NHL has to be nervous about TV ratings for the 2018 Playoffs on both sides of border

[Chainshot]

To be honest I bet the NBC lights candles that Buffalo will get its **** together, they are a ratings juggernaut by NHL standards. Why do you think they get so many national games on NBCsports.

As one of those long-suffering fans, it may simply be that we're so starved to watch good hockey that we'll watch any hockey.

Also doesn't hurt to have had HNiC access via broadcast rather than cable while growing up.

 

[Brock Radunske]

As a Leafs fan, I know there is 0% chance they'll make it that far this year but the ratings on a Leafs vs Jets or Leafs vs Knights would be insane.

 

[Hobble]

Seems like this is stated every year.

 

[acor]

Florida - Colorado in '96 did better than Detroit - Washington or Detroit - New Jersey.

But those were two new teams back then...

 

[LeafsNation75]

Absolutely not, no fan base in Canada wants another Canadian team to win it. Everyone will watch, but few actual hockey fans outside of their own fan base will be cheering for them.

If the Leafs are in the Finals this year against any American based team, I say the hate they will get from fans of other Canadian teams will be a lot worse than what we saw with the Canucks in 2011.

 

[NeedleInTheHay]

No New York teams, and no Chicago, it’s gonna be rough.

 

[Ace Card Bedard]

People care about the ratings partly because better ratings should translate into a better TV deal and thus more revenue and a higher salary cap.
So your team can sign better players (in theory.)

 

[Ace Card Bedard]

No New York teams, and no Chicago, it’s gonna be rough.

Agreed.

 

[Hockey4Lyfe]

The Penguins are like, a billion times more popular than the Pirates.

I know far more Pirate fans than Pens fans. Hockey is may be 4th or 5th most popular sport here in the U.S..

It may be close considering the Pens have been good recently, but if things were on an even playing field, (both good/both terrible) there are far more baseball fans in this area than hockey fans.

 

[Melrose Munch]

Still better than NBA where only 3-4 teams have a shot at winning..... but hey, at least every NBA team have 10 different uniforms, so the people watching on TV think it's new teams.

Nike + NBA = Moron Association

You sound ridiculous. And higher ratings matter. Especially when your sport is being outdrawn by family guy reruns.

 

[S E P H]

I hate taht about the NBA as well. But you know what? Their ratings are going up.The NHL wishes they had close to the popularity of the NBA.

And ESPN wishes they didn't sign NBA to that horrendous TV deal...

 

[SotasicA]

People care about the ratings partly because better ratings should translate into a better TV deal and thus more revenue and a higher salary cap.
So your team can sign better players (in theory.)

Not sure how you came to that conclusion.

Won't they just sign the same players but to bigger deals?

Considering the pool of players is exactly the same...

 

[Ace Card Bedard]

Not sure how you came to that conclusion.

Won't they just sign the same players but to bigger deals?

Considering the pool of players is exactly the same...

That's what I suspect, which is why I put (in theory.)

 

[BKIslandersFan]

I think something like Florida-Colorado would be worse. Jets will draw the entire city, plus lots of casual Canadian fans (yes, less than other Canadian teams but hockey isn't big in some US cities).

If Florida makes the Finals, they will do well ratings wise in South Florida.

Don’t people understand how big population Miami Dade area has?

You can say South Florida is a lousy sports market but South Floridans flock wot watch Championship games.

 

[dkhockey]

You sound ridiculous. And higher ratings matter. Especially when your sport is being outdrawn by family guy reruns.

higher ratings do not matter...... the sport is not better because of high rating.
Just like when movie critics give movie high reviews, it is what the audience thinks that matter.

 

[SenzZen]

Who watches TV anymore?

 

[Melrose Munch]

higher ratings do not matter...... the sport is not better because of high rating.
Just like when movie critics give movie high reviews, it is what the audience thinks that matter.

Higher ratings mean more money. So not only does it matter, it's critical. This attitude is why hockey gets outgrown by ping pong.

 

[Melrose Munch]

And ESPN wishes they didn't sign NBA to that horrendous TV deal...

They're going to give them a bigger one.

 

[ThePhoenixx]

No New York teams, and no Chicago, it’s gonna be rough.

That's what happens when you pound down your stars.

In the NBA it would be OMG LeBron isn't going to make the playoffs????

In the NHL, it's some boring starless big market team is going to miss????? OMG!

 

[TheAngryHank]

Florida - Colorado in '96 did better than Detroit - Washington or Detroit - New Jersey.

True and better then pretty much every year after that till now.Detroit v Philly was highest ,per wiki.

 

[NeedleInTheHay]

That's what happens when you pound down your stars.

In the NBA it would be OMG LeBron isn't going to make the playoffs????

In the NHL, it's some boring starless big market team is going to miss????? OMG!

I honestly have no idea what you’re trying to say here.

 

[McGarnagle]

The Eastern matchups look pretty good right now, but the western ones look like ratings disasters, aside from maybe SJ/Anaheim (which has been done like every year for the last decade anyway)

 

[ThePhoenixx]

I honestly have no idea what you’re trying to say here.

This is the only league where the value of their stars in the playoffs is ignored. Look at this thread. No mention of the talent that is going to miss. That's because the league has allowed its stars to be beaten down and not allowed to truly shine. I'm surprised Crosby is still playing considering the abuse he has taken over the years.

If the league protected its star players, then big markets wouldn't be such a need for good ratings. They don't, so...

 

[MardyBum]

Eh, if a Canadian team makes it they'll have a lot of fairweather hockey fans hopping on the bandwagon. I was at Bonnaroo(Nashville) during the Canucks/Bruins series and they had a big tent with TV's and the place was packed every night with Canadians from all over the country cheering for the Canucks.

 

[MikeK]

I think they'll be right where they normally are as far as viewers go.