Fox, Turner interested in NHL U.S. TV Rights...

[Mwd711]

It's funny how many people completely ignore how instrumental ESPN was during the NHL's big years during the 90's.

I don't think people ignore it. They just felt like ESPN never made the league a priority. That was certainly the case by the end of the prior deal when NHL2night was cancelled and most games were shifted to ESPN2 with little promotion muscle behind them.

FWIW Fox probably spent more time promoting the league and more effort than anyone else. They worked awfully hard at it and spent the money to prove it. Unfortunately they were constantly derided because of the FoxTrax puck. Fox has probably been the leagues best US tv partner even if Disney bid more for the rights. Just seems like Fox cared and worked harder than the other networks.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Nope. ESPN walked away from the league after the lockout.



Unknown. NHL hasn't been broadcast on Fox for more than a decade (before HD). And the NHL may stipulate pre/post game shows in any contract.

ANY IDEA why the NHL Network COULDN'T BID for some rights at some point in time, I mean they've got the Versus rights to rebroadcast exclusive games, OTF, etc

 

[Crossovert*]

why can't they have multiple networks like the nfl or nba? i owudl say nbc+vs AND espn, give espn the thurs an fri night games, vs mon and tues, wed and sat can be nhln, and sundays nbc

 

[Roomtemperature]

why can't they have multiple networks like the nfl or nba? i owudl say nbc+vs AND espn, give espn the thurs an fri night games, vs mon and tues, wed and sat can be nhln, and sundays nbc

I don't think the NHL's TV presence is strong enough to be split like that. Would there really be enough viewers for 4 games on cable for advertisers to spend extra money to get commercials on all 4 cable games? Besides I think that the NHL would make more money for an exclusive deal then a split one because of the concern above.

 

[headsigh]

I don't even know what channel TruTV is on.

 

[IU Hawks fan]

ANY IDEA why the NHL Network COULDN'T BID for some rights at some point in time, I mean they've got the Versus rights to rebroadcast exclusive games, OTF, etc

What are you talking about? NHL owns NHL Network. Are they gonna pay themselves?? How do you increase revenue that way?? Do you have any understanding of media whatsoever??

 

[Mwd711]

What are you talking about? NHL owns NHL Network. Are they gonna pay themselves?? How do you increase revenue that way?? Do you have any understanding of media whatsoever??

The NFL Network does do exactly that. Instead of bidding out Thursday and Saturday night games - something that Versus/Comcast was counting on, they kept the games for themselves. They felt that they could make more money by then charging higher cable carriage fees and keeping all the advertising money and help build up the network when it was in its infancy.

Only one problem - the NHL isn't the NFL. The NHL can't raise its carriage fees as the network isn't widely carried and isn't viewed by many. They have very little leverage, unlike the NFL. So, yes, that really doesn't make much sense for the league as it's doubtful they would make money that way. If the goal is to raise money and get more eyeballs to the sport, the NHL Network is not the way to go.

 

[Spydey629]

I don't think people ignore it. They just felt like ESPN never made the league a priority. That was certainly the case by the end of the prior deal when NHL2night was cancelled and most games were shifted to ESPN2 with little promotion muscle behind them.

FWIW Fox probably spent more time promoting the league and more effort than anyone else. They worked awfully hard at it and spent the money to prove it. Unfortunately they were constantly derided because of the FoxTrax puck. Fox has probably been the leagues best US tv partner even if Disney bid more for the rights. Just seems like Fox cared and worked harder than the other networks.

FOX was still trying to establish itself back then, which helped the NHL a lot. They were only one or two years into the NFL contract at that point. This was pre-MLB, pre-NASCAR on FOX. They had to put the effort into it, to "prove themselves".

Wouldn't surprise me to one day hear Gary Bettman admit that dumping FOX was one of the biggest mistakes he ever made as Commish.

 

[Araxen*]

I got a view survey today from ESPN regarding the NHL. Mainly asking how I felt if ESPN aired NHL games, how I thought their coverage would be , how I thought Vs coverage was, and other questions.

I basically told them I thought they would treat the NHL as an afterthought for other sports they deem more important. They also had me rank sports leagues(there were 10 sports listed) in terms of importance to me and then how I thought ESPN ranks sports leagues in terms of importance to them. I put NHL #1 for me and ESPN about 8. Curiously they left off MMA as one of the sports on the list.

 

[StarsFan74]

And yet Versus is still beating the holy crap out of ESPN NHL ratings from 2004 (the most recent year the NHL was broadcast on ESPN).

Versus has done splendidly in promoting hockey, compared to ESPN. I cannot complain much regarding their efforts save for the fact that I sorely miss Gary Thorne.

 

[straka91*]

They should have a reality show on a team (most likely Penguins). Its what most teens watch these days and is the largest genre in American t.v.
The road to the Playoffs or something like that. They start it in April, so there is no March Madness to compete with, and go through the playoffs.
They really need to emphasize the drama of the sport since that is what draws people to Reality T.V. That could possibly grow the sport a little bit. Fox would be a perfect match since they are struggling with other T.V. markets. They need to advertise the crap out of it though. Advertising brings fans. Look at Call of Duty or Avatar.

 

[StarsFan74]

They should have a reality show on a team (most likely Penguins). Its what most teens watch these days and is the largest genre in American t.v.
The road to the Playoffs or something like that. They start it in April, so there is no March Madness to compete with, and go through the playoffs.
They really need to emphasize the drama of the sport since that is what draws people to Reality T.V. That could possibly grow the sport a little bit.

And I think Pens-Caps 24/7 was a great step in cornering that market. I hate reality TV, but I enjoyed that show because it was hockey and I don't care if they exploit the crap out of the Ovie vs Sid. If that's what sells, then so be it...and I'll live with it.

What could be also great is one of those "March to the Playoffs" theme for a franchise that has struggled to make the playoffs or is still looking for a Stanley Cup- Toronto, Philly, St. Louis...whatever sells.

 

[Araxen*]

They should have a reality show on a team (most likely Penguins). Its what most teens watch these days and is the largest genre in American t.v.
The road to the Playoffs or something like that. They start it in April, so there is no March Madness to compete with, and go through the playoffs.
They really need to emphasize the drama of the sport since that is what draws people to Reality T.V. That could possibly grow the sport a little bit. Fox would be a perfect match since they are struggling with other T.V. markets. They need to advertise the crap out of it though. Advertising brings fans. Look at Call of Duty or Avatar.

I think the NHL needs to work on making more than Ovie and Crosby as the only guys they market. I know a lot of fans that know their team and then those two and that's it. NHL needs to do a much better job of educating their fanbase so the fans expand their interest beyond "their" team.

 

[StarsFan74]

I think the NHL needs to work on making more than Ovie and Crosby as the only guys they market. I know a lot of fans that know their team and then those two and that's it. NHL needs to do a much better job of educating their fanbase so the fans expand their interest beyond "their" team.

But these are two biggest marketable players. I am not surprised with the league's decision to showcase them. Should a Toews vs _______ emerge, then that'd be great too.

 

[LadyStanley]

FTR, I'm tired of the Sid v Ovi hype. Now if they had 20-40 guys they used for marketing, I might be OK with it.

Especially if they started using more Western Conference players -- who seem never to get even half as much coverage as most of the name Eastern Conference players.

 

[Araxen*]

But these are two biggest marketable players. I am not surprised with the league's decision to showcase them. Should a Toews vs _______ emerge, then that'd be great too.

Emerge? Here is where the NBA gets it right. They market a lot of players and the NHL has the same power to do it. In the NBA you have guys like Wade, Lebron, Kobe, Rose, Howard, etc and they use all those players interchangeably to sell these games to the national market. They really hamper themselves by making it only Crosby vs Ovie. They should be able to market Ovie vs Toews or Crosby vs somebody besides Ovie. The league has marketable players beyond Ovie and Crosby and they fail to utilized them. This is how you increase ratings by getting your fans invested in players that are outside their team.

Sorry if this is derailing the intent of the thread. This will be my last word on this.

 

[straka91*]

I think the NHL needs to work on making more than Ovie and Crosby as the only guys they market. I know a lot of fans that know their team and then those two and that's it. NHL needs to do a much better job of educating their fanbase so the fans expand their interest beyond "their" team.

It would be nice for the NHL to do that but doubt it happens anytime soon.

 

[Kimota]

I can't believe the NHL is going to have a bidding war on their hands. Bettman is one lucky *******.

 

[87turbobuick]

I grew tired of ESPN announcers mispronouncing names.

 

[LadyStanley]

I grew tired of ESPN announcers mispronouncing names.

Thorne was the worst I heard. Didn't hear anyone else be nearly as bad or wrong.

 

[Ignoramus*]

Nope. ESPN walked away from the league after the lockout.

I believe ESPN offered a revenue-sharing deal in 2004 (like the current NBC deal) and the NHL (rightly) told ESPN to go %$&* themselves.

Like him or not, leaving ESPN was a fantastic move on Bettman's part.

 

[Dantes19]

Oh yeah? How did that work out for the NHL from 2000-2004? Best I remember, the league was sliding directly into the toilet around that time... all with the help of ESPN's famous "promotional power" and "broader distribution".

And yet Versus is still beating the holy crap out of ESPN NHL ratings from 2004 (the most recent year the NHL was broadcast on ESPN).

Since we're talking hockey, let's remember that ESPN did absolutely nothing to "restore" the NHL's image when they had the cable rights. A more appropriate word might be "destroy" or "tarnish". They did literally everything they could to mock and degrade the NHL brand in the early 2000's.

In business (especially the entertainment business) branding is everything. Wilfully damaging your company's brand is an unforgiveable sin. The NHL shouldn't go back to ESPN under any circumstances. Use them as leverage, bur never go back. Ever.

AMEN to this post. I could not agree more. Obviously Versus is not perfect, but I really love how much time they devote to the NHL. The other night, for example, they had pre-game from 7-7:30, game from 7:30-9:30, post-game from 9:30-10, and then another hour of around-the-league wrapup coverage from 11-12.

That's 4+ hours of hockey coverage in one night. Something you won't get on ESPN, for example. ESPN's handling of the NHL was a disgrace that should not ever be repeated. I like the fact that Versus makes the NHL a priority, and I would worry that a bigger network would not do it the same justice.

I would be curious to hear what FOX or Turner would offer, but I would surely think twice about the NHL turning its back on a network that actually treats it well.

 

[obsenssive*]

Since we're talking hockey, let's remember that ESPN did absolutely nothing to "restore" the NHL's image when they had the cable rights. A more appropriate word might be "destroy" or "tarnish". They did literally everything they could to mock and degrade the NHL brand in the early 2000's.

by mocking you refer to what? lessened coverage?

 

[tarheelhockey]

Emerge? Here is where the NBA gets it right. They market a lot of players and the NHL has the same power to do it. In the NBA you have guys like Wade, Lebron, Kobe, Rose, Howard, etc and they use all those players interchangeably to sell these games to the national market. They really hamper themselves by making it only Crosby vs Ovie. They should be able to market Ovie vs Toews or Crosby vs somebody besides Ovie. The league has marketable players beyond Ovie and Crosby and they fail to utilized them. This is how you increase ratings by getting your fans invested in players that are outside their team.

In basketball you really do see individual head-to-head matchups. It's realistic that Lebron might dunk on Kobe and blow the roof off the arena.

Not very likely that Ovie is going to do a spin-o-rama around Crosby. NHL stars don't match up like that, usually they're not even on the ice at the same time, so it's more like "_____ and _____ will both be playing tonight" rather that "it's _____ vs. _____". Makes it tough to market individuals in that manner.

TBH, the reason they market Ovie vs. Sid has strictly to do with the fact that the Pens and Caps happen to have been 1/2 in the East at the same time both players were Hart candidates. It was dumb luck more than anything that the matchup fell in the NHL's lap.

 

[rabi]

Curiously they left off MMA as one of the sports on the list.

Cause MMA is not a sport...

but that's an argument for a different thread...