About Eye on the Media
Eye on the Media, debuted on Kukla’s Korner in February of 2008, and deals with all the evil, weird and just plain insane things that happen when hockey ventures into the foreign worlds of TV, Radio and News Print. I am a student, and a communications major, in New Jersey, which by association means you can blame me for destroying hockey. I love hockey and wants to hear everything you have to say about the way our game is covered.
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comment by George James Malik on 08/23/08
From the entry 'Taking a Short Commercial Break'.
comment by George James Malik on 08/20/08
From the entry 'Hockey Media Approval Ratings: Michael Russo'.
comment by BobTheZee on 08/17/08
From the entry 'The Eye on the Media 2008-09 National TV Guide: Team-by-Team Network TV Schedules'.
comment by SYF on 08/15/08
From the entry 'The Eye on the Media 2008-09 National TV Guide: Team-by-Team Network TV Schedules'.
comment by Carolina On Ice on 08/15/08
From the entry 'VERSUS "Exclusive Telecast" Game of the Week Schedule'.
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Entries with the tag: the+nhl+on+versus
“NHL Analyst” Bill Patrick Talks with Detroit MSM Paper
by Steve on 04/26/08 at 02:35 PMComments (0)
From John Manchota at the Detroit Free Press:
Who looks the toughest in the playoffs?
Well the team to beat is still the Red Wings. Out of the East believe it or not I don’t believe I saw what I wanted to see from Montreal. I think I’m going to go with Pittsburgh. I can’t pick the Rangers because they haven’t showed me enough offensively and the Flyers I thought were awfully lucky to make it to the second round. I’d probably go with Pittsburgh but whoever comes out of the East is going to lose in the Finals.
If Bill Patrick counts as an NHL Analyst, then I must be Phil Mushnick reincarnate.
More of Patrick’s answers here.
Reminder to Analysts: Know Your Audience
by Steve on 04/26/08 at 12:52 AMComments (2)
During the 3rd Intermission ceremonies on Versus, better known as “Hockey Central”, analyst Brian Engblom was breaking down Milan Michalek’s goal in the 2nd period. He watched the odd manner in which the puck trickled past Marty Turco, and referred to it rolling in as if it were “like a curling rock”.
Really, Brian, is that the metaphor you want to use?
VERSUS is Waiting For Your Call, ESPN
by Steve on 04/25/08 at 01:19 PMComments (0)
From Neil Best’s Watchdog:
“We haven’t heard anything,’’ he said. “We’ve stated in the past if someone wants to talk to us, [we] would have those conversations.”
ESPN would have to come to Versus, because Versus owns national cable exclusivity for the league.
NBC exercised its option to carry the NHL for another season, which almost certainly puts the ESPN possibilities on the shelf for now, but some in and around the league miss the exposure ESPN provided even as Versus gradually gains acceptance.
More, and here is that Friday newspaper piece on the gradual acceptance of Versus.
VERSUS Backup Plan For Stars-Sharks Game 1
by Steve on 04/25/08 at 01:08 PMComments (0)
Should the VERSUS broadcast of NY Rangers-Pittsburgh go past 10:00 PM ET, due to the fact that the broadcast will be exclusive to viewers in the Dallas & San Jose areas, VERSUS will IMMEDIATELY switch over to the Sharks-Stars game in the Dallas & San Jose viewing markets. For those who wish to watch both games, you will need to have DIRECTV or DISH Network, who will open up the following channels for the “other” game in the certain market.
DIREC TV: 453, DISH: 659.
So say that your a Ranger fan in Dallas, you would go to these channels to watch Rangers-Penguins, and vice versa for say, a Stars fan in Pittsburgh.
Thanks to NHL Live! for the info!
Tipping the Hat to Round One Broadcasters
by Steve on 04/25/08 at 11:47 AMComments (1)
It is often said that there is little depth in the talent pool of National Hockey League broadcasters. Well, VERSUS seemingly proved them incorrect during the first round. Even without their top two play-by-play men, the network put on a professional, exciting, watchable game broadcast.
Your TV Guide to Night One of the Playoffs
by Steve on 04/09/08 at 04:00 PMComments (0)
Every night of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, “Eye on the Media” writer Steve Lepore will keep you updated on the complicated ordeal that is finding your favorite game on the tube.
VERSUS Playoff Coverage
by Steve on 04/08/08 at 04:37 PMComments (0)
Stamford, CONN. (April 8, 2008)—VERSUS, the exclusive cable television home of the NHL, will televise wall-to-wall Stanley Cup Playoffs action starting April 9 with the Conference Quarterfinals as the Ottawa Senators begin their series against the Pittsburgh Penguins at 7 p.m. ET followed by Game 1 of the series between the Calgary Flames and the San Jose Sharks at 10 p.m. ET. VERSUS will kick-off the night with “Hockey Central” at 6:30 p.m. ET. The network will air all of the rounds leading up to and including the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final. Each night during the playoffs, VERSUS will televise one or two playoff games as well as the studio wrap-up show, “Hockey Central.”
Networks Set Up For the Playoffs
by Steve on 04/04/08 at 01:04 PMComments (0)
As the regular season ends, the networks are getting their playoff preview programming in order. Both TSN and CBC in Canada, VERSUS in the U.S., and the NHL Network in both countries have some shows airing early next week to get everybody ready for the marathon.
Rangers, Penguins Draw Average Rating
by Steve on 03/31/08 at 01:03 PMComments (0)
According to Sports Business Daily (reg. required), NBC’s telecast of the New York Rangers-Pittsburgh Penguins game on Sunday drew a 1.0/3 rating.
Filed in: NBC, Versus |
Eye on the Media
Tags: Gordie+Howe, New+York+Rangers, Pittsburgh+Penguins, The+NHL+On+NBC, The+NHL+On+Versus,
Tags: Gordie+Howe, New+York+Rangers, Pittsburgh+Penguins, The+NHL+On+NBC, The+NHL+On+Versus,
Bettman: “Anticipate the Status Quo” on TV Deal
by Steve on 03/28/08 at 01:23 PMComments (0)
I’ll admit that I don’t always listen to “The NHL Hour” with Commissioner Gary Bettman. But yesterday’s broadcast, which also featured an interview with Gordie Howe and you can listen to on NHL.com in their podcast section, provided a noteworthy nugget of television news by way of a question from a caller on the possibility of doing a new broadcast deal, possibily with ESPN, though he hates ESPN, yet he loves Gary Thorne and VERSUS. Anyway, here is Commissioner Bettman’s response:
Versus Announces Game Addition
by Steve on 03/25/08 at 12:10 PMComments (0)
Stamford, CONN. (March 25, 2008)—VERSUS, the exclusive cable television home of the NHL, today announced the following addition to its schedule: the Nashville Predators will face off against the St. Louis Blues from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on Tuesday, April 1, at 7:30 p.m. ET. VERSUS will close out its regular-season coverage later that evening when the Vancouver Canucks host the Colorado Avalanche at 10:00 p.m. ET, as both teams compete for the remaining playoff spots in the Western Conference.
NHL Deserves Credit For Crosby Commercial
by Steve on 03/24/08 at 04:35 PMComments (8)
One of the larger criticisms of the NHL’s marketing department is that they preach to the choir way too much. The only place to see the really well-made advertisements that they often produce is that they only air on Versus, NBC, NHL Network, local sports channels that already air the games, etc. Basically, we get that hockey’s the greatest game on Earth, go show some other folks this, and maybe we won’t have to deal with the abuse of non-hockey fans. But that has changed somewhat with the new Sidney Crosby Gatorade ad.
NHL Playoff Ad Slogan: “The Cup Changes Everything”
by Steve on 03/24/08 at 10:35 AMComments (3)
From Brandweek:
On March 28, up to eight 30-second spots will break on NHL.com with the theme, “The Cup changes everything.” Spots then roll out March 30 during the NHL on NBC. TV also will air during the playoffs on Versus and Fox Sports Net. Support includes print in Sports Illustrated and USA Today, radio and in NHL arenas. Y&R, New York/Toronto, handles with NHL Productions, New York. Tag remains: “Live every shift.”
More:
New York Draws Good Versus Ratings
by Steve on 03/12/08 at 09:50 AMComments (0)
From Jeff Z. Klein at The NY Times Slapshot:
Those days are over. Versus reports that viewership of its Monday night Rangers-Sabres telecast was far larger in New York than in Buffalo. According to Meier Ravich, a spokesman for the network, the game on March 10 averaged 104,000 households in New York against 65,000 households in Buffalo.
“This is in contrast to what we saw last year during the playoffs,” Ravich wrote in an e-mail message, “when these two teams faced off in the conference semifinals (99,000 average HH’s for NYC and 161,000 average HH’s for Buffalo — over two games).”
More:
Pens-Caps Draws Low Rating
by Steve on 03/10/08 at 12:57 PMComments (8)
The Penguins-Capitals showdown on Sunday’s NBC “Game of the Week” drew a 1.0 Overnight Nielsen Rating, according to Sports Business Daily. (paid sub.)
VERSUS: “I Am the Stanley Cup Playoffs”
by Steve on 03/10/08 at 09:34 AMComments (0)
Capitalizing on improving hockey ratings, Versus is ramping up a new marketing campaign for NHL playoffs that continues the tougher, authentic theme of recent marketing efforts.
“We are looking at it from the players’ perspective,” says Bill Bergofin, senior vice president of marketing and promotions for Versus. Dramatic and dark-looking network promos riff off the main theme: “I am the Stanley Cup Playoffs.” The campaign starts March 10. The playoffs begin April 9.
Added 4:52 PM: From Multi Channel News:
“Anthem”—featuring such inanimate objects as the red light, empty seats in the arena, and a certain carnivorous marine mollusk being tossed on to the ice that make the march to Lord Stanley’s Cup come alive—is a compilation spot. The commercial comprises elements from seven different executions shot by American History X director Tony Kaye, which will run at various stages into the championship round in June.
Versus, NBC Load Up on Playoff Hockey in April
by Steve on 03/05/08 at 10:08 PMComments (0)
I don’t care that we’re five weeks away, I want my hockey now. Plus, through some careful searching, I’ve found out the initial playoff schedules for those two TV outlets that broadcast hockey.
Filed in: NBC, Versus |
Eye on the Media
Tags: Stanley+Cup+Playoffs, The+NHL+On+NBC, The+NHL+On+Versus,
Tags: Stanley+Cup+Playoffs, The+NHL+On+NBC, The+NHL+On+Versus,
Versus and Vanbiesbrouck
by Steve on 03/05/08 at 12:28 PMComments (3)
From Michael-Louis Ingram at The Black Athlete
Listed as one of their on-air analysts is one John Vanbiesbrouck. A former goaltender who played 19 years in the league, Vanbiesbrouck also has the indignity of being the vessel for a venomous spewing of invective in his capacity as coach/general manager of the Sault Ste. Marie (Soo) Greyhounds hockey club in the Ontario Hockey League earlier this decade.
I spoke to Mr. Ingram after reading his post, and while he agrees that regardless of race, Georges Laraque and Donald Brashear probably would’ve been enforcers, the point he wanted to make was that “hockey, fighting aside, is a game of great skill, and we saw in a player like Bob Probert the offensive skills that indicated he could utilize those skill sets without having to fight.”
