Does anyone else have trouble watching hockey games?

Question

I do not get the 'normal' hockey channels. Why doesn't ESPN or CBS cover Hockey like they do other sports? Why don't I get to enjoy Hockey for free(i could pay 169$ for the season pass). What could be do to increase the popularity amoung 'normal' TV stations?

Answer 1

I only get hockey on Versus, which is better than nothing but not great. Hockey isn't on ESPN anymore because the network didn't renew their contract with the league because hockey doesn't get good ratings. Hockey doesn't translate well to TV for casual fans, because they don't know how to watch it (they try to watch the puck, which you can't see very well, instead of watching the movement of the players around the puck).

Answer 2

In Dallas it's a rare game not televised. If Fox Sports, NBC or Versus isn't carrying it, it is on a local independent station which the owner of the Stars owns. So we are lucky.

I think that the majority of sports viewers in the lower 2/3 contiguous states do not understand the rules of the game and get confused trying to follow a game. I know that's what was happening to me when I first tried to watch the Stars. I rarely got half way through the 1st period before changing the channel. There's almost always another sports game on another channel which I do understand.

Finally, the Darryl Reagh starting doing a rules of the game segment during intermissions and I learned how to follow a game.

I think the NHL should do some commercials explaining the rules to the general public. Buying time during another sport would reach the target audience they'd want to start with.

Answer 3

ESPN no longer has the television rights to NHL (sadly I should say that the NHL no longer has the right to be broadcast on ESPN). On Monday and Tuesday nights the channel Vs. will show a nationally televised game not all cable or satellite companies carry this channel though. NBC carries games on Sundays in the afternoon.

I for one would try to get a contract back with ESPN if i were the NHL it might be less money than vs but it is more exposure in who is able to watch the games but also it will likely bring back the show NHL tonight which offered in depth analysis from all around the league (it was like a 30 minute sportscenter dedicated solely to hockey). The league also needs to create marketing for the game not change the game for the purpose of marketing. Rather than simply showing regional games on Sundays on NBC they need to show national games and showcase the stars of the future like Crosby and Ovechkin. Show rivalries nationally like Red Wings v Avs or Rangers v Maple Leafs. Or Maple Leafs v Canadians. There is a lot the league could do but sadly I feel they can't see long term and only look to the here and now.

Answer 4

During the lockout, the NHL lost its marketing contract with ESPN. While it was able to sign a deal with OLN (now VS) to play the games, the channel gets way fewer viewers and as for the major stations, they do play a few weekend games, and some playoff games. This might change next year. If I recall correctly, the deal with VS was a 2 year contract. If the marketing committee has any brains at all they'll strike up some kind of deal with ESPN. Because lets face it, people watch ESPN just because it's ESPN, it doesn't matter whats on there. This would greatly increase the number of people watching hockey.

Answer 5

the first person to blame would be Gary Bettman...he decided that since ESPN dumped their contract after the lock out that rather then persuing a major network to cover games instead he would find a network that is not carried in the vast majority of US homes...I live in canada and have no problem watching games myself...but i would like to see hockey gain popularity down south and the best way to do that would be to have the games on a network in which the majority of hockey fans and potental hockey fans will be able to view the games under their current cable package...to increase the popularity i think hockey fans should maybe be more vocal about wanting nhl on a major network...or removing bettman from power

Answer 6

it was more than the lock out, that was just the nail in the coffin it all started when the league tried to protect the finesse players after communism fell,

it used to be if there was 2 guys within stick reach of each other then there was action going on even if the puck was at the other end of the rink !!banned!! welcome the dive

i used to be if a guy was touching the puck he was fair game to be checked !!!banned!!! now a guy has to be facing you, you can't take the last 3 step better not jump oh and more dives

well now that you cant cream a guy the dump and chase is out welcome to the left wing lock after about 3 years of that i stopped watching hockey long before the lock out came in

all this because they wanted to increase scoring, and now there discussing shrinking the goal size ?

when the goon died so did the popularity of hockey, checks create turn overs ,turnovers create odd man rushes, odd man rushes create exciting goals,

reset the rules to the early 90s when hockey was the fastest growing sport in America, not nascar and see what happens

oh yeah .... and bring back the goon

Answer 7

Versus, and occasionaly NBC on the weekends will show a game. I wish they showed more on Versus.
The big problem is Bettman and his stooges for not marketing the NHL properly. If they did, maybe there would be more on tv.
I don't believe the ratings of anything on tv. I heard ratings are all made up. I mean, think about it.....there are many households without cable, or a box that may be watching something. How would anyone know what your watching?

Answer 8

In the Chicago area, we have Comcast Sports Net for Blackhawks away games. (The owner usually blacks-out home games because he's a big douche.) But, yeah, I know what you mean, the only other hockey I ever see is on VS. Hockey is such a simple game and easy to pick up on, its too bad they can't seem to grow a bigger fan base.

Answer 9

What I dont understand is that ESPN continues to market itself as a hockey-friendly network. Saturday night I was in a store that had a large section of ESPN merchandise, including a whole slew of "ESPN Hockey" shirts, mugs, etc...

Answer 10

Well lets see i get the same thing...ESPN dumped their contract with the NHL and thats y there is more poker on...it makes me really mad but now ABC is going to start showing it more often so watch it or NBC. A few weeks ago i was really mad when my paper said the NHL doesnt get many people at home to watch it...I wrote back and said WELL U GUYS NEVER SHOW IT! and they didnt send n e thing back so w/e...i go to jackets games and stuff but i dont get to c it as much as id like