Somebody Please Help Me Understand This...

This was part of my epic rant at the end of last year. The Avs have never broadcast preseason games ever. The sad part is that they already film the games. You will see the center ice video clips on local sports news casts. Plus the coaches need film to review. The other sad part is that radio will be doing play by play (at least they have in the past). I see no reason why they can’t just broadcast the game with the radio voice over. It doesn’t have to be polished. As I said before they could even raise more money for the burgundy and white game charity if they did a telethone format or auctioned game used items etc.

I assume the cost to produce & broadcast the game wouldn’t justify the low ratings. and it’s too bad – I, for one, would absolutely love to be able to watch the preseason games.

Not a bad point, let’s take a look at that a little further:

Three of the Avs’ six preseason games are at home. I’ll readily stipulate that the incremental cost of covering an away pre-season game would be substantial (though I’m not particularly sure what ‘substantial’ means – thousands of dollars to be sure). I’ll argue that this cost could be easily offset by increased ad revenues if the team and their captive network tried just a little bit, but let’s leave that to the side for the moment and look at just the home games, of which there are a whopping three.

Game 1 – vs. Dallas 9/17 7PM
Altitude airs Monarch vs. Cherry Creek high school football at this time live. This broadcast will require the PBP and color analyst, producers and various technical pros to travel to Cherry Creek High. It also requires an anchor in studio to make inane remarks between commercial breaks.

All of these people would be required to make an Avs broadcast as well, though I dare say that the infrastructure provided at the Can would be superior to that in the admittedly nicely furnished CCH stadium. I’m not privy to the employment contracts of the personnel involved, but would venture to guess that these folks are salaried as opposed to being paid on a per broadcast basis. If this is true, the net cost of the two alternative broadcasts would be the same (if not slightly lower for the Avs game since the Can infrastructure was being used instead of taking “field” equipment to the high school). This being the case, are we really to believe that the Avs preseason game would draw worse than a high school football game? I would be absolutely dumbfounded if that were the case.

Game 4 – vs. St. Louis 9/20 7PM

Here they are re-running (no doubt for the 125,243rd time) some golf and jazz shows that they produced. No doubt cheaper than broadcasting a game, but at the cost of what would no doubt be a far smaller audience.

Game 7 – vs. LA Kings 9/23 7PM

Here they are airing the pregame and game for the Colorado Rapids (MLS) at this time. Certainly important in the KSE portfolio, but that’s why they have Altitude 2 right? Right?

Aww hell, nevermind. My fault as a fan for getting excited about the team and the intriguing prospects, many of whom I’m sure I’ll not see on the ice since I’m not in a position to go to any games at the Can currently. Screw it. Maybe I’ll go watch the Quilting Channel.

“Mission Accomplished!”

But Mom, all of the other cool hedge funds are buying them!

Yeah, the bad business decisions based on the poor judgement of competitors just doesn’t hold as much water with me as it does for some….

I would watch that and love it!!