auxlepli 17 Report post Posted April 21, 2010 http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=ap-playoffs-ratings The first five nights of coverage on Versus have the highest cable ratings for the beginning of the postseason since 2002. The average of 543,000 viewers is up 21 percent from last year. I've always thought the NHL should stay with Versus. Looks like I'm right. 1 Hossa4Life reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SiLkK19 67 Report post Posted April 21, 2010 Just need a Vs2 for more games. Just need a Vs2 for more games. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hossa4Life 4 Report post Posted April 21, 2010 i'm sure all of these close series and underdog wins is helping too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FireCaptain 563 Report post Posted April 21, 2010 This. Even if it's not a 24/7/365 channel. Just something to open up more air and avoid the 'joined in progress' or not aired games. Just need a Vs2 for more games. Just need a Vs2 for more games. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Howard He Do It?! Report post Posted April 21, 2010 I'd be willing to bet those numbers would be even higher if the NHL was on ESPN. 5 ManLuv4Clears, mjlegend, Skeptikal and 2 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevkrause 1,247 Report post Posted April 21, 2010 I'd be willing to bet those numbers would be even higher if the NHL was on ESPN. I bet it be even higher than that if the games were all broadcast on NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox, simultaneously, thus taking over all major over the air networks at once... 1 55fan reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029 Report post Posted April 21, 2010 i'm sure all of these close series and underdog wins is helping too. The fact that 4 of the original 6 teams(Detroit,Boston,Montreal,Chicago) are in doesn't hurt either. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake_Marcus 890 Report post Posted April 21, 2010 Nice! Great to hear that TV viewership is up in the US. Although I bet this is solely because LA is in the playoffs. The LA market is HUGE. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,794 Report post Posted April 21, 2010 Anything is more exciting than the boring NBA playoffs, where the higher seed wins every damn series. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029 Report post Posted April 21, 2010 Anything is more exciting than the boring NBA playoffs, where the higher seed wins every damn series. I can't watch the NBA anymore.I used to be able to sit down for a playoff game or two,but its just so ridiculous now.Its ALL about money in the NBA.its sad. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted April 21, 2010 I can't watch the NBA anymore.I used to be able to sit down for a playoff game or two,but its just so ridiculous now.Its ALL about money in the NBA.its sad. Yup. And the NHL is starting to show symptoms of a similar progression. 1 2guns reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted April 21, 2010 NBA I only watch Celtics games now, I used to watch every playoff series, I do in almost all sports (even Cricket if I can find it televised which is tough any more), but in the NBA I can not follow the game any more. Whomever has the best 2 players wins. When the C's beat the lakers Paul and KG were better than Kobe (who was better than any one single player) and whomever else you want to add. The Duncan/Parker years. I miss the 130-120 games, I hate the fact that the NCAA does a 300% better job officiating the game. It is the game with the absolute most bias when it comes to officiating. I am not even talking about names, I mean guard and Center collide, foul on the center almost guaranteed. This is why I feel the NHL really needs to crack down on the inconsistency of officials, the gambling thing didn't help the NBA, but the officials beyond the Donahey (SP) scandal are still the biggest problem in the game, it gets no flow. The inconsistencies of officiating in the NHL is really starting to become a concern, I wouldn't be surprised to hear Franzen suspended over his hit last game, but certain players hit like that all year and got away with it, does Franzen deserve penalty under the new head rule, probably but I don't think so ( I am bias). Officiating is a big problem in every sport because as the players get younger, faster, stronger, bigger, and smarter the officials keep getting older and older and slower and slower. That my internet friends is a bad combination! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted April 21, 2010 I'd be willing to bet those numbers would be even higher if the NHL was on ESPN. I don't know. ESPN has spent so much time bashing the Nhl over the years their audience is probably automatically going to dismiss the NHL and not try watching it. Which would be justification for ESPN to limit NHL coverage (they would probably start out with small coverage thus making all the NHL progress over the past few years moot). Keep it on VS. The only issue is reaching an audience which seems to be happening. 1 F.Michael reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lidstrom for life 20 Report post Posted April 22, 2010 (edited) I don't know. ESPN has spent so much time bashing the Nhl over the years their audience is probably automatically going to dismiss the NHL and not try watching it. Which would be justification for ESPN to limit NHL coverage (they would probably start out with small coverage thus making all the NHL progress over the past few years moot). Keep it on VS. The only issue is reaching an audience which seems to be happening. I think the reason that ESPN ignores/bashes hockey is because its the only major sport that they don't broadcast, so what good would it do them to promote it? If hockey was actually broadcasted on ESPN they would work much harder to promote it because it would make them money. Edited April 22, 2010 by Lidstrom for life Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carman 387 Report post Posted April 22, 2010 ESPN doesn't show as much hockey because they don't make money off it. They don't have anything against the sport itself. Anyways this is great news, finally the NHL seems to be on the right track. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted April 22, 2010 ESPN doesn't show as much hockey because they don't make money off it. They don't have anything against the sport itself. Anyways this is great news, finally the NHL seems to be on the right track. They bash the NHL every chance they get. They always try to diminish it. It's not a matter of not covering it because they don't broadcast games, they literally tear it apart when they do discuss it. 1 GMRwings1983 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NBCnothingbutcrosby 159 Report post Posted April 22, 2010 I'm sure having teams with bigger TV markets (LA, Denver...) which weren't in the playoffs last year helped. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dropkickshanahans 463 Report post Posted April 22, 2010 They bash the NHL every chance they get. They always try to diminish it. It's not a matter of not covering it because they don't broadcast games, they literally tear it apart when they do discuss it. They do? This is news to me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rockitman 11 Report post Posted April 22, 2010 I'd be willing to bet those numbers would be even higher if the NHL was on ESPN. I still agree with that... some of if not most people don't even get Vs in most markets Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barrie 900 Report post Posted April 22, 2010 The fact that 4 of the original 6 teams(Detroit,Boston,Montreal,Chicago) are in doesn't hurt either. Agreed. Also the entire Eastern Conference is either Canadian teams, or excellent American hockey markets. However knowing Bettman he'll take all the credit and say that the game is growing in his expansion markets. :looney: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029 Report post Posted April 22, 2010 Agreed. Also the entire Eastern Conference is either Canadian teams, or excellent American hockey markets. However knowing Bettman he'll take all the credit and say that the game is growing in his expansion markets. :looney: Bettman will take whatever positive credit he can get his hands on even if it has nothing to do with him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest CaliWingsNut Report post Posted April 22, 2010 <br />Nice! Great to hear that TV viewership is up in the US.<br /><br />Although I bet this is solely because LA is in the playoffs. The LA market is HUGE.<br /><br /><br /><br />Lakers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blues_demitra38 11 Report post Posted April 22, 2010 Here is the simple formula for successful television ratings: follow the NBA model. Why choose between VS and ESPN when you can have both? The NBA has TNT, ABC and ESPN, the NHL could likewise have VS, NBC and ESPN. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aussie_Wing 354 Report post Posted April 22, 2010 Even when ESPN had the hockey they gave it minimal respect, it was shocking. Now that they don't have it, it's become even worse. I hate ESPN. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jwo 7 Report post Posted April 22, 2010 (edited) Comcast needs to work out a deal with the NHL and put the games on USA Network and more games on NBC. Edited April 22, 2010 by Jwo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
