ESPN to Bid on NHL Rights
I'm torn on this issue. While I think it's a good idea to get more NHL games on TV especially on national networks, ESPN doesn't exactly treat hockey very well. Even when they were showing the games the NHL seemed to be secondary news. I would be okay with this as long as it doesn't mean ESPN becomes the exclusive rights holder.
over 1 year ago
InYoFace
37 comments
0 recs |
Email
PrintComments
Agreed as well
I would like ESPN to have a stake in hockey, but not an exclusive one. I like how the NBA has managed things — good relationships with ESPN and another lesser network (TNT), and the 2 coverages push each other. I very much hope the NHL does similarly with VS. and ESPN. And puts the playoffs on ESPN again.
"I’m predicting 50pts in the NHL for Hensick next season. Anyone want to put $20 on it?" - DetAvs, Jun 18, 2010 3:45 AM EDT
I would love to see this kind of deal.
Your mama so ugly they call her "The Avs Powerplay"
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Nov 8, 2010 10:37 AM MST up reply actions
I'm bidding $5 as well
the big E is in way more households than vs. will ever be. hopefully they’d bring back NHL2night, I missed it.
Each of my replies is a work of art, each more brilliant than the last.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Nov 7, 2010 6:25 PM MST reply actions
Yes but
I think VS is closer now then it used to be. It is gradually becoming a first tier cable network.
Also, its worth nothing that ratings on VS last year were back to where they were with ESPN pre-lockout
Younger and cheaper - Colorado Avalanche
Older and drunker - Me
Versus is nowhere near ESPN.
ESPN has an utter monopoly; and they’re ruining sports. It’s a total joke.
This space available for advertising opportunities.
So you’re saying I should up my bid to $10?
Each of my replies is a work of art, each more brilliant than the last.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Nov 8, 2010 9:14 AM MST up reply actions
despite how much espn shit on the nhl when they acquired the nba, they do hockey coverage better than nbc OR versus. by a lot. hockey on espn is worth it. espn showed tape delayed mls matches which rated a ZERO. POINT. ZERO. on the neilsons. we know the nhl would rate on espn something higher than that.
at the very least all of us avs fans who aren’t in the rocky mountain region will probably get more avs games to see on tv.
and gary thorne. gary thorne is the voice of hockey on us tv as far as i’m concerned.
Thorne, Clement and Scott Hamilton were the best.
by Pinchy The Lobster on Nov 7, 2010 8:42 PM MST up reply actions
I wouldn’t mind ESPN having the rights to show some games but I don’t think they should have exclusive rights.
The reason for this is most games they showed would go to Sportscenter right afterward and talk about…..what else? Brett Favre, Lebron James, Tiger Woods, Brett Favre, Randy Moss, and Brett Favre. It would review the game about 15 minutes in, for 2 minutes, then go back to their main story to be beaten to death.
I have been dying for legitimate competition to ESPN and one maybe developing with the unholy alliance of VS/Comcast/NBC. I think the NHL would do best by using both, but keep ESPN at arms length.
Younger and cheaper - Colorado Avalanche
Older and drunker - Me
agree
I’m for more hockey on TV, but I do not want ESPN to be the sole provider. I wish the NHL could get NBC to do a better bid and put games on one of their subsidiaries like USA or one of their other stations.
Your mama so ugly they call her "The Avs Powerplay"
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Nov 7, 2010 10:33 PM MST up reply actions
I used to like VS for only showing hockey during intermissions, but now they seem to insist on plugging the T.Ocho show every 5 seconds. Noone cares Vs!
The Savage has spoken. Let it be done
December, 1995 - In a strong statement that still resonates to this day, the Montreal Canadiens make it clear to Patrick Roy that the franchise will simply not tolerate championship-calibre goaltending.
DGB
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
R. Frost
ESPN doesn’t need hockey, so they have no incentive to do hockey well. I really don’t enjoy the way ESPN covers sports anymore. I’m sick of the constant overhyping of stars and I’m sick of talking heads shouting at each other while making a farce of debate.
Versus desperately needs hockey and they have made improvements. I think my interests as a consumer are better served in the long run by having a strong Versus to compete with ESPN and force them to be better. For that to happen, Versus must win the next hockey TV contract.
by Inebriated Simian Miscreants on Nov 8, 2010 7:10 AM MST reply actions
YES. ABSOLUTELY YES.
You know why? Because Gary Thorne is under contract with ESPN. That’s why he hasn’t been able to do NHL games recently. This would solve the problem.
MHH: Mr. Howard, Doctor Jones will see you now.
Sport Center seems to have a little tidbit on the NHL at the dying seconds of their “episodes” where they usually talk about some game and then laugh because they don’t think anyone cares.. Pretty rude if you ask me.
But yes NHL on ESPN would be great for the sport. And am I the only one excited for the possible lockouts of the NBA and NFL…whatever it takes to get people to watch hockey, I guess.
The NHL would be well advised to position themselves with a lot of TV exposure in the event of a lockout, especially in markets that have both NFL/NBA and NHL teams. In the event of a lockout some schedule shifting could be of enormous benefit too. Not that I wish any ill upon other leagues mind you.
Jonas Holøs- Putting the Ø in defense since 2010!
by niwotsblessing on Nov 8, 2010 1:45 PM MST up reply actions
I think the sentiments here are pretty well aligned. ESPN is a necessary evil that we would enjoy having one or two games a week on that Gary Thorne would call. The mandatory plugs for the games during the week would be the biggest benefit to the NHL, plus the possible reinstatement of NHL2Night. But for some reason, I don’t think the SportsCenter anchors will ever stop being douchebags about the NHL.
However, I hope to God that Vs. is still in the mix. When the NHL wasn’t worth the contents of an port-o-potty at a chili cookoff, Vs. stepped up and focused on hockey. Is it the greatest? No. But leaving Vs. would be like ditching the doctor that helped bring you back to life in favor of a plastic surgeon that wants to give you bigger boobs. In other words, Bettman, don’t Lebron the Vs. network.
The perfect world would be games on ESPN, Vs. and NBC, with playoffs being divided accordingly.
Here’s a scenario. Would an NFL-like situation ever arise where one station could focus on the Eastern Conference and the other station focus on the Western Conference?
"I'm gonna fix that last joke by taking out all the words and adding new ones." - MH
re: NFL-like scenario
interesting idea, but I don’t think you’d ever see it. it works for the NFL because they evenly distribute east and west teams across their conferences, but there’s no doubt the eastern conference in the NHL would be far more desirable for networks, due to the larger fanbases.
"I’m predicting 50pts in the NHL for Hensick next season. Anyone want to put $20 on it?" - DetAvs, Jun 18, 2010 3:45 AM EDT
im sitting here thinking about this more, and i really like the idea of having the 2 conference contracts like the NFL. how could you pull this off with a reorg of the teams?
4 PST teams: SJS, LAK, ANA, VAN
4 MST teams: PHX, COL, EDM, CAL
6 CST teams: CHI, DET, NAS, STL, MIN, DAL
16 EST teams: PHI. NYR, NYI. PIT, NJ, MTL, BOS, TOR, BUF, OTT, WAS, CAR, TBL, CLB, FLA, ATL,
really, really hard without breaking up regional continuity and rivalries. a stab:
Conf A:
DIV 1: PHI. NYR, NYI. PIT, NJ
DIV 2: WAS, CAR, TBL, CHI, DET
DIV 3: VAN, CAL, EDM, MIN, SJS
Conf B:
DIV 1: MTL, BOS, TOR, BUF, OTT
DIV 2: CLB, FLA, ATL, NAS, STL
DIV 3: COL, PHX, LAK, ANA, DAL
even split on canadian teams and original 6, old rivalries are preserved. the east coast teams probably complain about more travel, but they’re far less than us, Dallas, or Minnesota. that’s probably the biggest hurdle though, convincing the east coast teams to travel more. with big enough TV contracts, I think it would work.
"I’m predicting 50pts in the NHL for Hensick next season. Anyone want to put $20 on it?" - DetAvs, Jun 18, 2010 3:45 AM EDT
But look at our division…..Not a single decent rivalry there. The only one that is KIND of existent is Ducks-Kings, but even that’s not much of a ratings magnet.
You should factor in matinée games. It seems like the Avs always have at least one a year on a Saturday afternoon at about 1:00 with Detroit.
MHH: Mr. Howard, Doctor Jones will see you now.
familiarity breeds contempt. rivalries would come quickly, i think.
"I’m predicting 50pts in the NHL for Hensick next season. Anyone want to put $20 on it?" - DetAvs, Jun 18, 2010 3:45 AM EDT
LA, ANH, and Dallas would be pretty easy to hate.
Your mama so ugly they call her "The Avs Powerplay"
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Nov 8, 2010 5:46 PM MST up reply actions
That said
I think you would almost have to have San jose in there… (of course if you switch SJ and COL you have just created the NW and Pacific)
Your mama so ugly they call her "The Avs Powerplay"
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Nov 8, 2010 5:47 PM MST up reply actions
If you don’t mind some sort of contrivance, then putting an orginal 6 team in each division wouldnt hurt. The owners would never go for it since it adds so much travel expense, but it’s fun to think about.
Each of my replies is a work of art, each more brilliant than the last.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Nov 8, 2010 8:13 PM MST up reply actions
Other networks bidding: Food, Speed, SyFy, and CSpan3. My money is on Food.
Your 2010-2011 Colorado Avalanche: Reaching Up to the Cap Floor
Bibby:
Desperately seeking justification for his avatar since 2008.
2010-2011 Colorado Avalanche: pretty good at hockey since they can't get into the bars yet.
It is an ode to the Onion. And the stupid TV contract with Versus.
Your 2010-2011 Colorado Avalanche: Reaching Up to the Cap Floor
by Bob in Boulder on Nov 8, 2010 2:16 PM MST up reply actions
On SciFi Osgood’s a HoF’er and Howard is a god.
Each of my replies is a work of art, each more brilliant than the last.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Nov 8, 2010 8:14 PM MST up reply actions
SyFy’s probably not too far off really. They had the WWE a few years back. I’m so disappointed in that channel.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
