NHL All-star viewership down 76% from last ASG

[G60 0]

looks like Bettman's sure-fire "more people will watch since it's on a weekday" logic paid off last week, as the ASG pulled in an incredible .7 share, viewed by 673,000 people in 474,000 homes.

in contrast, the previous ASG, held on a ratings-suicide sunday afternoon was viewed in 2 million homes.

complete article here:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/allstar2007/...tory?id=2746344

[flaming_june 2]

all you can really do is shake your head at the ugly baldy

[DarkStar50 679]

2 words: American Idol. That show would give the Super Bowl a run for its money on viewers. The ASG never had a chance. Who is Bettman kidding? He is not fooling us.

[ag12 0]

Hence the darkened stands and clumps of empty seats all over the place. I felt embarrassed watching the game............

[DarkStar50 679]

Sorry, I just read the article referencing AI as the most watched show on Wednesday. That said, Mike and Mike on ESPN radio this morning said the Food Network show about cake making also outdrew the ASG. Lets see, watch the ASG with OV and Crosby or how to bake a really tasty cake? Really tasty cake wins!! Its sad, just sad...........

"Hey everybody!! We've got new uniforms, new looks, new styles, new materials!! Over here!! Look!! Please!!!"

The XFL had a better marketing plan because they HAD a marketing plan!! Hire Vince McMahon. I can't believe I just thought that but it can't hurt.

[Hordie Gowe 17]

But according to Gary all is well, less teams are losing money. Maybe he needs to add a few more teams, I'm sure the owners will be down for somemore expansion money. Maybe he can change the shape of the rink, or play with a square puck. Gary has all the answers (in his own mind) and refuses to accept fault for the mess he has made of the NHL.

[Cheesehead 0]

also which adds to the very low viewership is that it was on VS, compared to abc that it was on last time. I wanted to watch, but i dont get vs.

[Edge 0]

also which adds to the very low viewership is that it was on VS, compared to abc that it was on last time. I wanted to watch, but i dont get vs.

I believe this is the biggest factor in how badly the ratings went down. When people ask me what channel the game was on and I reply "Versus" they give me a wierd look and ask what the hell Versus is...

[CCC8190 0]

also which adds to the very low viewership is that it was on VS, compared to abc that it was on last time. I wanted to watch, but i dont get vs.

I believe this is the biggest factor in how badly the ratings went down. When people ask me what channel the game was on and I reply "Versus" they give me a wierd look and ask what the hell Versus is...

the same exact thing was happening to me- even some of my hockey friends didnt know what versus was. the empty seats were embarassing to see, and the entire program lacked that factor that grabbed me into previous all star events. i think the most entertaining part was turco cracking jokes all third period... however like everyone has already said, this stems back to bettman

[G60 0]

and also, just for reference, the whole "well nobody could watch it if they wanted to because it wasn't on a big network" argument is a moot point.

VS has 71 million subscribers (compared to ESPN's 91 million, not so far off), out of 111 million households in the US with a television.

do the math, 64 percent of TV viewing households have the VS network. The highest acceptable decrease in ASG viewership is 36%, which would mean viewership was the same as compared to the number of households it was available in.

this drop in viewership is incredible, and speaks volumes about how little Bettman and the NHL are doing to market and promote the game. Sorry, Gary, the NHL market is shrinking dramatically, and you're not doing a thing to help it.

[mccaff 0]

If that many people have versus then what explains the low numbers? A 76% drop in anything is pure disaster.

The ASG needed marketing exposure, Versus doesn't have it and they don't have the name brand recognition of an ESPN.

Bettman needs to go, pure and simple. How did he get to where he is anyway?

[Hordie Gowe 17]

The NHL should have taken whatever ESPN offered to keep the games there. The ESPN hype machine could do nothing but help the game, especially after the lockout. Just another shortsighted money grab, and they didn't get that much money anyway.

[hockechamp14 0]

They have the first monday nights in MONTHS without a football game on, and they air the ASG on a wednesday.

[LkptTiger 1]

Well, all those people that didn't tune in didn't miss much.

[TBLfan 25]

They should have run ads about the allstar game on every channel instead of just VS. No one knows anything about VS because all they cover is hunting, fishing, bullriding, that chuck norris thing, LAX and Hockey... I only know that because of the ads they run during games.

[Edge 0]

You can give the technical percents of how many households have VS. But I guarentee most of those people don't even recognize they have that channel. I have so many channels on my cable deal that I don't even know what half of them are. Chances are that VS. is just included in whoever's cable deal. Put the ASG on a network like ESPN, ABC, NBC, etc. and advertise the hell out of it you will have FAR better ratings.

They need to get the NHL on a better channel or move VS. to a better position on the scale or you won't be seeing much of an improvement.

[Vapor 0]

Blaming Bettmen for the NHL's woes is bullshit. Blaming a scapegoat is not what we should be doing at this point. Besides, we all know its the devils fault.

[LkptTiger 1]

Them's be fightin' words.

[DarkStar50 679]

Actually, its the Rangers fault. After they won the Cup in 94, Neil Smith and Mike Keenan had their public hissy fight and the team went in the tank. If the Rangers had just maintained some momentum and stability from the 94 Cup win, they could have led the NHL right into the Promised Land. But Nooooooo!!!...........

Yeah, thats it. Its the Rangers fault! Damn New Yorkers...........

[Chadd 916]

They should have run ads about the allstar game on every channel instead of just VS.

ESPN refused to allow VS or the NHL to buy advertising time on any of their networks.

[hockeysc23 0]

I find it interesting that many people have versus as opposed to espn. At my home versus is not even an option to purchase if I want to but I have 4 different channels of espn that come with my cable package.

I think it comes down to when it was aired and the network. Unfortunately versus extended their contract through 2011 I believe so hopefully the NHL can survive this.

Scott

[Chadd 916]

I find it interesting that many people have versus as opposed to espn. At my home versus is not even an option to purchase if I want to but I have 4 different channels of espn that come with my cable package.

I think it comes down to when it was aired and the network. Unfortunately versus extended their contract through 2011 I believe so hopefully the NHL can survive this.

Scott

Extending the contract to 2011 was a really bad move. I can understand picking up the option year but I can't believe the NHL signed an extension that lasts that long.

[Wheels4 0]

As you can see I rarely post but the NHL is in trouble. I can hardly stand to watch a game anymore. It`s like watching a girls badmitten game. Gary is a joke and is bringing down viewership.

[Chadd 916]

As you can see I rarely post but the NHL is in trouble. I can hardly stand to watch a game anymore. It`s like watching a girls badmitten game. Gary is a joke and is bringing down viewership.

The game is faster than it has been in more than a decade. I'll take that over holding and hooking anytime.

[hockeysc23 0]

As you can see I rarely post but the NHL is in trouble. I can hardly stand to watch a game anymore. It`s like watching a girls badmitten game. Gary is a joke and is bringing down viewership.

The game is faster than it has been in more than a decade. I'll take that over holding and hooking anytime.

I agree. Gary has a prime opportunity to market this new NHL w/Ovi, Crosby, and other fine talent that hasn't been seen in awhile he is just blowing that opportunity. He is a basketball mind frame and gimicks like new jerseys, and other flash in the pot type marketing might work for that but hockey fans are usually, from my experience, polar opposite to NBA fans. We appreciate tradition, and will take minor changes but enough is becoming enough now adays.

Scott