Letter to CSTV about ECACHL Tournament Coverage

[Al DeFlorio]

[Q]abmarks Wrote:

 [Q2]adamw Wrote:

 Trust me when I tell you that the ECAC did everything imaginable to get all the games on live, including trying in Boston, FoxNE, Yes, NESN, Empire (defunct), FoxNY, MSG and everywhere else. No one would take it for a variety of reasons.

That the game is on as many places as it is, should be considered a tremendous testament to the work done at the ECAC office -- because there was a time that it wasn't going to happen at all.  It's just an unfortunate set of circumstances with CSTV and their NCAA hoops contract - and the fact that it's Cornell in that early game, which has by far the most demand.
[/Q]
Since I've got time in my hands I made more calls....

I spoke with Chris Farrow, Mgr of broadcasting at the NCAA, who seems to be a big hockey fan himself.  CSTV IS NOT showing NCAA contracted programming in that 430-730 slot according to Chris.

So I Called CSTV and talked to Eric Handler,     Director, Corporate Communications   (212-342-8760    pr@cstv.com).  His response?  They have exclsusive programing you can't get anywhere else- student campus correspondents and coverage of press conferences!   THey think this is going to get big ratings!  

Anyway, that's what I was told.  Nothing about contractual obligations was mentioned.  I don't know which is right but I think a barrage on CSTV still can't hurt, if at the least to get them right for next year.


Arik[/q]
One does wonder then with whom CSTV is "contractually obligated" to show their basketball BS late Friday afternoon.  The student campus correspondents?

[KeithK]

[Q]adamw Wrote:

 It's time to chill out on the CSTV bombardment.  It's starting to get counter-productive.  They've heard you.[/q]Hopefully we've gotten our mesage across and they're aware of the demand and will consider it in the future.  But there's no reason to pile on.  After all, this is a network that seems to be specifically friendly to college hockey. This is a very good thing, and I for one am grateful.

[CowbellGuy]

After speaking to Steve Hagwell, I'd like to set the record straight on a few things. The original agreement was for CSTV to produce and televise the ECACHL final game. The ECACHL then shopped the semifinals around to a variety of other sports cable networks, and none were interested, partially due to the fact that CSTV was doing the final. When all the other avenues were exhausted, the league decided to produce the semis themselves and CSTV stepped up and agreed to show them. However, due to previous commitments, the early game could not be shown live. So really, CSTV shouldn't be taking heat over this, as they've already been extremely cooperative. They could have just as easily decided to not show the semis.

[Hillel Hoffmann]

I'm glad you helped clarify that, Age. I hope people will listen to Adam's plea to tone down the unnecessarily shrill criticism of certain parties. I also think it's fair to assume that Adam himself played a behind-the-scenes role to help bring aspects of the broadcast package together (one small example of the uncredited enabling he often does for Cornell and college hockey fans). Thank you to all parties involved for making this happen.

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