NHL On NBC Flex Schedule

[GLARES*]

My Picks:

Jan. 1
1:00 Penguins vs. Sabres

Jan. 20
1:30 Ducks vs. Stars

Feb. 10
1:00 Flyers vs. Penguins

Feb. 17
1:00 Sharks vs. Rangers

Mar. 2
3:00 Red Wings vs. Sabres

Mar. 9
3:00 Penguins vs. Capitals

Mar. 16
3:00 Flyers vs. Penguins

Mar. 30
3:00 Rangers vs. Penguins

Apr. 6
3:00 Penguins vs. Flyers

I'm a HOMER

 

[GKJ]

Then I would choose nothing, which in reality equals the normal broadcast on FSN. Fine by me.

Maybe you would, but I'm talking about the NHL. The option Buffaloed presented is not an option in their mind. The NHL is more concerned with fitting in with the cool crowd - and that means a national TV deal


Seriously, if you look at all the major sports in America, the NHL is the friend at the party that is there, and is welcome, but everyone else tries to keep their distance as best they can, while the NHL just runs around and is completely annoying.

 

[Clarence Beeks]

Maybe you would, but I'm talking about the NHL. The option Buffaloed presented is not an option in their mind. The NHL is more concerned with fitting in with the cool crowd - and that means a national TV deal


Seriously, if you look at all the major sports in America, the NHL is the friend at the party that is there, and is welcome, but everyone else tries to keep their distance as best they can, while the NHL just runs around and is completely annoying.

Oh I completely understand and agree with what you're saying. If they did actually care (either side) they would do something like one of the two options that I suggested.

 

[Killiecrankie*]

ill bet they show the pens at least 5 times haha, I remember ESPN would have pens games on ALL the time.

 

[Foy]

ill bet they show the pens at least 5 times haha, I remember ESPN would have pens games on ALL the time.

When the NHL was on ESPN, it was all Red Wings, Penguins, Rangers, and Avalanche.

 

[puck57]

i bet nbc shows the penguins every week, except bruins/rangers jan 20.

Exactly. What else would you expect- all penguins all the time.

 

[Fan of The Game]

Think they like Pittsburgh. lol

 

[jkrdevil]

I believe there is a rule on how many times a team can appear on national tv. These all aren't going to be Penguin games. In fact this isn't anything official just speculation based on times and the schedule.

 

[puck57]

I believe there is a rule on how many times a team can appear on national tv. These all aren't going to be Penguin games. In fact this isn't anything official just speculation based on times and the schedule.

Yea right. With the golden boy, you don't think the league will pressure- I mean ask to have as many Pens games as possible. He is the only one who matters to the league right now and the press is following right along thinking the ratings will soar as well- of course not realizing there are a lot of other young, exciting, marketable players besides Mr. Crosby. I guarantee 80-90% of those games after Jan. will include the Pens.

 

[Clarence Beeks]

I believe there is a rule on how many times a team can appear on national tv. These all aren't going to be Penguin games. In fact this isn't anything official just speculation based on times and the schedule.

As a Pens fan, I sure hope you're right.

 

[Clarence Beeks]

Yea right. With the golden boy, you don't think the league will pressure- I mean ask to have as many Pens games as possible. He is the only one who matters to the league right now and the press is following right along thinking the ratings will soar as well- of course not realizing there are a lot of other young, exciting, marketable players besides Mr. Crosby. I guarantee 80-90% of those games after Jan. will include the Pens.

E.g. please?

 

[puck57]

E.g. please?

Are you asking for examples? Let's see- Briere in Philly, AO in Washington, Thornton out in SJ, JI in Calgary, a good pair down in Tampa Bay- LeC. and St.Louis. I could go on but I think you could add to the list if needed- not to mention some older players like Sakic, Karyia, etc. etc. There are plenty of players worthy of more hype than what the press wants to acknowledge right now and the league is only intersted in showcasing Crosby. Look at the All Star game- they only had Crosby and actually brought out AO which was surprising, at the main press conference.

 

[Clarence Beeks]

Are you asking for examples? Let's see- Briere in Philly, AO in Washington, Thornton out in SJ, JI in Calgary, a good pair down in Tampa Bay- LeC. and St.Louis. I could go on but I think you could add to the list if needed- not to mention some older players like Sakic, Karyia, etc. etc. There are plenty of players worthy of more hype than what the press wants to acknowledge right now and the league is only intersted in showcasing Crosby. Look at the All Star game- they only had Crosby and actually brought out AO which was surprising, at the main press conference.

That is what E.g. means afterall. You can quibble all you want, but no matter which way you cut it, he's going to be the face of the NHL for a long time, and rightfully so. You're a hater, we know, get over it.

 

[GLARES*]

Exactly. What else would you expect- all penguins all the time.

 

[njdevsfn95]

I think this is a spot on assessment of the "problem" with national broadcasts. People will tune in to watch their team. If their team isn't on, they're not watching (with a few exceptions). I really don't know why the NHL seems to think that the average fan, and even more so the casual fan, would want to watch other teams that they have no connection to.

please never refer to me as an "average" or "casual" fan ever again.

i said i would guarantee those 3 games i mentioned. i never said i wouldnt watch the others.

i'm lucky i live in a market with 3 teams because i can watch so many games w/o having to purchase Center Ice...which I probably will do anyway.

 

[Clarence Beeks]

please never refer to me as an "average" or "casual" fan ever again.

i said i would guarantee those 3 games i mentioned. i never said i wouldnt watch the others.

i'm lucky i live in a market with 3 teams because i can watch so many games w/o having to purchase Center Ice...which I probably will do anyway.

Settle down there chief, I didn't call you a casual fan. I agreed with your point then moved on. You said you'd "guarantee [your] ass on the couch" watching the games with your team(s), which also means that you dont' "guarantee [your] ass on the couch" watching the games that don't involve your team. Never said you wouldn't watch, just that you won't "guarantee [your] ass on he couch" watching when other teams are involved, which is exactly what may point was. Sorry that I didn't spam the board by agreeing you, then creating another post to state another point. Touchy...

 

[Spydey629]

You guys need to read TV Guide once in a while.

Notice how the "other" winter sport gets treated on National TV? The NBA (as much as I despise it) only gets one national game a week, or a double header so often. There are never any regional games on ABC.

The philosophy makes sense... going regional creates ratings "pockets" around the metro areas of each team, evening out the overall ratings. With a FULL national game each week, NBC can hype the crap out of each game, trying to get attention for star players on a national level.

From a league standpoint, I honestly think that makes the most sense. Does Crosby need more hype in Western PA? Thornton in NorCal? Probably not. But reverse the areas, and the hype is a good thing.

From reading all the posts before this, it seems that the biggest problem with hockey fans is that they are not 'hockey fans', they are "Team X Fans", and will only watch Team X. If they truly were hockey fans, it wouldn't matter, if a game is on TV, they will watch it.

Take me for example: I can't afford Center Ice, so I watch all of my Pens games, plus every game on VS. and NBC that I can. It's hockey, therefore I will watch.

 

[Clarence Beeks]

You guys need to read TV Guide once in a while.

Notice how the "other" winter sport gets treated on National TV? The NBA (as much as I despise it) only gets one national game a week, or a double header so often. There are never any regional games on ABC.

The philosophy makes sense... going regional creates ratings "pockets" around the metro areas of each team, evening out the overall ratings. With a FULL national game each week, NBC can hype the crap out of each game, trying to get attention for star players on a national level.

From a league standpoint, I honestly think that makes the most sense. Does Crosby need more hype in Western PA? Thornton in NorCal? Probably not. But reverse the areas, and the hype is a good thing.

From reading all the posts before this, it seems that the biggest problem with hockey fans is that they are not 'hockey fans', they are "Team X Fans", and will only watch Team X. If they truly were hockey fans, it wouldn't matter, if a game is on TV, they will watch it.

Take me for example: I can't afford Center Ice, so I watch all of my Pens games, plus every game on VS. and NBC that I can. It's hockey, therefore I will watch.

I'm going to disagree with you on the angle of your argument. The problem here isn't hockey fans; it's casual fans. Hockey fans, as you rightly point out, will watch whatever game is one. I, for example, have Center Ice and I watch every Pens game and every Wings game, because I am a fan of those two teams, but if they aren't playing on a given night, I'll watch whichever game that night is of interest (even if it's college). Hockey is ALWAYS on in our house during hockey season. This is consisent with what you've said. Now, take the casual fan. The casual fan that lives in Detroit (for example) is not as apt to turn on NBC, or versus for that matter, if Detroit is not playing. The same analogy can be made for pretty much every market with the simple assumption that if you live somewhere with a team or near somewhere with a team, you are more apt to become a fan of that team (logically, this makes since). Therefore, with national broadcasts, you are not as apt to pull in the casual fan, unless that casual fan is in or near one of the two markets. Now, take a regional broadcast, and you multiply your odds of attracting the attention of the casual fan.

 

[DaBadGuy7]

But I still don't get why did don't do the occasionally double or tripleheaders like they did with NBA and AFL with the NHL. Its not like Golf is on every week on Sundays besides what better shows do NBC have to show on Sunday afternoons.

 

[missK]

But I still don't get why did don't do the occasionally double or tripleheaders like they did with NBA and AFL with the NHL. Its not like Golf is on every week on Sundays besides what better shows do NBC have to show on Sunday afternoons.

While it sounds great in theory it increases the EXPENSE by two times. Two times the equipment, two times the personnel, etc. and that doesn't equate to two times the viewers in the case of the NHL so it's almost certainly a no go as far as NBC is concerned.

 

[jkrdevil]

While it sounds great in theory it increases the EXPENSE by two times. Two times the equipment, two times the personnel, etc. and that doesn't equate to two times the viewers in the case of the NHL so it's almost certainly a no go as far as NBC is concerned.

Well it wouldn't be anymore expensive than doing regional games were because as you said that had two times the equipment, personnel ect. Then again one would have to figure going to 1 game now was done in part to cut cost.

 

[Clarence Beeks]

Well it wouldn't be anymore expensive than doing regional games were because as you said that had two times the equipment, personnel ect. Then again one would have to figure going to 1 game now was done in part to cut cost.

I really don't think it's a cost issue. But if it is, there is no reason why they can't contract with the local affiliate (FSN or whoever) to provide the equipment and services if need be. They all do a fine job. Hell, I'd even say just take the local announcers and let them call the games instead of the disinterested hacks that we get half the time anyway on NBC and Versus.

 

[LGP8771]

9 measly dates. Fantastic.

Typical of [insert network letters here] Sports to not care enough about hockey and give it 9 broadcasts during the regular season.

 

[RyanMcD29]

9 measly dates. Fantastic.

Typical of [insert network letters here] Sports to not care enough about hockey and give it 9 broadcasts during the regular season.

I believe thats still more than double the amount of telecasts ABC had during a season. Plus you have to also take into consideration your going up against the NFL or College Football if you put it on any earlier than the end of January (alright the Ice Bowl's gonna be competing with 2 or 3 bowl games, but other than that...). So 9 telecasts on network TV are good enough. Maybe a doubleheader here and there would be better, but still reasonable. Plus 9 telecasts is only two short of the 11 telecasts FOX had in 1998 and 1999, which is the highest amount ever aired. NBC's got fairly big golf tournaments in the February-April period, which is probably whats preventing them from airing 11 dates.

All in all though, 9 dates is what your gonna get on any of the big 4 US networks (CBS has the NCAA Tourny all March and the Masters in April, forget about it; FOX has NASCAR from Presidents Day Weekend all the way to June, ABC's got the NBA, and NBC has the NHL of course, but they've also got some PGA Tour events)

 

[MikeDAM]

dumb, regional coverage is way better