I’m watching ESPN Sportscenter in Greece for NHL Highlights

[glovesave_35]

To me, the argument "they aren't interested, so let's not show it" is backwards. ESPN has a substantial amount to gain from people becoming interested in a sport over which they have exclusive national broadcasting rights. So would it not make more sense to say "they aren't interested yet, so let's show it more"?

Yes and no. They also broadcast NFL games, and the number of people watching those games compared to those watching (or potentially watching) hockey is such a massive disparity. Mainly though, Sportscenter also wants to sell commercials, not just promote their sports. Advertisers are going to pay more to get their ads on during NFL talk than NHL highlights.

 

[tarheelhockey]

It's a bit of a chicken and egg thing, tbh.

When I was a kid, I got my sports fill by watching TSN, Sportsnet and the Score... basically the three Canadian equivalents. I became interested in every sport shown on those shows as a result. At the time, I had a favourite football team, because that was one of the sports they showed. If there was a football game on when I was watching TV, I'd watch with interest. Simply having that sport shown to me with people talking about it made me interested in the sport.

Nowadays, I couldn't name more than a half dozen NFL players, since I now get sports entertainment from the more a la cart method of the internet. I don't really know anyone who talks about the NFL, and I don't really come in contact with it at any point in my day. And it turns out that, as an adult, I don't have any interest level at all in the NFL.

To me, the argument "they aren't interested, so let's not show it" is backwards. ESPN has a substantial amount to gain from people becoming interested in a sport over which they have exclusive national broadcasting rights. So would it not make more sense to say "they aren't interested yet, so let's show it more"?

I’m right there with you. In the 90s I watched Sportscenter religiously and as a result, I had actual opinions on things like tennis and golf, had a pretty good idea what was going on in MLB and the NBA, and knew details on the NFL and college fb/bb. Nowadays I can’t tell you a thing about any of those sports other than my local teams, at best. It’s all hockey, because I spend my time consuming hockey media and not general sports. That’s what happens when people “curate” their news through social media and subscription sites.

To your last paragraph and main point — ESPN has elevated the NHL from near-zero coverage to being maybe 5th on their promotional totem pole. That’s a huge upgrade. Being 5th in the lineup on Sportscenter is huge. That puts the NHL on screens in countless bars, restaurants, airports, hotels, etc. But expecting them to put the NHL over NFL or NBA coverage? Why would they do that when those sports manifestly have much larger audiences? At the end of the day their investments in other sports are bringing them better ROI than the NHL, even if the NHL is bringing better ROI than other sports not mentioned.

 

[joelef]

I’m right there with you. In the 90s I watched Sportscenter religiously and as a result, I had actual opinions on things like tennis and golf, had a pretty good idea what was going on in MLB and the NBA, and knew details on the NFL and college fb/bb. Nowadays I can’t tell you a thing about any of those sports other than my local teams, at best. It’s all hockey, because I spend my time consuming hockey media and not general sports. That’s what happens when people “curate” their news through social media and subscription sites.

To your last paragraph and main point — ESPN has elevated the NHL from near-zero coverage to being maybe 5th on their promotional totem pole. That’s a huge upgrade. Being 5th in the lineup on Sportscenter is huge. That puts the NHL on screens in countless bars, restaurants, airports, hotels, etc. But expecting them to put the NHL over NFL or NBA coverage? Why would they do that when those sports manifestly have much larger audiences? At the end of the day their investments in other sports are bringing them better ROI than the NHL, even if the NHL is bringing better ROI than other sports not mentioned.

The nhl needs to pull it Wright as well I’m mean your biggest stars are invisible on social media and pop bulurute and they hire 80 and 90 bands and milk there outdoor games to death

 

[tarheelhockey]

The nhl needs to pull it Wright as well I’m mean your biggest stars are invisible on social media and pop bulurute and they hire 80 and 90 bands and milk there outdoor games to death

The lack of Star personality is a huge problem for the NHL. Like it or not, personalities are what people notice before anything else starts to matter. Look at the main board here, people spend as much time talking about Subban as they do talking about Crosby.

 

[HisIceness]

It's the NFL playoffs and the Djokic news is worldwide news because tennis is one of the most followed sports in the world and it's a very unique situation. I don't think ESPN is doing themselves any favors with their NHL coverage so far, but I expect the second half of the NHL season to be shown quite a bit more. Football is king in this country.

I wouldn't count on it. Once the Super Bowl concludes and they're done with all the hoopla and pageantry, NFL free agency and the draft are just around the corner. Even the NFL schedule reveal is televised now.

Then there's the NBA trade deadline, March Madness, Spring training, and a slew of other things. Oh yeah and more Jordan vs LeBron debates.

 

[x Tame Impala]

It’s usually like this until after the Super Bowl. It’s the realities of people’s interests, otherwise ESPN would choose different things to cover.

 

[Anglesmith]

I’m right there with you. In the 90s I watched Sportscenter religiously and as a result, I had actual opinions on things like tennis and golf, had a pretty good idea what was going on in MLB and the NBA, and knew details on the NFL and college fb/bb. Nowadays I can’t tell you a thing about any of those sports other than my local teams, at best. It’s all hockey, because I spend my time consuming hockey media and not general sports. That’s what happens when people “curate” their news through social media and subscription sites.

To your last paragraph and main point — ESPN has elevated the NHL from near-zero coverage to being maybe 5th on their promotional totem pole. That’s a huge upgrade. Being 5th in the lineup on Sportscenter is huge. That puts the NHL on screens in countless bars, restaurants, airports, hotels, etc. But expecting them to put the NHL over NFL or NBA coverage? Why would they do that when those sports manifestly have much larger audiences? At the end of the day their investments in other sports are bringing them better ROI than the NHL, even if the NHL is bringing better ROI than other sports not mentioned.

I am not suggesting to change the priority relative to other sports. Doing so alienates your viewers. Like, if Sportsnet doesn't lead its highlight shows with hockey games featuring Canadian teams, then they have committed blasphemy.

That said, I think what is done with the time for the overall show needs to shift. Only being able to fit in one game of highlights when thirteen were played is not good enough imo.

 

[thefutures]

Wild card weekend, probably the worst weekend to expect coverage.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Imagine Sportscenter prioritizing playoff football this time of year.....

 

[The Professional]

January regular season Hockey is not a priority when it's football playoffs.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I am not suggesting to change the priority relative to other sports. Doing so alienates your viewers. Like, if Sportsnet doesn't lead its highlight shows with hockey games featuring Canadian teams, then they have committed blasphemy.

That said, I think what is done with the time for the overall show needs to shift. Only being able to fit in one game of highlights when thirteen were played is not good enough imo.

Ah, I see.

Isn’t SC an hour long? That’s about as long as they can realistically go. I haven’t watched a whole episode in ages, but during busy times of year (like now) they would often show only the highlights of the top-billed NHL/NBA games and flash scores of the others. The only leagues that got across-the-board coverage were the NFL and, because of a lack of content during the summer, MLB.

The NHL could also stand to not load up 13 games on a single day, that’s kind of ridiculous in its own right.

 

[Stony Curtis]

It's almost like ESPN has the NHL solely just so no one else could have them.

 

[Jetsfan79]

Everyone seems to be missing the point of the OP.

Yes the NFL is king. Yes the NHL is not a priority. We get that.

But Sportscentre is a one hour program. No reason they cannot show a few games highlights and some commentary/nhl news at around the 53 mintute mark .

Treating a new sports property like a total after thought is silly

 

[ElysiumAB]

I vote we permanently ban anyone who uses an ellipsis in thread titles

And also anyone not punctuating the end of a sentence.

 

[jkrdevil]

It's almost like ESPN has the NHL solely just so no one else could have them.

Yep. They bought the NHL package for the digital rights to drive subscriptions for ESPN+ and to severely weaken NBC Sports. They are still more heavily invested in the other leagues and will promote those first. The broadcast on linear espn is secondary.

You will see a bit more coverage come playoff time. But not a second before then

 

[Stony Curtis]

And also anyone not punctuating the end of a sentence.

Lol...!

 

[stranger]

Id take back the NHL app back, over the crap ESPN player. Its ridiculous that I have to stream from my iPhone or iPad, to my Apple TV, just to watch the game.

Why wouldn't you just download the ESPN app on your Apple TV?

The ESPN video quality is far better than the previous NHL app experience. The only negative is you cannot hide scores and start a game from the beginning. But it's not that hard to block it out with sound down and skip to the start.

 

[Mikeshane]

ESPN's version of promoting sports isn't showing highlights, it's either building up controversies or glorifying celebrity star athletes. I'm not kidding...unfortunately.

 

[chauron]

NFL is king.

Looks like there’s more basketball, college basketball highlights and multiple NBA ones. And no MBL or MLS, are they in offseason?

 

[pb1300]

Why wouldn't you just download the ESPN app on your Apple TV?

The ESPN video quality is far better than the previous NHL app experience. The only negative is you cannot hide scores and start a game from the beginning. But it's not that hard to block it out with sound down and skip to the start.

ESPN app doesn’t work in Europe. I have to use a VPN to use it, and other US apps on my Apple TV. But for some reason, when I try the ESPN app on the Apple TV, and log in, it still won’t play the games.

 

[vancityluongo]

TSN doesn't show baseball highlights (aside from the Jays game, at about the same spot in the show) in early May during the second round of the NHL/NBA playoffs. No one cares about the highlights from a matinee match up between the Orioles-Tigers, just as no one in the US cares about Red Wings-Sabres in January.

The bigger problem is that the NHL doesn't have clear alternatives, and just generally do a dog shit job of marketing the product. People globally should be able to watch all of the highlights easily outside of ESPN Sportscenter.

 

[jetsforever]

It's funny when the thread titles with ellipses get edited and then you get even weirder titles like "I’m watching ESPN Sportscenter in Greece for NHL Highlights"

 

[Chimpradamus]

The lack of Star personality is a huge problem for the NHL. Like it or not, personalities are what people notice before anything else starts to matter. Look at the main board here, people spend as much time talking about Subban as they do talking about Crosby.

I think it's a hockey culture thing, especially formed by the "journalists". Their job is to complain and play sensationalist cards and if they can latch on to anything at all, they will bite deep with all their teeth. "If I can interpret this sentence out of context in an interview from this player, I can become upset and get paid for it."

And then the same "journalists" complain hockey players are so dull in their interviews. Anyone being a character and joke around a bit are lambasted and ridiculed. Those who only give cliché answers to cliché questions are also lambasted. You're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't. And then "journalists" cannot conclude why they are so generally disliked by both fans, players and coaches alike. They're extremely lazy and mediocre at their job, yet hold the illusion they're still important. Being arrogant and mediocre seems to be general journalist traits nowadays.

Those journalists who aren't mediocre and aren't full of themselves are few, but liked. Like Pettersson when he gave praise and respect to Jason Botchford during the Calder speech. You wouldn't exactly see many coaches give praise to Larry Brooks (for example) during a Jack Adams award.

I don't know if I'm right or wrong, but it seems NFL and NBA journalists allow the players to show more character and personlity in the media, which means they will say more controversial things, which will make it easier to gain public interest around sports news. As for NHL journalists, they're more like British football journalists; sensationalist parasites. And NHL fans cling on to that.

 

[ItWasJustified]

NFL is king.

The question that needs to be asked is how?

 

[cowboy82nd]

TSN doesn't show baseball highlights (aside from the Jays game, at about the same spot in the show) in early May during the second round of the NHL/NBA playoffs. No one cares about the highlights from a matinee match up between the Orioles-Tigers, just as no one in the US cares about Red Wings-Sabres in January.

The bigger problem is that the NHL doesn't have clear alternatives, and just generally do a dog shit job of marketing the product. People globally should be able to watch all of the highlights easily outside of ESPN Sportscenter.

That's a lie. Speak for yourself.