It used to be the most viewed sport back in the day...
2007-10-26 19:28:05 · 25 answers · asked by robertdunno 2 in Sports ➔ Hockey
I have TV ratings from the last 40 years for US Network television. Hockey has NEVER been among the top 10 sports watched.
And hockey was seldom seen on US television prior to the 1967 expansion.
So, I'm not sure which 'day' you are referring to.
The number of people watching hockey in the United States has increased with respect to local telecasts, and the number has increased slightly for National telecasts, but the rating have dropped very slightly.
It all depends on who you want to believe, fearmongerers, or realists.
Yes, the NHL would LOVE to increase it's national ratings....but it ain't happening in my lifetime.
2007-10-27 06:20:56 · answer #1 · answered by Like I'm Telling You Who I A 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
It was never the most viewed sport in America. Keep in mind that baseball season is in the playoffs, football is almost mid season, and basketball is starting along with hockey. With 4 sports going on at the same time, hockey loses out in America. Of the 4, my favorites are:
1) Football
2) Basketball
3) Baseball
4) Hockey
2007-10-26 19:40:46 · answer #2 · answered by RB 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
If Americans stopped watching hockey, there would be no teams in the US. I never remember it being the most viewed sport. It seems for a long time it's been:
football
baseball
basketball
then hockey
2007-10-26 20:05:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Not all Americans have stopped watching, trust me. Unfortunately, hockey has never been the most viewed sport (and if it was at one point, please let me know). Football and NASCAR have been two of the most watched sports for numerous years. Us dedicated hockey fans won't ditch our teams, though.
Thank goodness for NHL Center Ice!
2007-10-27 16:23:25 · answer #4 · answered by hockey_gal9 *Biggest Stars fan!* 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Paul Kelly of the NHLPA was just talking about that, he said when the NHL was on ESPN2 it was the fast growing sport on US TV, then they pulled the plug, ESPN2 was built by hockey, now they don't need it, but the NHL still needs it. Most Americas can't view the games and must have cable, tht's not true in Canada, everybody can view hockey here cable or not.
2007-10-27 12:03:24 · answer #5 · answered by Limestoner62 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Of the Big Four I think the highest it got was 2nd. As to what happened there. Well Baseball was on strike and brought in steroids, opps we aren't supposed to know that was THEIR idea. When players started hitting homeruns they got their fans back. That's why they had players using 'roids. That is why the NHL has been trying to increase scoring in an attempt to bring back fans. Same logic, but it worked in baseball. The other main thing you will remember is it was popular so they expanded. Well there wasn't enough talent, espically to fit their expansion. A small expansion would have been ok. Letting the talent pool grow to meet that expansion and then expand again and they would have been fine. They just wanted the money while they could get it and the league is yet to catch up to the number of teams.
2007-10-27 02:26:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Simple. No American-born superstars. If Wayne and Mario were Americans it would be a different story. In the US, hockey is a regional (or city) loved sport. For example, folks in Utah, Kansas, and Indiana don't know, nor care about the sport, whereas folks that live in Wisconsin/Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania go nuts.
I don't agree with you that it was the most viewed sport back in the day. In Bettman's reign, it has reached more television markets than ever before in the US. Mostly thanks to cable sports networks (FSN, Comcast, MSG, etc.). Thus, NHL Center Ice was born. Again, under Bettman's reign -- credit given where due.
"Back in the day" the US got hockey on ESPN during the SC Finals. It was a rare event to have a regular season game aired on television.
2007-10-27 02:10:47 · answer #7 · answered by noah > U 5 · 4⤊ 3⤋
Advertising and the big market teams have been mediocre for a while now in the NHL. NFL is so popular in the States because of advertising and big TV deals. They get primetime slots only on the weekend and that is a lazy sports fans dream. This is why you see such a big Woman fanbase and fair weathered fanbase in football, it's real watered down.
I hope the NHL stays in the shadow. If it ever got as watered down as the other sports, i'd be pissed. And the hardcore NHL fanbase is argueably the biggest and smartest in all of sports. Look around on all sports boards. NHL ones are the most active.
2007-10-27 03:12:58 · answer #8 · answered by Bryan 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Sadly its never been the most viewed sport, but I grew up loving hockey and I'll love hockey till the day I die.
2007-10-27 06:13:37 · answer #9 · answered by RZ (LPPBS) 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
2 main reasons: the lockout and losing ESPN. Anytime you have a lockout, you're going to lose fans, even if it's ultimately good for the sport to have a lockout. Versus just doesn't reach enough people. It's hard to grow a fan base when you can't watch the games. The problem with losing ESPN is that you also get less coverage on their other shows(Sportscenter, NHL tonight, commercials, etc.).
Of course if those 2 answers don't work, you could always blame NJ's trapping style of play. Everyone else does.
2007-10-27 02:14:55 · answer #10 · answered by cliffow 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋