Tomorrow on NBC

[robat 13]

They just said on NHL Live that if the game goes more than 4 periods that they would switch over to Versus and also NBC.com and NHL.com.

Some Dallas fan just called in about Detroit fans calling in and complaining about the Homer deal, and also feels that Dallas can come in and steal one at The Joe.

Edited May 16, 2008 by robat

[Happy Pancake 6]

Good to hear just in case.

[Wings_Fan_In_Exile 3]

They just said on NHL Live that if the game goes more than 4 periods that they would switch over to Versus and also NBC.com and NHL.com.

Some Dallas fan just called in about Detroit fans calling in and complaining about the Homer deal, and also feels that Dallas can come in and steal one at The Joe.

I think I remember them doing that last year too. Not a surprise. Still saddens me that two hours of hype preceding a 60 second race is more important to the average American than the Western Conference Finals. Ah well.

[DRW Dominance 255]

You need to move up north.

[redwingfan19 293]

wow that sucks......

thank god for CBC

[VladyIBELIEVE16 257]

I think I remember them doing that last year too. Not a surprise. Still saddens me that two hours of hype preceding a 60 second race is more important to the average American than the Western Conference Finals. Ah well.

I feel the exact same way!

Thanks for this update as we're having people over for an LGW gathering

(RWNW - check my signature for the thread on it!)

GO WINGS!

[wingsfan75 2]

Hopefully, the game won't have to go long either way. I LOVE watching the games in HD so I can't wait!

[Wings_Fan_In_Exile 3]

You need to move up north.

Honestly, I've seriously thought of doing that. I might some day.

[Dabura 12,232]

All the more reason to hope for a blowout.

9-0 ftw!

[timothy1997 0]

I think I remember them doing that last year too. Not a surprise. Still saddens me that two hours of hype preceding a 60 second race is more important to the average American than the Western Conference Finals. Ah well.

Its not a 60 second race.

Its a 120 second race.

[Winged Scooter 0]

Ahhhhh yes, just a another reason the NHL will never be more than a "niche" sport as long as Bettman is in charge. Common sense would dictate that in a possible clinching game, you could gain a LOT, LOT more viewers on a Friday, or Saturday night. Where people would have parties, go to bars, stay home with a 6-pack, etc....

But Noooooooooo, the NHL in it's INFINITE wisdom thinks it it would be SO MUCH BETTER, to show the game at 1:30 on a Saturday, in May, when people run errands, do yard work, household repairs, wash their cars, go to the park with the kids...etc...(and of course the game COULD be pre-empted by a horse race).

Briliance, NHL, sheer brilliance. Kudos!

[VM1138 1,921]

Ahhhhh yes, just a another reason the NHL will never be more than a "niche" sport as long as Bettman is in charge. Common sense would dictate that in a possible clinching game, you could gain a LOT, LOT more viewers on a Friday, or Saturday night. Where people would have parties, go to bars, stay home with a 6-pack, etc....

But Noooooooooo, the NHL in it's INFINITE wisdom thinks it it would be SO MUCH BETTER, to show the game at 1:30 on a Saturday, in May, when people run errands, do yard work, household repairs, wash their cars, go to the park with the kids...etc...(and of course the game COULD be pre-empted by a horse race).

Briliance, NHL, sheer brilliance. Kudos!

Well, to be fair, they're not going to get any air time on Friday nights. NBC isn't going ot pre-empt their schedule for it.

And Saturday afternoon games do draw a lot of people relaxing. I would imagine these would have the biggest ratings on TV and radio, since people will bel istening to it on the radio while running errands or relaxing and watching the game with family or friends.

[Winged Scooter 0]

Well, to be fair, they're not going to get any air time on Friday nights. NBC isn't going ot pre-empt their schedule for it.

And Saturday afternoon games do draw a lot of people relaxing. I would imagine these would have the biggest ratings on TV and radio, since people will bel istening to it on the radio while running errands or relaxing and watching the game with family or friends.

Radio, definitely i can see it boosting ratings, people spending time outdoors, car etc. And I have no problem with an afternoon game for the most part, but the time 1;30 is ridiculous, if NBC has a major event scheduled at 3 or 4, then put the game back to versus, with a 3 Pm start, so more people can watch. I would imagine Stars fans have to be annoyed too, because the game starts at 12:30 for them.

[russianswede919293 95]

Radio, definitely i can see it boosting ratings, people spending time outdoors, car etc. And I have no problem with an afternoon game for the most part, but the time 1;30 is ridiculous, if NBC has a major event scheduled at 3 or 4, then put the game back to versus, with a 3 Pm start, so more people can watch. I would imagine Stars fans have to be annoyed too, because the game starts at 12:30 for them.

Problem is not everyone has Versus, so NBC is where they can get a wider audience, since everyone, even people without cable, have it.

[StevieY9802 6]

wow that sucks......

thank god for CBC

yep. and I'll be watching them because Pierre and Milbury are terrible. Doc and Eddie I don't mind but can't stand the other two.

[russianswede919293 95]

Other issues with Versus are as follows: LINK

Versus recently announced Versus HD, a new high-definition simulcast of Versus. In certain Comcast, Time Warner and Charter Cable markets, another channel, Versus/Golf HD, will be presenting alternating content from both Golf Channel and Versus.

When in fact NBC has its own HD channel, and ESPN has 2 of its own...

Versus is available in significantly fewer television households than ESPN. As of April 2007, the network was only available in 59 percent of households in the Los Angeles media market that have cable and satellite service.[19] In contrast, ESPN and ESPN2, which carried NHL games before Versus, is available on all systems

Thats a huge drop off in available marketing...

So in fact NBC is a much better place for such a high market game...but also begs the question..."How does VS have exclusive Stanley Cup Coverage in America?"

[StevieY9802 6]

So in fact NBC is a much better place for such a high market game...but also begs the question..."How does VS have exclusive Stanley Cup Coverage in America?"

Which makes me question why Bettman thought VS/OLN was better to have than ESPN. So barely being available on VS is better than having less coverage on ESPN? Sounds bad either way to me. So if it were me I would rather be on a station that everyone gets and try to market it aggresively to make it more popular and hope eventually it catches on and ESPN would want to/have to give it better coverage. But thats just my opinion.

Edited May 16, 2008 by StevieY9802

[russianswede919293 95]

Which makes me question why Bettman thought VS/OLN was better to have than ESPN. So barely being available on VS is better than having less coverage on ESPN? Sounds bad either way to me. So if it were me I would rather be on a station that everyone gets and try to market it aggresively to make it more popular and hope eventually it catches on and ESPN would want to/have to give it better coverage. But thats just my opinion.

Mine as well...but here is why.

ESPN sent the N.H.L. packing in May by refusing to execute its option to pay $60 million for the 2005-6 season, then demanding a no-fee revenue-sharing deal that the league rejected.

ESPN acknowledged its continuing interest Tuesday, when Mark Shapiro, an executive vice president, said that he was looking for common ground with the league, and that a rights fee would be possible "as long as we got value in return." But he also reiterated that even with rules changes, the N.H.L. product was still damaged.

Hockey may not seem like a significant addition, but even its meager ratings (a 0.5 during the 2003-4 season on ESPN, or an average of 416,000 households

LINK

The three-year, $207.5 million NHL contract has a clause under which the league will be paid $15 million if OLN signs another major sports property

LINK2

So that is about 70 Million a year when ESPN wouldn't even pay 60-million a year...as always its all about the $$$

Sorry, not meaning to hijack to a VS thread, just was answering why the NHL took to VS over ESPN, research for myself and the other person who asked.

But the moral of my story is Versus paid for coverage, they got it, despite that it isn't well broadcasted around the nation.

And due to that NBC is in fact a better place to play a key game like game 5.

[OsGOD 3]

I just hope that if the game goes to 2nd OT tomorrow the wings also don't turn to stupid animal racing!

Although that would be something to see... the jumbotron starts showing the coverage of the race instead of the game play.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

I just hope that if the game goes to 2nd OT tomorrow the wings also don't turn to stupid animal racing!

Although that would be something to see... the jumbotron starts showing the coverage of the race instead of the game play.

The GDT tomorrow should only be for horse racing predictions.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Ahhhhh yes, just a another reason the NHL will never be more than a "niche" sport as long as Bettman is in charge. Common sense would dictate that in a possible clinching game, you could gain a LOT, LOT more viewers on a Friday, or Saturday night. Where people would have parties, go to bars, stay home with a 6-pack, etc....

But Noooooooooo, the NHL in it's INFINITE wisdom thinks it it would be SO MUCH BETTER, to show the game at 1:30 on a Saturday, in May, when people run errands, do yard work, household repairs, wash their cars, go to the park with the kids...etc...(and of course the game COULD be pre-empted by a horse race).

Briliance, NHL, sheer brilliance. Kudos!

NBC rarely broadcasts major sporting events at night in my experience watching things on there.

And golf tournaments are typically broadcasted around "errand" time as well over the weekend, MLB games during summer on the weekends on FOX or ESPN, and I was unsure what it was like in the beginning of the regular season but late in the season the NBA had matinee games on a fair amount of Sundays on ABC.

Not just an NHL thing.

[Jwo 7]

Does this mean the post game show will be on after the race?

[Zion 93]

I fooking hate this crap. Can I blow up NBC?

[Guest Lebda4Pres]

The possibility of it going to Versus is probably why I saw Eddie Olczyk at the airport today.

[heed316 7]

From NHL.com

Stars-Wings NBC contingency plan for May 17th

May 16, 2008, 2:12 PM EDT

NEW YORK - The contingency plan for Saturday's 1:30 p.m. ET DAL@DET NBC broadcast is as follows:

If the game goes into overtime, the local Dallas and Detroit NBC affiliates will stay with the game until it's conclusion

In markets outside Dallas and Detroit, the game will shift from NBC to VERSUS after completion of the 1st OT

There are some markets that may pre-empt the game but at this time we don't know the alternative channel plans.