Does ESPN treat the NHL fairly?

[Trooper 8]

Well, the NHL has to step up to the plate and do somethign to save the game. "edge" jerseys aren't going to do it ;]

I dunno, se not being from there, I always thought, until the last year or two that hockey was HUGE, as big at least as the other 3 major sports MLB, NFL,NBA. How would you guys in the US and Canada say the coverage compares to say, the MLL (lacrosse) or the Arena football???

Not even close. As much as hockey is looked down upon in comparison to the other major sports in the US, at least it is compared to them. MLL isn't even on the radar and arena football is looked at as a minor league where maybe someone who was overlooked can perform and get an invite to a training camp.

[mack 44]

Why would/should ESPN treat it fairly? No one watches hockey or cares about and who knows this better than ESPN?

[sabre09923 0]

I think that the main problem is that ESPN perpetuates its own lack of coverage of hockey.

Step 1: Not many people are watching hockey, it's unpopular.

Step 2: Since not many people are watching hockey, ESPN decides to avoid covering it.

Step 1-Redux: Since ESPN avoids covering hockey (or just plain insults it), less casual fans are attracted to the game.

Step 2-Redux: Since there aren't many new fans, ESPN decides to continue its original plan to not cover hockey.

And so on down the line.

[mack 44]

I'm with ESPN on this. They carried it when no one else would, then right when it's about to peak in popularity they decide to have a lockout. ESPN carried it and then the sport goes and screws itself again. Piss on the NHL, they don't deserve the coverage they do end up getting on ESPN.

[nizmo 0]

Remember back in the day when all "The Deuce" had was hockey? Sigh...

I miss having two playoff games on ESPN AND ESPN2 each night during the first round.

[Fury of One 6]

Rome is good if you want a laugh... Speaking of which...

Not enough pauses

Jim Everett's not a fan of him either. Can't get tired of this clip.

[ktang 34]

Maybe the NHL could buy some airtime on ESPN and produce the broadcasts. Or get CBC HNIC to do the production. Then, buy a weekly slot for a "This Week in the NHL" show.

Then, if ESPN disparages the NHL, the NHL can complain legitimately.

[cabreezy 0]

it was my understanding that ESPN was paying the NHL to air it's games, then decided to drop the final year of the contract, or at least lowered the amount it wanted to pay the NHL, and that's when OLN came in with a big bid to air the NHL and thats what the NHL took. I might be wrong, butthat's how I understood the move.

[Chadd 916]

it was my understanding that ESPN was paying the NHL to air it's games, then decided to drop the final year of the contract, or at least lowered the amount it wanted to pay the NHL, and that's when OLN came in with a big bid to air the NHL and thats what the NHL took. I might be wrong, butthat's how I understood the move.

ESPN wanted the same deal that NBC got for national games; no money up front and a revenue split after production expenses were covered. OLN came in with a contract that gave each team about $2M.

Maybe the NHL could buy some airtime on ESPN and produce the broadcasts. Or get CBC HNIC to do the production. Then, buy a weekly slot for a "This Week in the NHL" show.

Then, if ESPN disparages the NHL, the NHL can complain legitimately.

Having to do that would be even more embarrassing than going with OLN. Don't forget that ESPN was a nobody at one time too.

[Sticks of Fury 0]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19734725/site/newsweek/

Here is a link talking about ESPN boosting "their" sports.

[sabre09923 0]

Having to do that would be even more embarrassing than going with OLN. Don't forget that ESPN was a nobody at one time too.

*Ahem* It's now called VS.! :P Which, by the way, is a name almost as bad as the Outdoor Life Network.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19734725/site/newsweek/

Here is a link talking about ESPN boosting "their" sports.

That's also a pretty good read. Who's now is the stupidest thing ESPN could've done (despite my involvement in that thread) and should be stopped, NOW.

EDIT: Heh, evil post count. 666 posts!

[ktang 34]

it was my understanding that ESPN was paying the NHL to air it's games, then decided to drop the final year of the contract, or at least lowered the amount it wanted to pay the NHL, and that's when OLN came in with a big bid to air the NHL and thats what the NHL took. I might be wrong, butthat's how I understood the move.

I think that's what happened too. Maybe that's why there seems to be ill will from ESPN towards the NHL.

But, then the NHL went to NBC, and ended up with the Preakness incident on top of having to pay NBC if the viewing numbers were too low. Maybe going to NBC instead of ESPN was also because of the ill will between ESPN and the NHL after the OLN/VS deal.

it was my understanding that ESPN was paying the NHL to air it's games, then decided to drop the final year of the contract, or at least lowered the amount it wanted to pay the NHL, and that's when OLN came in with a big bid to air the NHL and thats what the NHL took. I might be wrong, butthat's how I understood the move.

ESPN wanted the same deal that NBC got for national games; no money up front and a revenue split after production expenses were covered. OLN came in with a contract that gave each team about $2M.

Maybe the NHL could buy some airtime on ESPN and produce the broadcasts. Or get CBC HNIC to do the production. Then, buy a weekly slot for a "This Week in the NHL" show.

Then, if ESPN disparages the NHL, the NHL can complain legitimately.

Having to do that would be even more embarrassing than going with OLN. Don't forget that ESPN was a nobody at one time too.

If ESPN is now a powerhouse that can make or break leagues, it might be in the NHL's best interest to go back to them, embarrassing as it may be. It will probably not happen, though, because it means $2M less per team.

[Chadd 916]

Having to do that would be even more embarrassing than going with OLN. Don't forget that ESPN was a nobody at one time too.

*Ahem* It's now called VS.! :P Which, by the way, is a name almost as bad as the Outdoor Life Network.

It was called OLN when the contract was signed

If ESPN is now a powerhouse that can make or break leagues, it might be in the NHL's best interest to go back to them, embarrassing as it may be. It will probably not happen, though, because it means $2M less per team.

You're assuming that ESPN would pimp the NHL. The reason that they hype the other stuff is to recoup their investment. With no investment in the NHL product, why bother?

[ktang 34]

If ESPN is now a powerhouse that can make or break leagues, it might be in the NHL's best interest to go back to them, embarrassing as it may be. It will probably not happen, though, because it means $2M less per team.

You're assuming that ESPN would pimp the NHL. The reason that they hype the other stuff is to recoup their investment. With no investment in the NHL product, why bother?

I don't expect ESPN to pimp the NHL, but if the NHL produces broadcasts for ESPN then they would have the right to ensure that ESPN doesn't disparage the NHL during its other shows. Reducing or eliminating the negative comments from the powerhouse may be important enough for NHL long-term popularity. If the NHL makes a comeback, then ESPN may be interested in investing in it again and pimping its investment.

The NFL was in trouble once, too. The NBA was once on top of the world. Things can change. For the NHL, changes other than broadcast media are needed, but going with the powerhouse (ESPN) would pave the way.

[hockeymom 2]

Interesting that the article misquotes or misrepresents ESPN's ombudsmans findings:

The findings for SC was a drop from 20 to 18%. The total of 28% included dropping the show NHL 2Night... the article, as written, makes it appear dropping NHL 2Night was in addition to the 28% decline. Obviously, they couldn't continue to produce NHL 2Night because they no longer had content.

Guess it doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things, but I find that sort of spin interesting.

Le Anne Schreiber, felt compelled to examine hockey coverage on the network. In an article last month, she confirmed that hockey coverage has indeed diminished 28% on Sportscenter over the last three years and that hockey-oriented shows such as NHL 2Night were cut altogether since ESPN’s loss of NHL rights.

[nizmo 0]

Did anyone see the ESPY's tonight?

VERY VERY few hockey clips throughout the night.

[DarkStar50 679]

Never say never.........

http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/index...uestTimeout=900

[ktang 34]

Good plan by the NHL, if they can pull it off.

Maybe the ESPN anchors were putting down the NHL in order to suck up to Shapiro?

Not having Shapiro as the ESPN content boss would make it less of a pill for the NHL to swallow to go back to ESPN.

[Datsyukiandeek 0]

If they can get VS on most basic cable packages that would be a huge start Moving it closer to ESPN would be nice to. Ive got DirecTv, the Espn's start at 206-209 and VS is channel 608.. just after the porn, right before the Fox Sportsnet Channels.