Why doesn't the NHL have a real nat. TV contract?

[Guest paveldatsukthenextsavard]

I never thought i'd miss ESPN's coverage of games, but I wanted to scream when I saw that the All-Star game's only national TV coverage was on VERSUS, a channel I don't get. Is the NHL's mainstream appeal in america really that low, I'd like to think that even without a regular national contract, the fricken All-star game could pull enough ratings to be on ESPN or NBC as like a onetime thing.

Granted the NHL's not the most popular pro-sport in the country, but what is the league doing to promote growth in it's popularity? It's hard for newbies to get interested in a sport that's shown on some obscure channel that they might not even get. I don't get versus in my apartment, and as much as I enjoy hockey, it's just not practical for me to drive an hour to visit my parents every time theres a game on versus.

I think if the NHL doesn't get a better TV contract soon they're gonna be losing a lot of casual fans, the die hard fans like myself, and I imagine most of this board will obviously never stop watching hockey, but with the NHL being simply out of reach to a lot of people, a lot of casual fans might just lose interest.

sorry about the rant, i'm just really pissed off i'm gonna have to drive an hour to watch the all star game

Edited January 12, 2008 by paveldatsukthenextsavard

[Grittzkey 1]

Because Hockey is comparable to Soccer when it comes to popularity in the US

[DyingAlive 27]

I'm not sure why you are getting upset about the All star game. Sure they are fun to see all of the stars get together and joke around. But it's just the all star game.

Missing the skills competition..now that is a travesty. I can see why you'd be angry over that.

[T.Low 1,011]

Because Hockey is comparable to Soccer when it comes to popularity in the US

Thats true. Simple supply and demand.

At least I get to watch the Wings on TV tonite, Hockey Night in Canada.

[55fan 5,133]

I hear you! I have to drive 2 hours to see anything that's not on NBC.

Even one game a week on an actual network (preferrable PBS, NBC or FOX since I don't get the others without rabbit ear gymnastics) would be a way to get the casual channel surfer. I agree totally that new people won't be attracted to our sport unless they happen upon it. That's not likely to happen with no NHL until January.

Of course, it comes down to sponsorship and ratings, which tend to go hand in hand. We'd need to have some sponsors be willing to take the chance.

Anyone know an owner of a pizza chain who has an interest in hockey?

[lfd250 1]

Easy, VS paid the most money to the NHL and owners. SO they get the rights.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Having a deadbeat commissioner like Bettman doesn't help either.

[puckbags 863]

Having a deadbeat commissioner like Bettman doesn't help either.

We can blame buttman for a lot of stupid s*** that goes on in this league but blaming him for the tv contract is not one of them!! Like lfd said up above a couple of posts, the tv contract is put out to bid on and whoever comes up with the most benjamin's get's it, plain and simple!!

[irishtemper14+25 11]

yea i really wish vs was gone, the only games i am able to watch are wings games

[auxlepli 17]

I just wish Versus would show more games instead of limiting games to Tuesday and Wednesday.

Edited January 13, 2008 by auxlepli

[Guest paveldatsukthenextsavard]

We can blame buttman for a lot of stupid s*** that goes on in this league but blaming him for the tv contract is not one of them!! Like lfd said up above a couple of posts, the tv contract is put out to bid on and whoever comes up with the most benjamin's get's it, plain and simple!!

Even if they paid more in the short term, Bettmann probably never considered whether or not it was better in the long term, which should be a priority as well.

[eva unit zero 271]

Even if they paid more in the short term, Bettmann probably never considered whether or not it was better in the long term, which should be a priority as well.

I'll put out a scenario...

Nicole has the opportunity to date one of two guys. We'll call them Ed and Vince.

Ed is the most popular guy around, has lots of money, and hangs out with lots of friends. He'll often pick up their tab.

Vince is not as popular, but is a nice guy and will always be available for anything Nicole needs.

However, there are a couple other factors.

Ed often says demeaning things about Nicole in front of her friends and associates. Vince is usually supportive and praises her intelligence and beauty.

Ed ask Nicole to pay for his drinks, while Vince buys her drinks.

Who should Nicole date?

[BeeRYCE 2]

The all star game has been on NBC, FOX, and ABC (I think) in the past, and yeah I agree... It definitely should have national coverage. Pro Bowl, NBA, and MLB all do.

[CupChamps979802 35]

I'll put out a scenario...

Nicole has the opportunity to date one of two guys. We'll call them Ed and Vince.

Ed is the most popular guy around, has lots of money, and hangs out with lots of friends. He'll often pick up their tab.

Vince is not as popular, but is a nice guy and will always be available for anything Nicole needs.

However, there are a couple other factors.

Ed often says demeaning things about Nicole in front of her friends and associates. Vince is usually supportive and praises her intelligence and beauty.

Ed ask Nicole to pay for his drinks, while Vince buys her drinks.

Who should Nicole date?

Ed!

[T.Low 1,011]

I'll put out a scenario...

Nicole has the opportunity to date one of two guys. We'll call them Ed and Vince.

Ed is the most popular guy around, has lots of money, and hangs out with lots of friends. He'll often pick up their tab.

Vince is not as popular, but is a nice guy and will always be available for anything Nicole needs.

However, there are a couple other factors.

Ed often says demeaning things about Nicole in front of her friends and associates. Vince is usually supportive and praises her intelligence and beauty.

Ed ask Nicole to pay for his drinks, while Vince buys her drinks.

Who should Nicole date?

How cute is she?

[imisssergei 0]

While Eva's example is entertaining, I'll spell it out for everyone.

The only network that was willing to pay what the NHL BOG felt was what the NHL was worth was VS.

If the NHL was really concerned with 'growing the sport' it would be on ESPN. It's sad to say, but it's the only way to get the casual fan to watch a few games.

[Jwo 7]

Should we blame the NHL for the reason why I don't get ESPN2 HD?

[mmorland 16]

This debate again?

To compare Hockey to soccer in the U.S. in an insult.

It comes down to this:

1.) Gary Bettman has no concerns on marketing: commericals, media talk, etc. In his mind, the NHL needs itself, and that's it.

2.) Versus paid top dollar when the NHL REJECTED ESPN's offer after the lockout. It's the NHL's fault they have no TV contract other than VERSUS & NBC

3.) As I started earlier in the season, the NHL & ESPN have been talking, and it looks like they'll get a deal comparable to the one that the NBA has with TNT, NBC, ESPN. NHL would be on NBC, Versus, and ESPN.

[55fan 5,133]

Just a thought: Couldn't a network in the US get some sort of contract with Hockey Night in Canada and just broadcast that? It would be good for CBC because the deal would bring them in extra money at no additional expense, and it would be good for the US company because they wouldn't have to pay to produce a whole show.

Win-win. That's how I see it. Of course I have a sadistic desire to see what Don Cherry would do to the blood pressure of a certain sector of the population who likes to tell us how to talk and think. Is there a "sadistic glee" emoticon?

[auxlepli 17]

This debate again?

To compare Hockey to soccer in the U.S. in an insult.

It comes down to this:

1.) Gary Bettman has no concerns on marketing: commericals, media talk, etc. In his mind, the NHL needs itself, and that's it.

2.) Versus paid top dollar when the NHL REJECTED ESPN's offer after the lockout. It's the NHL's fault they have no TV contract other than VERSUS & NBC

3.) As I started earlier in the season, the NHL & ESPN have been talking, and it looks like they'll get a deal comparable to the one that the NBA has with TNT, NBC, ESPN. NHL would be on NBC, Versus, and ESPN.

In 2004, it was ESPN's George Bodenheimer who said, "We don't need hockey." So I could understand why the NHL, Bettman and the BoG would refuse any relationship with ESPN thereafter.

Even then, according to this article it was ESPN that dropped the NHL during the lockout.

Most observers had figured the NHL, after ESPN last May exercised its option to drop the final year of its agreement under which it would pay the NHL $60 milllion, would be forced to do a cable TV rights deal much like the broadcast rights deal it had done with NBC--a pure cost/revenue sharing deal, with no guaranteed rights fee.

But OLN, trying to grow its male sports audience, came in with a strong bid, one that ESPN on Wednesday night decided it did not want to match.

George Bodenheimer, chairman of ESPN and ABC Sports, said, "We worked very hard to build and sustain our relationship with the league and would have liked to continue [televising NHL games]. However, given the prolonged work stoppage and the league's TV ratings history, no financial model even remotely supports the contract terms offered."

ESPN was not only unwilling to pay as much as OLN, but it was also not able to meet some of the provisions that OLN had agreed to with the NHL. Among them, a provision that if agreed to, would require ESPN to carry all NHL games on ESPN, which has greater distribution and ratings, and none on ESPN2.

[eva unit zero 271]

2.) Versus paid top dollar when the NHL REJECTED ESPN's offer after the lockout. It's the NHL's fault they have no TV contract other than VERSUS & NBC

The NHL rejected ESPN's offer because ESPN offered a contract that involved zero money. The only money the NHL would have seen was a cut of advertising revenue after ESPN expenses were paid. You know, a worse deal than the NBC deal Bettman gets flak for taking?

[timothy1997 0]

The all star game has been on NBC, FOX, and ABC (I think) in the past, and yeah I agree... It definitely should have national coverage. Pro Bowl, NBA, and MLB all do.

Football, Basketball, and Baseball are more of a sport in America than hockey. Hockey was one of the "main 4" but not anymore.

[96Homer 0]

The all star game is also on CBC not only versus.

[ben_usmc 253]

I'll have ot find the site it was on but they were saying that VS viewership has went up 36% and is about the same amount of viewers as they had one ESPN2

[dallas27 7]

I'll put out a scenario...

Nicole has the opportunity to date one of two guys. We'll call them Ed and Vince.

Ed is the most popular guy around, has lots of money, and hangs out with lots of friends. He'll often pick up their tab.

Vince is not as popular, but is a nice guy and will always be available for anything Nicole needs.

However, there are a couple other factors.

Ed often says demeaning things about Nicole in front of her friends and associates. Vince is usually supportive and praises her intelligence and beauty.

Ed ask Nicole to pay for his drinks, while Vince buys her drinks.

Who should Nicole date?

When I read this I heard Forrest say "Mama always had a way of explaining things so I could understand them."