News Article: Playoff Viewership tanking

[wetcoast]

Lacking in playoff intensity, emotion, and general hatred in the majority of series.

First 2 are there and the last one isn't needed as in most sports these days hatred doesn't exist and that's a good thing.

 

[VivaLasVegas]

down 22% compared to last year.

Just seems like folks would rather watch the NBA playoffs this year instead. NBA Playoffs TV Ratings Surge, With ESPN on Record Pace

 

[AM]

Federal election.

 

[hockeyFan029]

I think hockey’s problem is I think people want to see splash/cool highlight scoring plays with the star players at their best. You get that occasionally, but it’s not a guarantee as you see with NFL or NBA. These tweets explain it well:

Do you have these tweets still?

 

[RevengeOfTheDrai]

Lol why the hell would hockey fans have higher IQ than fans of other sports? That take is wild.

There’s just less casuals who follow hockey. I believe he meant IQ relating to the sport discussion, not actual higher IQ in general. If you follow discussions in soccer or basketball, it’s usually goes something like this “player A is better than player B because I said so”.

 

[ElysiumAB]

I think hockey’s problem is I think people want to see splash/cool highlight scoring plays with the star players at their best. You get that occasionally, but it’s not a guarantee as you see with NFL or NBA. These tweets explain it well:

Hockey's problem (the NHL specifically) is, aside from poor production (the US broadcasts) and user experience issues (the NHL website and app), instead of catering to their existing fan base that is passionate, eager to watch many games of local and non-local teams, and generally happy to pay money for the ability to do so, they've made it more streamlined and a better viewing experience to pirate the product than to deal with blackouts and 4+ streaming services.

They've sold their soul to gambling companies, advertisers, and streaming platforms instead of just providing a great product to the people that care about it.

I've gotta have either cable or Sling, then find games that aren't starting on time and are switching between ESPN and ESPN2, Biz telling us who he'd bet on during intermissions, and board ads glitching out during play.

Even the highlights on the official app are complete trash.

We just want to watch hockey.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

First 2 are there and the last one isn't needed as in most sports these days hatred doesn't exist and that's a good thing.

Some prefer the MLB style relationships with opponents as players run the bases it seems. That is an opinion certainly.

 

[DaBadGuy7]

Do you have these tweets still?

The account tends to randomly deactivate his account. I’ll let you know when it’s back

 

[JimmyH]

Hockey's problem (the NHL specifically) is, aside from poor production (the US broadcasts) and user experience issues (the NHL website and app), instead of catering to their existing fan base that is passionate, eager to watch many games of local and non-local teams, and generally happy to pay money for the ability to do so, they've made it more streamlined and a better viewing experience to pirate the product than to deal with blackouts and 4+ streaming services.

They've sold their soul to gambling companies, advertisers, and streaming platforms instead of just providing a great product to the people that care about it.

I've gotta have either cable or Sling, then find games that aren't starting on time and are switching between ESPN and ESPN2, Biz telling us who he'd bet on during intermissions, and board ads glitching out during play.

Even the highlights on the official app are complete trash.

We just want to watch hockey.

We've figured out how to block everything except the visual ads. All ya need are a couple browser extensions, a good streaming site, and a VPN. I understand people want to stick with traditional programming options but they've watered it down far too much, makes no sense to keep playing along.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

First 2 are there and the last one isn't needed as in most sports these days hatred doesn't exist and that's a good thing.

No it isn't. Hatred made them worth watching. Miss the good old days when players hated the opposing players for life. of course with so much player movement now that isn't going to happen

 

[ElysiumAB]

We've figured out how to block everything except the visual ads. All ya need are a couple browser extensions, a good streaming site, and a VPN.

It's wild that browser extensions and a VPN is easier than paying to watch the games.

 

[Djp]

I'm surprised it's taken this long. I sliced the cable in 2012 and haven't looked back. Back then it was $100/month, 1,000 channels and nothing to watch but mostly ads. I dread to think what they charge now.

I still have cable

In time cable vs streaming will be the same cost

I use computers all day for work. When I come home I’d rather detach myself from computers. Yes I know you can watch a stream through a tv,

I have my tv stations I watch.most of what I watch is on your main networks/ pbs , news/ weather channels, sports channels, HBO. Beyond that I might watch things off of about 7 or so other cable channels ( history, natgeo, discovery, Comedy Central, TNT, TBS)

I’ve gradually weened off tv series.

 

[PoutineSp00nZ]

The nhls blend of speed and physicality is what made it so intriguing.

Make the league soft and it loses what makes it special.

 

[Devilsfan118]

First 2 are there and the last one isn't needed as in most sports these days hatred doesn't exist and that's a good thing.

What sort of soft zoomer mentality is this?

Passion (read: hatred) makes these series infinitely better.

 

[Beukeboom Fan]

I'm not particularly replying to your post but I've seen this argument on this thread numerous times.

Lets just say this was the number 1 reason:

Then why does the league continue to Expand if its going to be a problem? Expansion made this possible. People scream on these boards all the time "WE NEED MOAR TEAMS GARY, GET IT UP TO 40, GROW THE GAME" without considering that it takes years for tv viewership to grow in new markets to get to the same level with traditional ones.

To answer your question, the $1B expansion fee, which isn't considered HRR so not shared with players, directly benefits owners and the ratings only matter when negotiating a TV deal, which is a long way away in the US. Until then, it's ESPN/TNT that need to get the ratings for the advertisers.

 

[wetcoast]

What sort of soft zoomer mentality is this?

Passion (read: hatred) makes these series infinitely better.

You can passion without hatred and it's a shame that too many people embrace hatred like it's a good thing or something look around hatred just isn't a good look ever.

 

[DemidovSaveUs]

I feel like every series has been a disappointment so far

 

[JimmyH]

It's wild that browser extensions and a VPN is easier than paying to watch the games.

Indeed it is wild. There are seemingly no fans among NHL bosses. It's the most common complaint I see. NHL's lack of responsiveness has driven thousands to the world of audio/video plugins, VPNs, back-alley streaming sites, and 25ft HDMI cables. I rarely think about this too hard, but whenever I do, I am left wondering if NHL partners with VPN/streaming site providers and just isn't telling us.

 

[stealth1]

You can passion without hatred and it's a shame that too many people embrace hatred like it's a good thing or something look around hatred just isn't a good look ever.

Hatred is a strong work for it. What I miss and IMO NHL playoffs need is things like that fight on the bench in the Montreal Washington game. It's a shame they a so quick to shut down any scrums after the whistle.

 

[ElysiumAB]

Hatred is a strong work for it. What I miss and IMO NHL playoffs need is things like that fight on the bench in the Montreal Washington game. It's a shame they a so quick to shut down any scrums after the whistle.

If Tom Wilson cries and no one is watching, does it make a sound?

 

[Ignatius]

I have ESPN Plus with my phone service and none of the games are being shown through the ESPN app, you must be subscribing to a TV service to watch on the ESPN app. I really only have the ESPN app to watch hockey games on ESPN so it has been rendered useless in this decision by ESPN to not show games that they are airing on ESPN on the ESPN app is absurd.

 

[drw02]

I think mostly the product just sucks now

 

[Wondercarrot]

When the NHL finally realizes that it’s in the entertainment business I’m sure they’ll do better.

NHL fans want the hate, they want the violence of big hits, they want scrums after the whistle, they want the fights.
Instead you get most of the nhl pundit class saying “NHL head office isn’t going to like this, they need to send a message etc etc ” - the Darren Dregers of the world.

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

Call penalties ad create more offence

 

[bert]

Just seems like folks would rather watch the NBA playoffs this year instead. NBA Playoffs TV Ratings Surge, With ESPN on Record Pace

Its obvious why. All the New York teams never made it, Philly didnt make it, Chicago didnt make it. All the southern teams are in no one actually cares about hockey down there. For anyone that is arguing this fact why do you think this thread exists. Canada watches no matter what so the ratings up here havent changed. Which is why I think its a travesty that the league refuses to expand to markets where people actually care about hockey. I get why its all dollars and cents and Canada will watch no matter what but id much rather people that truly care about the sport get to enjoy it.