NHL vs Free Streams

[Echolalia 2,961]

One of the coolest things about LGW is the diversity of fans that we have here. Off the top of my head I can recall members from Australia, Ireland, Sweden, the UK, Canada, New Jersey, Texas, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and California. I can promise you there are much more than that. Anyway, the majority of Wings' games are played exclusively on FSN, which is limited primarily to Michigan. As such, most of the out-of-towners have to rely on alternative means to watch hockey games live, whether it include Center-Ice, VS, yahoo sports, or free online streams through unaffiliated mediums, with a great deal of folks preferring the latter.

As most of us know, the NHL has gone to great lengths to prevent free streams from popping up online, forcing those who don't have local access to invest in an NHL affiliated program to catch games on a regular basis. Obviously the NHL wants to capitalize on what they are marketing so their reasoning is pretty straight-forward. However, the NHL has also expressed an interest in expanding their fanbase beyond the confines of Canada and the northern US, and free streaming certainly allows the convenient propagation of North American Hockey throughout the world.

So my question to each of you is this: As the NHL is a business (and so are the teams it represents), is it in their best interest to continue to shut down free streams online, or should they allow or promote free streams to improve fanbases?

[P. Marlowe 748]

Personally, I don't really have an opinion though.

[Shady Ultima 40]

This is a rather difficult question.

In some regards it is definitely a plus, in others it would hurt.

For a team like Detroit or Toronto, it would really have a positive effect, as fans from other countries could watch and would perhaps purchase merchandise, while minimal money is lost (as neither will ever be empty houses)

But a team like Atlanta which can't fill seats would have a serious problem, as fans in other countries would not be paying as much into the system.

[Glubki 17]

One of the coolest things about LGW is the diversity of fans that we have here. Off the top of my head I can recall members from Australia, Ireland, Sweden, the UK, Canada, New Jersey, Texas, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and California. I can promise you there are much more than that. Anyway, the majority of Wings' games are played exclusively on FSN, which is limited primarily to Michigan. As such, most of the out-of-towners have to rely on alternative means to watch hockey games live, whether it include Center-Ice, VS, yahoo sports, or free online streams through unaffiliated mediums, with a great deal of folks preferring the latter.

As most of us know, the NHL has gone to great lengths to prevent free streams from popping up online, forcing those who don't have local access to invest in an NHL affiliated program to catch games on a regular basis. Obviously the NHL wants to capitalize on what they are marketing so their reasoning is pretty straight-forward. However, the NHL has also expressed an interest in expanding their fanbase beyond the confines of Canada and the northern US, and free streaming certainly allows the convenient propagation of North American Hockey throughout the world.

So my question to each of you is this: As the NHL is a business (and so are the teams it represents), is it in their best interest to continue to shut down free streams online, or should they allow or promote free streams to improve fanbases?

Yes, It is in their best to do what they are doing now from a financial perspective. If they wanted to increase fan support and capitalize financially they could offer team exclusive streaming packages. Say $40 to $50 to watch all of your favorite teams games online instead of forcing you to buy the all inclusive package. If they were all HD and offered multiple camera angles at an affordable price you'd see a lot less people in the free hosting rooms.

[mjlegend 155]

As long as there's free streams, no one will want to pay.

As a business model, though, I'm not sure what the NHL could possibly lose by exposing themselves to a much greater audience.

[GoalieManPat 1,007]

The NHL can do all they want to try and shut down streams but they will never succeed. Its just like software piracy. People will find a way to get what they want. If the NHL was smart they would host there own free live game streams and just insert ads around the video or during normal game breaks. That way they atleast get some money instead of spending money going after streams.

[drumnj 459]

There will always be 2 sides to this argument when it comes to making a profit and growing the fan base. All in all I don't think the NHL cares too much on free streams, mainly because they are far inferior to the product fans can pay for. Most sites and services themselves remove sports streams due the infringement of their own Terms of Service, and to cover their ass from any potential legal action.

Its sites like hockeystreams.com that really hurt the NHL, since they are taking a lot of income away from the NHL online streaming service. These people are willing to pay to stream games; instead it’s some random people in the Netherlands for live games when they could be paying the NHL for their authentic service. I think that does more harm than any free stream someone like me puts up.

For a lot of streamers like me it's all about helping out fellow fans. For a long time I couldn't watch Wings games since I wasn't living in the Detroit area. One day I had enough and started searching the internet, that's when I found the myp2p community of streamers and was finally able to start watching games again. Thanks to this I really got back into hockey, for many years I wasn't even able to watch it on TV. I began going to games again (traveling to Chicago) and bought merchandise. I too started streaming games for other Wings fans and the cycle continues. Access to free streams can be very beneficial to bringing back lost fans.

[Echolalia 2,961]

For a lot of streamers like me it's all about helping out fellow fans. For a long time I couldn't watch Wings games since I wasn't living in the Detroit area. One day I had enough and started searching the internet, that's when I found the myp2p community of streamers and was finally able to start watching games again. Thanks to this I really got back into hockey, for many years I wasn't even able to watch it on TV. I began going to games again (traveling to Chicago) and bought merchandise. I too started streaming games for other Wings fans and the cycle continues. Access to free streams can be very beneficial to bringing back lost fans.

You bring up an interesting point saying that because of streams you were able to get back into hockey, buy merchandise, tickets, etc. I wonder whether streaming could be looked at as an investment, possibly with some additional tweaks such as the stream with commercials idea a couple posts back. I feel most local fans would stick to the television so local money wouldn't be lost, but income could be brought in from other areas.

[henrik40 76]

If they want to cut down on the free streams, they need to lower the price of center ice online. I would buy it if it wasn't $150 for the season. The majority of the free streams are blurry or fuzzy, but it beats nothing. If you do find a good stream, you have to hope it doesn't get shut down or the person who runs the stream is going to in fact, stream every game. I would definitely purchase center ice online if it was $50-$60 a season. I really like the quality they offer, just not the price.

[Marck13 3]

There will always be 2 sides to this argument when it comes to making a profit and growing the fan base. All in all I don't think the NHL cares too much on free streams, mainly because they are far inferior to the product fans can pay for. Most sites and services themselves remove sports streams due the infringement of their own Terms of Service, and to cover their ass from any potential legal action.

Its sites like hockeystreams.com that really hurt the NHL, since they are taking a lot of income away from the NHL online streaming service. These people are willing to pay to stream games; instead it’s some random people in the Netherlands for live games when they could be paying the NHL for their authentic service. I think that does more harm than any free stream someone like me puts up.

For a lot of streamers like me it's all about helping out fellow fans. For a long time I couldn't watch Wings games since I wasn't living in the Detroit area. One day I had enough and started searching the internet, that's when I found the myp2p community of streamers and was finally able to start watching games again. Thanks to this I really got back into hockey, for many years I wasn't even able to watch it on TV. I began going to games again (traveling to Chicago) and bought merchandise. I too started streaming games for other Wings fans and the cycle continues. Access to free streams can be very beneficial to bringing back lost fans.

Great post, and people like me thank you very very much for your streams!

Over here it´s pretty hard to watch and follow the whole NHL season,

the games are from 1.30 am til 3.30 or something..during the night. Our MEDIA just doesn´t care (unless for the islanders and ducks because we got Swiss-players there so they write an article every now and then), only thing the biggest newspapers post are the results which are always one day late due to the time change ..so forget about that :-/

I personaly would consider paying for good quality streams, BUT per Game for a reasonable price!!

There´s no way I can stay up trough all the nights i wanna see the WINGS play, ..i´d love to though

[dobbles 252]

i agree that if the nhl would be more flexible with what they offer, they could get more customers. i think they need to be mindful of their price of center ice with the bad economy; i think they should offer team specific plans for folks that are interested; and i think they need to expand what they do online.

with the nhl still having a small market share, i think it pays them more dividends to lower their prices in an attempt to get more viewers.

[jollymania 162]

people should buy center ice it is a good deal, if you cant buy center ice because it isn't availablethen yes a free stream should be available. Perhaps if someone really doesnt want to pay the measly center ice fee they could make a wings only package but it wouldnt be as much of a deal.

[jollymania 162]

edit

Edited November 19, 2009 by jollymania

[CrabCZ 0]

Great post, and people like me thank you very very much for your streams!

Over here it´s pretty hard to watch and follow the whole NHL season,

the games are from 1.30 am til 3.30 or something..during the night. Our MEDIA just doesn´t care (unless for the islanders and ducks because we got Swiss-players there so they write an article every now and then), only thing the biggest newspapers post are the results which are always one day late due to the time change ..so forget about that :-/

I personaly would consider paying for good quality streams, BUT per Game for a reasonable price!!

There´s no way I can stay up trough all the nights i wanna see the WINGS play, ..i´d love to though

I completely agree with you - pay per game. I don't know how many games I'll be able to watch - 30? 15? 5? None? I don't know! It's in middle of nights (1.30-3.30 or later) for Christ's sake, the worst time imaginable. No way I'm paying $150/season If I don't even know I'll use the servis (and $15/day is a joke) and possibility of a blacked out game doesn't help either.

If they offered me a 15/30/50 games package (of my choice) for a resonable price I'd pay.

[banzaiwolfe 5]

I would be interested in paying the NHL for streams if a couple things happened:

a)They offered a the ability to choose just one team to see for a much more reasonable price

b)Their service wasn't subject to any sort of blackouts (meaning you could see EVERY game the team played).

[clutchngrab 12]

I used to get Center Ice for a number of years and stopped for the following reasons:

1. Too expensive when mostly all I care about is the Wings.

2. Center Ice Blackouts when the Wings were on NHL Network. This really pissed me off.

3. Overall dissatisfaction at the level of incompetence and of how the NHL is run by the leadership (Bettman and the PA).

4. Overall dissatisfaction with the officiating and degradation of the game over the years.

For all these reasons, I will do my best to not support the NHL with my money until changes are made.

[autoX 0]

I am not liking center ice due to no HD content is available in my area. Some $hit about bandwidth and keeping it affordable. Free feeds are nice but quality is not good. If the NHL shutdown the free feeds would most likey just stream radio. To get HD quality video i am thinking about setting up a slingbox at my parents house in michigan and watch FS-D here in Virginia.

Edited November 19, 2009 by autoX

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

I used to get Center Ice for a number of years and stopped for the following reasons:

1. Too expensive when mostly all I care about is the Wings.

2. Center Ice Blackouts when the Wings were on NHL Network. This really pissed me off.

3. Overall dissatisfaction at the level of incompetence and of how the NHL is run by the leadership (Bettman and the PA).

4. Overall dissatisfaction with the officiating and degradation of the game over the years.

For all these reasons, I will do my best to not support the NHL with my money until changes are made.

I agree completely.

Until the NHL can offer a full season of viewing (one team and/or league), free or paid, they will not see another dime of my money or advert paid viewership.

They are whoring themselves out to TV companies when really they could do SO much more online. Make iPhone apps w/ scores, stats, and video, show games and partner with hulu (tv anyways) or youtube. Tons of possibilities... instead they are throwing money away cause of Bettman and penny pinching owners wanna pay the rich TV execs.

But they have a Twitter account! *boggle*

Find some cable company (there's likely plenty looking for cheap to produce content) and put all games NBC won't broadcast on it, then focus entirely on the web. They'd make so much cash and renew child interest in a flash.

Edited November 19, 2009 by CaliWingsNut

[Shady Ultima 40]

I think another thing Centre Ice should offer is the ability to watch a game after it's been on. I mean, if I'm paying 150 bucks a season, and I miss a game... I want to be able to watch it, but on my schedule.

[Guest Crymson]

If they want to cut down on the free streams, they need to lower the price of center ice online. I would buy it if it wasn't $150 for the season. The majority of the free streams are blurry or fuzzy, but it beats nothing. If you do find a good stream, you have to hope it doesn't get shut down or the person who runs the stream is going to in fact, stream every game. I would definitely purchase center ice online if it was $50-$60 a season. I really like the quality they offer, just not the price.

Experience has shown us that it is not wise to count on the NHL to make sound business decisions.

[Seraph 240]

I may be an idiot because I don't understand why the NHL doesn't stream games online if they are also streaming the commercials along with it. In other words, if sponsors are paying for ads on the rink and also during commercial breaks, won't broadcasting that to a national audience only increase their effectiveness? That would make companies willing to pay MORE to advertise their products through the NHL. Plus, if the NHL wanted, they could probably replace local broadcasting commercials with a national version of commercials during the break. I'm sure it's a complicated task, but I figure it could be worked out...

Especially in an age where the media of TV, internet, and gaming are meshing into one, the NHL should stream the games to circumvent the difficulty they are seeing in exposing people to the game (i.e. getting a contract with ESPN, etc..). Plus it'd make my life much easier since I moved to CA.

[Pskov Wings Fan 71]

If they want to cut down on the free streams, they need to lower the price of center ice online. I would buy it if it wasn't $150 for the season. The majority of the free streams are blurry or fuzzy, but it beats nothing. If you do find a good stream, you have to hope it doesn't get shut down or the person who runs the stream is going to in fact, stream every game. I would definitely purchase center ice online if it was $50-$60 a season. I really like the quality they offer, just not the price.

I don't think that price of Center Ice is unreasonable. Where I live it is on par with going to see a single game live. My problem is that it does not have all the games. So if I want to watch a game, which is on Versus, I have to use an online stream.

[Rick 42]

I am not liking center ice due to no HD content is available in my area. Some $hit about bandwidth and keeping it affordable. Free feeds are nice but quality is not good. If the NHL shutdown the free feeds would most likey just stream radio. To get HD quality video i am thinking about setting up a slingbox at my parents house in michigan and watch FS-D here in Virginia.

Unfortunately the slingbox only streams HD content on the internal network. You would have to have your computer on your parents network to receive HD quality on a computer. You can certainly watch FSD and all the other basic cable channels through the slingboxes ntsc tuner in virginia through a web browser no problem. Aslo if your parents internet connection has an upload speed below 1.5Mb dont expect the SD stream to even be considered "good". The one thing that sucks about HD and the slingbox is when you have multiple people wanting to watch different stations. To watch HD on a slingbox you have to input your cable box with component (no hdmi) into the slingbox and then output from the slingbox to the tv. That means when you want to watch HD from your computer on your internal network, your cable box has to always be tuned to the channel you want to slingbox to stream. The ntsc tuner is what allows multiple viewings. Basically if you want to watch something other than what your cable box is tuned to, you switch to the ntsc tuner and watch analog basic cable in standard definition.

Hope this all makes sense. I was unaware of all of this when I was considering purchasing it. But when it comes to watching your basic cable stations from any computer (or smartphone) around the world this is pretty much the best option.

[evilmrt 636]

The free streams are there because the NHL doesn't offer a decent product. Demand dictates that alternatives fill the void. Thats what the free streaming is about. Now if the NHL offered a better online streaming product, and it was priced much better, then we wouldn't be talking about this. MLB.tv, the official MLB online streaming solution, is a much superior product, and its priced better. It puts NHL Gamecenter to shame. Even the NBA official streaming is slightly cheaper and still looks like a better product. And as far as the NFL goes, "NFL Game Pass HD" is offered to anyone outside North America (no idea on the price, can't access it from here).

I honestly don't know what the league thinks its doing when they offer a substandard product for $170, then blackout a ton of games, and don't really broadcast any postseason action either. They OWN the games! $170 should be MORE than enough to compensate for any licensing issues with tv carriers, etc.

And whats the reason theres no NHL stuff like this???

[theman19 47]

here's what killed me,

the other day the canes were playing the wild on a sunday. Yahoo was carrying the game for free on the their site so I gleefully tune in,...only to be told since i'm in North Carolina,...it's blacked out.

So what do i Do? Turn to free streams where i watch the canes win their first in 14.

The crazy thing is,....Yahoo shows free games at high quality on the regular. You have to watch an AD when you see it, but that's it,....Free hockey. Why Bettman? Why isn't their an NHL service like this?