NHL and ESPN talking

[StevieY9802 6]

So if NBC dropped it there would be no network games at all? It would just be ESPN2 and VS? That kinda sucks but at the same time it can't get much worse. But Vs. needs to be getting on more tv's before ESPN would be pushing them the way they do TNT for basketball.

Ever dance with the devil?

So the NHL is going there so it can be regulated to the back burner, and treated like a red-headed step-child.

Hmmm yeah makes sense to me.

As apposed to nbc who cut off game 5 of the ECF to show the pre-race for the Kentucky Derby? Thats what they would be losing by going to ESPN2.

Edited July 31, 2007 by StevieY9802

[kylee 727]

it would be awesome if the NHL came back to ESPN,

but NHL 2 night would have to come back.

[Kp-Wings 3]

ESPN is a national network, and just about as much available as NBC. If the NHL did go back, it would be about the same thing then as it is now.

The coverage would probably be like the current NBC situation: very bland, with about 1 game a week. No special features or anything. And unless the NHL ever becomes real popular again, that's all you can really expect from these big markets.

I still don't see it happening though. ESPN really has no incentive to even want the NHL.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

Well I wasn't sure if he chose game 4 for a reason, because game 4 was much higher than game 3 2 or 1, and if it was, I would suspect it was for the reasons I've made.

I matched up game 4 vs game 5 of the Cup Finals because they were both the clinching games. And actually...game 1 of the NBA FInals was a 6.3, a shade higher than game 4 anyways. I still dont get though why you're trying to make a case as to why the NBA Finals were high....it was the LOWEST rated ever! The reason i even brought up the basketball ratings was to show that even though they had dropped down over 2 full points from a year ago...it was STILL 5 times higher than the NHL's.

[Viperar 16]

who cares about the nba, this is meant to be espn and NHL

[Kp-Wings 3]

who cares about the nba, this is meant to be espn and NHL

It's used as a comparison for those who think it's so ridiculous that ESPN airs the NBA and not the NHL, which it really isn't.

Sure, the NBA's ratings for the finals were bad this year, but they were still far and beyond anything that the NHL mustered in for their finals. The NHL's ratings were absolutley putred, which I why I say this gives no incentive for ESPN to even consider bringing back the NHL.

I don't know why people find it so hard to believe that the NHL isn't very popular. Only 2 years ago, an entire season was lost due to labor issues. It's going to take some time to get it back to respectability.

[Mickeyisms Rule! 0]

Personally I feel that the ratings from the finals this year are given way too much weight. Look at the teams playing! Ottawa, the red-headed stepchild of the Canadian teams versus Anaheim, a city known for Disneyland and Gwen Stefani.

I usually watch the finals, no matter who is playing, but this year's were such a snooze-fest, I had a hard time caring.

I think that the NBA suffered from the same thing this year. Cavs vs Spurs. Neither are what you would call traditional NBA teams from a big market, so it resulted in a snooze fest for people outside of those areas.

I think that a rebirth on ESPN would be good for the NHL. It could at least replace the spelling bees, the eating contests, and the new, improved, super-extended sprtscenter edition with the "Who's Now" feature fiasco.

[chelios4eva 0]

I matched up game 4 vs game 5 of the Cup Finals because they were both the clinching games. And actually...game 1 of the NBA FInals was a 6.3, a shade higher than game 4 anyways. I still dont get though why you're trying to make a case as to why the NBA Finals were high....it was the LOWEST rated ever! The reason i even brought up the basketball ratings was to show that even though they had dropped down over 2 full points from a year ago...it was STILL 5 times higher than the NHL's.

Oh my bad then, I'm stupid

See like I said I didn't read the stats, so I thought Game 1 would be something like 3.2 while game 4 would be 6.2, so I was just saying why game 4 would be higher than the rest of the games.

But obviously not and I"m stupid

[sergei_is_still_a_wing 1]

i could give two s***s. why?

they could start "the hockey Channel" and still not be able to show every wings game. even if hockey was on ALL the time which will never happen, center ice is still a necessity for "die hard" wings fans(i put die hard in quotes bc i know its pricey and some people who love the wings far more than i do still can't afford it.)

so, espn would be nice but i'll still get center ice to catch ALL the action.

same goes for baseball ect ect.

so im all for it but not relying on it or holding my breath.

[vangvace 12]

I wonder if the recent drama has had anything to do with the NHL talking to ESPN?

Bet they took the HNIC average ratings compared to the highest rating for a NBA game thid year just to try and make themselves look good and show the "potential".

[auxlepli 17]

So if NBC dropped it there would be no network games at all? It would just be ESPN2 and VS? That kinda sucks but at the same time it can't get much worse. But Vs. needs to be getting on more tv's before ESPN would be pushing them the way they do TNT for basketball.

As apposed to nbc who cut off game 5 of the ECF to show the pre-race for the Kentucky Derby? Thats what they would be losing by going to ESPN2.

I don't remember cutting off game five happening where I live.

In any case that's ONE game. On ESPN 2 it did, and I predict it will, happen more often than just once.

ESPN's track record for how it treats the NHL is substandard IMO.

I don't see "the sports cheerleader" as the NHL's salvation. I just don't.

[Guest REDWINGS4LYFE]

I HATE ESPN with passion but it will bring publicty to the legaue

[EuroTwinLove40 0]

Ottawa, the red-headed stepchild of the Canadian teams versus Anaheim, a city known for Disneyland and Gwen Stefani.

Okay...this whole red-headed stepchild thing is giving me a complex lol.

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

From reading some of the posts I think people need to relieze something. Some of you are mad that ESPN doesn't show enough hockey. That is true, and I agree, but if ESPN got the NHL back things would change. ESPN would show much more, because it is their product. Look at their NASCAR coverage compared to last year..why did they increase NASCAR high lights, and gossip so much?? Hmmm probably because ESPN will carry NASCAR in the next few years. They would do the same for hockey.

[Seraph 240]

Not to ***** and moan, but what's the point of putting hockey on ESPN if it's going to be the butt end of every joke? It would only make it worse for the game. People are more willing to close their minds towards something if it comes off as a joke and ESPN won't help in this regard.

The only thing I like about Versus is that it respects the game in the way that it deserves.

[auxlepli 17]

ESPN's coverage has been bad the last two years, when it didn't carry NHL games, true.

ESPN's coverage was bad previous to the lockout, when it carried NHL games, true.

ESPN's coverage will improve when it gets the NHL back.

The first two statements don't logically conclude that the third statement will be true.

It probably will at first. On a long-term, consistent basis? I highly doubt it.

Specific examples of the anti-hockey bias are rampant. Recently Mike Greenberg of Mike & Mike defended the lack of hockey coverage on his show by asserting that there is a "general lack of interest in the sport" and that that was just "the reality of it." Popular ESPN.com writer Bill Simmons publicly gave up on hockey and his Boston Bruins in 2001. Granted, he thought about giving hockey another chance after the lockout in 2005, but has since written about hockey only sporadically but then mostly to mock it. In fact, since Simmons's 2005 column, he has only written one article dealing extensively with hockey – his running diary of the 2007 NHL entry draft, which is dripping in sarcasm. In his last few lines he states that "This league needs all the help it can get" and that "… I'll see you in 12 months for the 2008 draft. And not a second before." Simmons's caustic sign-off underscores his view that the NHL remains in jeopardy and is worthy of viewing only for unintentional comedic effect. Hockey, according to ESPN, is a punch-line.

From "Is ESPN Killing the National Hockey League by Influencing Public Attitudes?"

Edited July 31, 2007 by auxlepli

[FinRedWing 172]

Not to mention, ESPN isn't going to bring back NHL 2 night or anything

They should... We want Bucci!

[StevieY9802 6]

I don't remember cutting off game five happening where I live.

In any case that's ONE game. On ESPN 2 it did, and I predict it will, happen more often than just once.

ESPN's track record for how it treats the NHL is substandard IMO.

I don't see "the sports cheerleader" as the NHL's salvation. I just don't.

They did interupt game 5 of the Sens/Sabres series for the pre-race. I don't know if they did it around here the only reason I know is because they talked about it on PTI and other places. And when did ESPN 2 interupt a playoff game for horse walking out of their stalls onto a track? or for anything at all? I am honestly asking that question because I don't remember that happening. Since I have watched, or when I did watch, espn for hockey from the 01-02 season through the 03-04 season I don't remember them interupting a playoff game for something like that. And I know for a fact they never have for a conference final game.

I agree with the people who said part of the problem was the teams in it. Thats just the truth.(sorry Ducks and Sens fans) Same reason for the NBA. Everyone thought LeBron would be a better draw then the Pistons/Spurs but I guess it wasnt. Average sports fans are fickle. They want the big market teams in it every year but if the same team wins it 2 years or more in a row then all of a sudden its boring. The NHL will never be what the NBA, NFL or MLB in tv ratings. You can't compare them. But the ratings can for sure be better.

[Viperar 16]

espn = 1 benefit...publicity

Everyone complaining about not seeing all red wings games, honestly just pick up center ice or move to detroit.

[Kp-Wings 3]

Everyone complaining about not seeing all red wings games, honestly just pick up center ice or move to detroit.

Solution to everything.

I don't know how people come up with the idea that if the NHL moved from Versus to ESPN they would see less Red Wing games. That's ridiculous. Versus shows, on average, two games a week, usually on Monday or Tuesday. In total, I think maybe 7-10 of those in the entire season were involving the Wings (not including the playoffs). It wouldn't be that much of a difference.

ESPN would probably show the same amount of games, either one or two, and the Wings will probably get decent air time in that regard because their a popular team in a big market. It will be just the same as far as the regular season goes.

As for the playoffs? Like mentioned, get Center Ice or move to Detroit.

Edited July 31, 2007 by Kp-Wings

[puckhog419 0]

well at least the the gamse in HD will actually look HD. and no more Brett Hull.

[StevieY9802 6]

Solution to everything.

I don't know how people come up with the idea that if the NHL moved from Versus to ESPN they would see less Red Wing games. That's ridiculous. Versus shows, on average, two games a week, usually on Monday or Tuesday. In total, I think maybe 7-10 of those in the entire season were involving the Wings (not including the playoffs). It wouldn't be that much of a difference.

ESPN would probably show the same amount of games, either one or two, and the Wings will probably get decent air time in that regard because their a popular team in a big market. It will be just the same as far as the regular season goes.

As for the playoffs? Like mentioned, get Center Ice or move to Detroit.

Center Ice isn't cheap and move to Detroit? Come on be serious.

But the NHL wouldn't be going from Vs. to ESPN its more like NBC to ESPN. The Vs. games wouldn't be going anywhere. So from that article not much would be changing. Just going from broadcast tv to ESPN2. So the only people losing out on a deal like this, if the article has it right, would be people without cable tv at all because they would be losing the NBC games.

[Opie 308]

Solution to everything.

I don't know how people come up with the idea that if the NHL moved from Versus to ESPN they would see less Red Wing games. That's ridiculous. Versus shows, on average, two games a week, usually on Monday or Tuesday. In total, I think maybe 7-10 of those in the entire season were involving the Wings (not including the playoffs). It wouldn't be that much of a difference.

ESPN would probably show the same amount of games, either one or two, and the Wings will probably get decent air time in that regard because their a popular team in a big market. It will be just the same as far as the regular season goes.

As for the playoffs? Like mentioned, get Center Ice or move to Detroit.

Great point, look at how much the Red Sox and Yankees are on ESPN, compared to how many times the Brewers or D-rays are on there.

Detroit would get a lot more coverage than a smaller market team who is struggling (Florida), and I bet they would do whatever they could to show more Crosby, like they do with Lebron.

If you notice their commercials they have characters from every sport do a spot, well that is except hockey.

I do fear that it will still be the whipping boy of their coverage but national coverage is better than coverage on a network that not everyone gets.

[grsbmd 0]

I'm not so sure ESPN will grind down hockey if they have it as one of their sports. I guarantee that if they didn't show Eating contests, Scrabble, Spelling bees, and Rock Paper Scissors, their "personalities" would be more than willing to make fun of a sports network that shows events like those.

I mean they go out of their way to insult hockey. You don't hear them say, "Well lets go on to Wimbledon highlights, not that anyone cares." They don't even badmouth the non-sports that they show. I believe that the way ESPN has been portraying hockey has a lot to do with public perceptions. And I'd have to believe that they wouldn't give such bad publicity to thier own product.

[Kp-Wings 3]

Center Ice isn't cheap and move to Detroit? Come on be serious.

Well, what do you want me to say? I have yet to see how ESPN would actually cover hockey/and or the Wings, so I can't be too sure they would cover every playoff game. If not, then there's your two solutions. Expensive, yes, but I can't think of anything else.

But the NHL wouldn't be going from Vs. to ESPN its more like NBC to ESPN. The Vs. games wouldn't be going anywhere. So from that article not much would be changing. Just going from broadcast tv to ESPN2. So the only people losing out on a deal like this, if the article has it right, would be people without cable tv at all because they would be losing the NBC games.

How many people who do you know that have a TV but don't have cable or a satellite dish? I don't see how that's a reason for NBC to not broadcast games. The 2% of the population that are still living like cavemen aren't going to break the ratings if they were lost.

I wouldn't shed a tear if NBC lost coverage, because I think the way they handle it sucks. Cancelling the game right when it's going on for a pre-game show of a horse race? I'm sorry, but that really airs on the side of lame in my opinion.

Nevertheless, ratings for NBC this year, especially the SCF, were totally non-existant. Granted, the two teams playing were in very meek cities, but still. Who's to say things wouldn't be better on ESPN?

ESPN, for as much as it's ragged on, does get a lot of the casual sports fans watching it, no matter the sport sometimes. You put the NHL back on there, and the casual sports fan now becomes a viewer. And that, my friend, is a ratings boost, which is what the NHL needs.

NBC may seem like an attractive offer, because it's a big time national TV corperation, but let's be serious here. Most people who watch sports in general aren't going to watch NBC, unless Olympic swimming, PGA golf in Georgia, or horse racing is their sport.