Chelios Has It Right!

[Superman54 91]

http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2008/01/ch...amper_abou.html

I think Chelios knows exactly what the NHL needs!

Unfortuantly Bettman carries too much pride too realize this and thinks the NHL is in a amazing stage

Just from my observations......

[joshy207 156]

The problem with ESPN though, is that hockey gets lost on that network. Other sports/events get more publicity and better ratings, so hockey gets pushed aside. If hockey was so important to ESPN, it never would have let it go in the first place. At least on VS, hockey's the big show.

[toby91_ca 620]

I thought it was Versus that exercised their option to extend.

[Dabura 12,232]

The problem with ESPN though, is that hockey gets lost on that network.

IMO, being lost on ESPN is better than being a fixture on Versus.

True, the NHL was always sort of "the bastard child" on ESPN -- and that would never change. But regardless of this, games were still being televised on what is the leading sports network and probably one of the five most popular & ubiquitous channels on television.

No offense to Versus, but it simply can't provide that kind of exposure. And, as Chelly more or less explained, that's one of the fundamental building blocks the league needs right now if it's going to have any chance of strengthening its flimsy stateside foothold.

Edited January 29, 2008 by Dabura

[norrisnick 1]

IMO, being lost on ESPN is better than being a fixture on Versus.

True, the NHL was always sort of "the bastard child" on ESPN -- and that would never change. But regardless of this, games were still being televised on what is the leading sports network and probably one of the five most popular & ubiquitous channels on television.

No offense to Versus, but it simply can't provide that kind of exposure. And, as Chelly more or less explained, that's one of the fundamental building blocks the league needs right now if it's going to have any chance of strengthening its flimsy stateside foothold.

Exposure on ESPN is meaningless if you have the people on their flagship shows (Sportscenter, PTI, etc...) making fun of hockey and the NHL at all times. That doesn't grow the sport if casual viewers get bombarded with negatives about the NHL. Better to be treated with a bit of respect on a lesser station.

Ideally the NHL needs to beg NBC into getting a primetime slot one day a week. With the writer strike you never know.

[auxlepli 17]

Until ESPN comes up with more money to buy the broadcast rights it's not going to happen.

Should the players take less money if ESPN offers less? Becuase as we all should know now, costs are tied to revenues. I usually agree with Chelios, but he's absolutely wrong about this point ... again, and joshy207 is right. If Chelios wants a better TV contract he should start his own network. It's not like many networks are clamoring at the door to broadcast NHL games anyway. He is right about selling out buildings being a major problem. I'll give him that.

[Dabura 12,232]

I think it's an exaggeration to say the NHL was always being "bombarded with negatives." If anything, it was apathy, not malice, that "hurt" hockey on ESPN. And it's not like you can really blame the network; before the lockout, NHL hockey was really boring -- even for loyal hockey fans, I'd say.

And it still kind of is, albeit less so.

Personally, I'd be in favor of a fresh start. That is, an overhaul of the on-ice product and a new contract with ESPN to reflect a "new league."

[irishtemper14+25 11]

yea cheli knows what to do, another 10 yrs in the nhl and hell be bettman