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News Article: Playoff Viewership tanking

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ps241 said:
No Boston, no Chicago, no Rangers, no Flyers this post season.
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I was reading something the other day Rangers and Blackhawks viewership were unusually down this year. It actually caused MSG to go bankrupt in March. I believe this just has to do with finding a way to get their networks on a easier and cheaper way to stream.

John Mandalorian said:
ESPN needs to keep it on ESPN+. People with ESPN + might be saying no when being asked to jump through hoops.
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You are right and This is a start. Everything televised on ESPN or the Espn 2 needs to be on +

Right now the cable model is dying a slow painful death and until it does and the streaming gets more simple and figured out, expect lower numbers.

Also the MLB app imo is the closest to being on the right track. ESPN + should follow their model. Even include NHL network in the package. Like MLB does with MLB network and they only charge 34 a month. Or 150 for the year.

Blackouts are the next thing that also need to go.
 
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Unfortunately, the decline in playoff viewership isn't a new thing. It continues the general decline the NHL had throughout the regular season. Interestingly, the Four Nations tournament was a massive success among viewers, according to a related article. Hockey can obviously be a viable product; it seems to depend on how it's marketed and who's playing whom.

People have pointed out the absence of legacy American teams in the playoffs as a possible reason for the drop-off, but that doesn't explain why the regular season suffered from a similar drop.
 
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Lshap said:
The decline in playoff viewership continues the general decline the NHL had throughout the regular season. Interestingly, the Four Nations tournament was a massive success among viewers, according to a related article. Hockey can obviously be a viable product; it seems to depend on how it's marketed and who's playing whom.

People have pointed out the absence of legacy American teams in the playoffs as a possible reason for the drop-off, but that doesn't explain why the regular season suffered from a similar drop.
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FWIW, NBA was also down. Access to games itself is the biggest issue
 
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I am slightly disappointed in the games so far. I was looking forward to the send vs Toronto games, but they haven't been as intense as I would have expected. Plenty of time to ramp up. We'll see.
 
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My theory based on nothing but conjecture is that the Buffalo area, which somehow seemed to carry US viewership, has finally had it with the Sabres enough that they tune out the NHL entirely.

On a more serious note, the Internet and streaming that people thought would open up everything to more viewers seemed to not have that effect. Maybe not surprising given that a) corporations will ruin any tech for consumers to monetise it and b) other entertainment options have access to the same tech. I also wonder what impact pirated streams have? I tend to think it's negligible given most people, especially the older target audience, will gladly pay for the ease of having games on with a couple button pushes. However, I'm not sure how much ESPN+ etc. complicates things for people still used to just using their remote control. It seems if you're willing to take some minor inconveniences (i.e. hooking up your laptop to the TV or similar), pirated streams might actually be easier to use at the moment not to mention cheaper. I haven't paid to watch the NHL in a while (is that OK to post here?) just because blackout rules and different providers make it a hassle.
 
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DieSendungmitderMaus said:
On a more serious note, the Internet and streaming that people thought would open up everything to more viewers seemed to not have that effect.
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Exactly because they're making it harder than it has to be by having everything spread out.

RSN Network app, ESPN + (with no main Espn or abc). HBO max (for TNT). Then there is NHL network and main ABC and ESPN you have to get through another streaming service. Some of those streaming won't carry TNT....the list goes on.

The NHL needs to reconsider going back to the NHL app in the next tv deal and do their own broadcast. Have ESPN and Fox (no TNT) as part of the deal but also have those games broadcasted through the app.
 
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Power Surge said:
Exactly because they're making it harder than it has to be by having everything spread out.

RSN Network app, ESPN + (with no main Espn or abc). HBO max (for TNT). Then there is NHL network and main ABC and ESPN you have to get through another streaming service. Some of those streaming won't carry TNT....the list goes on.

The NHL needs to reconsider going back to the NHL app in the next tv deal and do their own broadcast. Have ESPN and Fox (no TNT) as part of the deal but also have those games broadcasted through the app.
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No TNT? That’s the best broadcast they have. Get rid of ESPN.
 
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Power Surge said:
I was reading something the other day Rangers and Blackhawks viewership were unusually down this year.
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The Blackhawks moved to a network (Chicago Sports Network) that isn’t on our biggest cable provider (Comcast Xfinity). We can pay $20/month for access. I don’t and wouldn’t even if they were contending.
 
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DieSendungmitderMaus said:
My theory based on nothing but conjecture is that the Buffalo area, which somehow seemed to carry US viewership, has finally had it with the Sabres enough that they tune out the NHL entirely.

On a more serious note, the Internet and streaming that people thought would open up everything to more viewers seemed to not have that effect. Maybe not surprising given that a) corporations will ruin any tech for consumers to monetise it and b) other entertainment options have access to the same tech. I also wonder what impact pirated streams have? I tend to think it's negligible given most people, especially the older target audience, will gladly pay for the ease of having games on with a couple button pushes. However, I'm not sure how much ESPN+ etc. complicates things for people still used to just using their remote control. It seems if you're willing to take some minor inconveniences (i.e. hooking up your laptop to the TV or similar), pirated streams might actually be easier to use at the moment not to mention cheaper. I haven't paid to watch the NHL in a while (is that OK to post here?) just because blackout rules and different providers make it a hassle.
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I mean, IPTV boxes have made it incredibly easy to watch live TV and they cost a fraction of what cable does
 
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Nineteen67 said:
No TNT? That’s the best broadcast they have. Get rid of ESPN.
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Nah ESPN has history with the game plus the iconic theme some of us grew up with. ESPN just needs a better cast. It's a bad mix of old school staff that used to cover the NHL and talentless commentators that need to cover another sport.

TNT is ok (much better cast than espn) but a lot of us prefered Fox. Similarly they have a NHL on Fox theme that's iconic. NHL on Fox has been dead since early 2000's

AND Fox is more accessible than TNT
 
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