I honestly think that one reason that the NHL is losing its fan basis is because of the sad excuse of a network Versus is. Under ESPN the NHL had a whole lot more publicity. Hockey is a great sport and it needs a great network. Am I the only one who feels this way?
2007-03-27 10:03:51 · 20 answers · asked by cja61389 1 in Sports ➔ Hockey
Hockey needs a great network, but that need not come at the price of kissing ESPN's ***.
Hockey is the greatest sport in the world and if ESPN won't see that or doesn't care, to **** with them. Let someone carry games who will promote the sport, not destroy it like yet another network did with a glowing puck, and realize there is more to Hockey than just fights and stick-swinging. Versus may be a network you need a telescope to find, but maybe, just maybe the fact that this is such an awesome sport will MAKE Versus a bigger network. The situation sucks, but we're in it now, let's give it a chance.
2007-03-27 11:00:11 · answer #1 · answered by clueless_nerd 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
No, the NHL can and will survive without ESPN.
While some fans have gone away in recent years, I think it's been due more to mis-management at the top, including the lockout and the disasterous changes to the schedule, than having anything to do with not being broadcast on ESPN.
I have the Center Ice package and I can watch almost all of my home team's games. I think a lot of fans started taking this route as ESPN began reducing the number of games it would broadcast every week.
Hockey is a great sport. It's been a great sport for over a century. What it needs is to be left alone. The traditions, the speed, skill, talent....that's what's going to bring new fans to the game, not all this new crap that's being tried today, and failing terribly.
Does the NHL really want to attract fans? Then why in the heck do some cities have to wait 3 years to see Crosby? Why in the world did they move the All-Star game to a night when it would have to compete against America's top mind-numbing excuse for entertainment, where it didn't stand a chance?
What the NHL needs may include a better TV deal, but what it deserves is a better commissioner.
2007-03-27 12:39:41 · answer #2 · answered by P T 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Well hockey doesn't need ESPN, but it does need to get on a channel that a lot of people watch. The thing with versus sucks and generally seems quite embarrasing. The nhl does need to work with espn though so they will show more amazing goals and saves rather than the dirty stuff. Sure showing a good fight or an amazing hit is good once in a while but that's almost all they show. Putting hockey back on ESPN would be great since not everyone gets vs., or cares about it 4 that matter.
2007-03-27 10:56:28 · answer #3 · answered by random bailey 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
NHL needs to get their games on a major network. Versus is not a high profile network and is known more for televising the Tour de France than anything else. Ratings on ESPN were never very good and audience share was dwindling, that is why ESPN dropped the NHL. Even on FSN in the Bay Area the Sharks still draw less viewers than the sad sack Warriors. Whevever the two teams have a game the same night and time, the Warriors always get preference even when losing as often as they do.
2007-03-27 11:01:21 · answer #4 · answered by Kainoa 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you completely. ESPN did a great job with the NHL. I also miss the NHL theme music from ESPN. Hockey needs to be back on ESPN. The good news is Versus contract is up after this year so ESPN might consider getting hockey back.
2007-03-29 14:09:40 · answer #5 · answered by babyface 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The NHL can live without ESPN but they need a better channel then VS. NHL is coming back strong with the new rules and it shows in the attendence but they need national attention from a big channel in order to keep the league going down the road.
2007-03-27 11:15:21 · answer #6 · answered by timmyther 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
ESPN dropped NHL, and whats the deal with people taking shots at Versus? its showing NHL games, whats the difference? Its on tv, i just wish Gary Thorne was doing commentary alongside Bill Clement. ESPN has been on longer that OLN/VS, give it time, atleast Versus was excited about having NHL on its programming...ESPN just showing bad incidents is a way to get people to possibly stop watching NHL on Versus, but if NHL came back to ESPN, the bad clips will stop
2007-03-27 11:41:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
espn has never given hockey alot of air time or credit, unless it is something like the big fight,a dirty hit where someone is injured or the knock out punch then they can't wait to jump all over it.i had to go to nashville a while back for business and was there 3 weeks(the place i stayed didn't have vs)i had to rely on espn to get hockey news and it sucked.i am a hockey addict so i order center ice every year and then i don't have to worry about espn.vs does an ok job but i would rather listen to the teams announcers.
2007-03-27 10:42:17 · answer #8 · answered by maureen b 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
espn dropped the nhl, not the other way, the nhl can and will survive without espn .versus does need to show more games, but perhaps they don't so more people that want games get nhl center ice which in turn generates more revenue for the nhl. by accident or design
2007-03-27 10:23:23 · answer #9 · answered by sshueman 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No but it couldn't help. ESPN is a sad excuse of a all sports channel. At prime time all that is on is African Handball and when Sports Center guess what 99% of the highlights are? You guessed it African Handball. On Sports Center you get a 90 sec. blurb by Berry Melros on what is going on in hockey and then it is back to Blacks putting a ball through a hoop.
P.S. not being racist just pissed off (sore subject)
2007-03-30 13:43:05 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋