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The NHL Needs ESPN
by Paul on 08/15/09 at 12:15 PM ET
Comments (5)
from Tom Reed of Puck-rakers at the Columbus Dispatch, .
..the NHL still cannot cut a deal with its old broadcast partner, ESPN. The network helped the league gain popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It also stuck with the NHL in the early part of this decade when the game had become almost unwatchable due to the un-penalized obstruction.
Post-lockout hockey is an entertaining product, but the casual sports fan—the one the NHL needs to attract—isn’t programmed to search it out.
There are things I don’t like about ESPN, but it lends credibility to a sport. The league can tout its improved ratings on Versus, but it’s not a destination channel.
added 12:44pm, Sean Leahy of Puck Daddy has some suggestions for the NHL Network.
Filed in: NHL Talk, NHL Media, Hockey Broadcasting | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: ESPN,
Comments
I disagree. I think we entered a post-ESPN era when fox sports network started up its myriad channels. ESPN is no longer the end all be all in sports channels, and people understand that there are now several sports networks to choose from. Though Versus does suffer from poor brand recognition (I know bartenders who I still have to say, “put on OLN"), I think between that, NBC, the NHL channel, and all of the fox sports channels we’re getting a better product than the red-headed stepchild that ESPN provided us.
Posted by Hippy Dave from San Francisco by way of Detroit on 08/15/09 at 02:30 PM ET
ESPN says people aren’t watching. Well, I’m pretty sure more people weren’t watching Arena Footall and aren’t watching the WNBA.
Posted by cs6687 on 08/15/09 at 03:15 PM ET
Nhl net should have a tv show that runs from sun - sat that does live lookins during games that are going on that night.
people are going to realize that espb doesnt want nhl and nhl under bettman doesnt want espn. its the john zilger days all over again in nhl.
Posted by FlyersFan on 08/15/09 at 05:43 PM ET
This is why the NHL doesn’t belong in Columbus. Couldn’t they write something original? The NHL does NOT belong on ESPN2 which is where it would be exiled if the “World Wide Leader” has anything to do with it
Posted by kevin from boston on 08/15/09 at 09:36 PM ET
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Another hockey’s not good enough, we need ESPN approval to be legit article. Even though Versus product exceeds that of ESPN and the ratings are now on par with ESPN when they last had the league. Hockey is better than ESPN. When ESPN dumps the NBA and is willing to pay real money for the league they can compete with Versus for it.
Posted by tero from tacoma on 08/15/09 at 02:07 PM ET