hockeysattva 8 Report post Posted October 20, 2008 I think ESPN has gone above expectations for coverage of the NHL since Gary Butthead tried to milk a sweeter deal. ESPN took the gimmicks the FOX was trying to use out of the game, or at least they agreed the fans didn't need the streak... When I get back to the states again I will be way happier if there are games on E and E2. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dabura 12,232 Report post Posted October 20, 2008 ESPN frankly wants the NHL back on their network. You know they are very eager and interested putting us on. Heh, good one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
auxlepli 17 Report post Posted October 20, 2008 What you don't understand is that the reason that ESPN doesn't pay as much attention to the NHL is because ESPN has no contract with the NHL. They are not required to have great coverage of the league. When you turn on SportsCenter you get tons of coverage from the NBA (way too much in my opinion), NASCAR, and every other sport. But the reason you don't see the NHL is because these other leagues are paying them to get coverage. While the NHL is not. Can you blame ESPN for having more coverage of the leagues that they have contracts with? No, that's business. Period. Oh yeah that's right! ESPN's coverage was nonpareil when NHL games were on the four-letter. So good the network even 86'ed NHL2Night. Yes I can blame them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DyingAlive 27 Report post Posted October 20, 2008 Oh yeah that's right! ESPN's coverage was nonpareil when NHL games were on the four-letter. So good the network even 86'ed NHL2Night. Yes I can blame them. NHL2Night was cancelled in 2004 when the contract was done with ESPN. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
auxlepli 17 Report post Posted October 20, 2008 Nope. It was canceled in 2003. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hoogs 8 Report post Posted October 20, 2008 SportsCenter has been showing alot more hockey replays lately Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DyingAlive 27 Report post Posted October 20, 2008 Nope. It was canceled in 2003. I'll take your word for it, however, this is what I have found: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0412183/plotsummary 1995 + 9 = 2004 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NHL_2Night Canceled 2004. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JayUp88 1 Report post Posted October 20, 2008 Why would ESPN show a ton of NHL when they don't have a contract with them.... its stupid business. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest CaliWingsNut Report post Posted October 20, 2008 (edited) Why would ESPN show a ton of NHL when they don't have a contract with them.... its stupid business. It's great business... They're giving the NHL a "taste". Edit: Besides, ESPN put a bad taste in the mouths of every hockey viewer as it is now. If they are going to try and get hockey back (and vise versa). They are going to have to win back those fans (like me). They won't get us back without showing hockey, contract or not. They won't know what kind of a market they have without winning us back first either. I only read espn.com to read articles posted on forums such as this, and don't watch it unless it's on at the bar... Edited October 20, 2008 by CaliWingsNut Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878 Report post Posted October 21, 2008 Yeah, they aren't going to show NHL much because really why should they care? They don't have a contract with the NHL so honestly whats the point? I would love to have ESPN and ESPN2 show the games before. I remember always listen to the theme song for hockey night and just being like "this can't get any better." I wish they would show games this season on even like a Friday night and Saturday night. I now that or I saw on this one site that ABC and ESPN2 are showing some college hockey games. Not much but a few of them. ESPN and ESPN2 should do the same with the NHL. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
auxlepli 17 Report post Posted October 21, 2008 I'll take your word for it, however, this is what I have found: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0412183/plotsummary 1995 + 9 = 2004 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NHL_2Night Canceled 2004. Oh, sorry, those sites are such reputable sources. Edit those yourself? I'll admit. I WAS WRONG. I might've been thinking about the hiatus John Buccigross was on in 2003. Or maybe it was ESPN nearly canceled or in fact did then brought NHL 2Night back after public uproar. What I did find was the cancellation was announced before the 2004 season ended, before the lockout and before the NHL - ESPN contract expired. http://www.ericmcerlain.com/offwingopinion...ives/003107.php One last thought: if the NHL highlight show is disappearing from ESPN2, the news can't possibly be good for the rest of the NHL's relationship with ABC/ESPN. Looks like they won't be renewing that contract. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DyingAlive 27 Report post Posted October 21, 2008 Sorry dude, I was just saying. I didn't mean to get you worked up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jwo 7 Report post Posted October 21, 2008 (edited) Kick WWE(?) off of USA and put hockey on it! Edited October 21, 2008 by Jwo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JayUp88 1 Report post Posted October 21, 2008 here's a little blast from the past for everyone to enjoy. http://www.freedrive.com/file/efd1a2f9b0b5...fac70a7f8e8a9e7 This makes me think hockey! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878 Report post Posted October 21, 2008 Kick WWE(?) off of USA and put hockey on it! No that still would never happen. WWE is like the god or something like that for USA. Plus I think it would be weird to have hockey on USA. I would rather see it stay at VS and NBC then go to USA. Plus I don't think NBC is all that bad, its better then VS I think. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
South Dakota wings fan 7 Report post Posted October 21, 2008 I agree. Just having a weekly game on a Wednesday night, or weekend night would be great. And make sure to get good match-ups too. I'm actually addicted to the Southeast division right now. When two teams from that division square off it's awesome hockey. Every team plays an aggressive style and you always see a lot of goals. Some Flex scheduling late in the season, like NBC does for Sunday night football, would be wise. Maybe they split up the conference finals like espn and TNT do, with cross-promotion could not be bad for either network. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrossoverThrash 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2008 I think they should have it on espn, abc, espn 2, vs, and nbc. Just like football is on 2 different national networks, thats how you get people to watch, let the vs and espn and nbc and abc compete for hte best coverage and higher ratings. Also it should be mandatory for CI to be in all HD for all subscribers. get verses to have a nightly or weekly hockey wrapup show besides hockey central, bring back nhl2 nite and supliment it with on the fly. Also i'd like ot see nhl network get more updated programming, more weekly shows, and be available in HD to everyone because currently Time Warner people cannot get NHLN in hd but we finally got VS hd. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrossoverThrash 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2008 and get nbc/abc to broadcast a doubleheader on sat and sun all thorughout the year. 1 afternoon game and a night game on sat for nbc and 2 early games on sun for abc. vs with hockey on mon and tues, 2 dblheaders. espn wiht hockey on wed night maybe simulcast wiht tsn. Then have espn 2 have doubleheaders on thurs and fri. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrossoverThrash 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2008 (edited) and for the weekend games give people regional choices and have the other games on CI. In playoffs, all marquee matchups would be on nat tv and other games on cable. No matter what day or time. Edited October 21, 2008 by CrossoverThrash Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
