards, we also appreciate the passing game, the re-directs, and successfully fending off 2 minutes of 5 on 3.

But there aren't enough die-hards out there now to fill up the seats and boost ratings.... yet. However, there are plenty of would-be fans out there that hockey can convert.

This is the video game / ADD generation. Rewards to stimulate the senses in the form of suspense and thrill must be frequent and often, because that's the type of entertainment drug we're used to.

Soccer and hockey, in our culture, both fail to deliver on that as much as they potentially could, and that's where some slight rule or design changes can draw the crowds.

Basketball, football, baseball, nascar ... they've all evolved over the years to make the game more exciting for the fans while maintaining a standard of safety and integrity.

I feel hockey needs to do the same. Fans don't follow the networks, they follow the game and the players. And the game itself needs to step up and take the lead by opening things up.

Scores are too low. Clustering around the net is too high. Most fans at home need to wait for the replay cameras to zoom in on what they missed.

But in football and basketball, the live play is fast and easier to see.

The amazing one-armed 30yrd catch immediately followed by a no-huddle rush to the line of scrimmage with seconds ticking away and no time outs.

Or in basketball, the no look give and go pass back to an alley oop for a slam dunk. Replay forthcoming of course, but at least the fans at home saw the whole thing clearly live and in real time, and no one at home is scratching their head wondering if the goal was actually scored and who gets credit.

Sure it's a fast game. Sure the puck isn't the easiest thing to see. But opening things up around the net (restricting the presence of players or number of players within an area similar to basketball's 3 second violation in the key), or even making the net larger may help raise scoring and make things easier to see.

Perhaps some changes can attract new fans while still making it exciting for us FANatics.

My 2 cents,

WOWBLWTCSTI94
(Wept Openly When Brian Leech Won The Con Smythe Trophy In 94)

[Q]WOWBLWTCSTI94 Wrote:
WOWBLWTCSTI94
(Wept Openly When Brian Leech Won The Con Smythe Trophy In 94)[/q]L-E-E-T-C-H.

[Q]jmh30 Wrote:

WOWBLWTCSTI94 Wrote:
WOWBLWTCSTI94
(Wept Openly When Brian Leech Won The Con Smythe Trophy In 94)[/Q]
L-E-E-T-C-H.[/q]
I wept openly at this.

 

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