Power of ESPN - NHL Coverage on ESPN

[OG6ix]

Hi All,

I am fascinated with the Business of Sports and after the NHL/ESPN Contract I have been looking at how much the platform will push the NHL back in lne with the "Big Four" from the 90s/early 2000s.

Pardot the Interruption has been mentioning hockey/NHL more recently and I expect more of that in the very near future leading up to the contract kicking in the fall.

On the website the banner now shows NHL 4th; before the contract up to a week ago it in an obsecure "more sports section."

Today I logged on to the site and the NHL trade deadline is second behind only the NFL. Looks like ESPN is doing their part and I expect more in the next months.

I wanted to make this thread to monitor the ESPN coverage because we used to complain about how ESPN did not care before.

Click to read more...

 

[eddygee]

Hi All,

I am fascinated with the Business of Sports and after the NHL/ESPN Contract I have been looking at how much the platform will push the NHL back in lne with the "Big Four" from the 90s/early 2000s.

Pardot the Interruption has been mentioning hockey/NHL more recently and I expect more of that in the very near future leading up to the contract kicking in the fall.

On the website the banner now shows NHL 4th; before the contract up to a week ago it in an obsecure "more sports section."

Today I logged on to the site and the NHL trade deadline is second behind only the NFL. Looks like ESPN is doing their part and I expect more in the next months.

I wanted to make this thread to monitor the ESPN coverage because we used to complain about how ESPN did not care before.

So you're saying they had NHL in the [...] section before.

 

[OG6ix]

So you're saying they had NHL in the [...] section before.

Yes behind WWE and something called "Chalk"

 

[edog37]

Hi All,

I am fascinated with the Business of Sports and after the NHL/ESPN Contract I have been looking at how much the platform will push the NHL back in lne with the "Big Four" from the 90s/early 2000s.

Pardot the Interruption has been mentioning hockey/NHL more recently and I expect more of that in the very near future leading up to the contract kicking in the fall.

On the website the banner now shows NHL 4th; before the contract up to a week ago it in an obsecure "more sports section."

Today I logged on to the site and the NHL trade deadline is second behind only the NFL. Looks like ESPN is doing their part and I expect more in the next months.

I wanted to make this thread to monitor the ESPN coverage because we used to complain about how ESPN did not care before.

I think the real indicator is how much they put behind their paid subscription wall. If they put a lot of content there, then there is real demand signal.

 

[OG6ix]

I think the real indicator is how much they put behind their paid subscription wall. If they put a lot of content there, then there is real demand signal.

I think to grow the game content such as interviews and highlights need to be across all properties and channels. If it's behind a paywall you are catering to the diehards.

 

[eddygee]

Yes behind WWE and something called "Chalk"

I've never heard of Chalk either, that must be true The Ocho territory

 

[rojac]

I've never heard of Chalk either, that must be true The Ocho territory

It’s their sports gambling section.

 

[Bostonzamboni]

So you're saying they had NHL in the [...] section before.

Maybe it was during off season?

Or you're saying even during the season this year and maybe last year and before?

I noticed in my fubotv listings that ESPN2 is televising the trade deadline. Any here know if they been airing it in recent years?

NESN plus in New England carried it also. Maybe they had been doing it for many years, but I never checked.

 

[Marshmallow Man]

Maybe it was during off season?

Or you're saying even during the season this year and maybe last year and before?

I noticed in my fubotv listings that ESPN2 is televising the trade deadline. Any here know if they been airing it in recent years?

NESN plus in New England carried it also. Maybe they had been doing it for many years, but I never checked.

Pretty sure ESPN has had NHL in the "other" section for years and years and years.

 

[MBH]

Do people even watch sportscenter anymore?
All the highlights are on websites.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Do people even watch sportscenter anymore?
All the highlights are on websites.

yes......

 

[edog37]

I think to grow the game content such as interviews and highlights need to be across all properties and channels. If it's behind a paywall you are catering to the diehards.

Yes, but it also shows there is considerable interest. They won't put something behind a paywall unless they can make money off of it.

 

[J bo Jeans]

ESPN is by far no one comes even remotely close the biggest sports social media presence. ESPN is going to do wonders for younger audiences thanks to Twitter.

 

[MBH]

yes......

Why?
IMO, ESPN's power and influence hasn't been weaker in decades.

10 years ago, everyone watched ESPN for the sports recaps/highlights. That was the glue. So even if you didn't like hockey, or didn't like football, or tennis or whatever, you saw the highlights.

I guarantee you ESPN sportscenter's ratings are WAY WAY down over the last 10-15 years.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Why?
IMO, ESPN's power and influence hasn't been weaker in decades.

10 years ago, everyone watched ESPN for the sports recaps/highlights. That was the glue. So even if you didn't like hockey, or didn't like football, or tennis or whatever, you saw the highlights.

I guarantee you ESPN sportscenter's ratings are WAY WAY down over the last 10-15 years.

no it hasn't....

no other broadcast or cable network has what ESPN Has.....

you do realize ABC is the same company as ESPN

 

[46zone]

no it hasn't....

no other broadcast or cable network has what ESPN Has.....

you do realize ABC is the same company as ESPN

I'm sure he/she does, that's been well known for a long time. This is another example of you making a nonsensical point. Sportscenter hit a 41 year low in ratings last year, I think they were/are averaging about half a million per "episode" (the main 6pm broadcast). What does ESPN being apart of the same company as ABC have to do with SC's low ratings?

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

I'm sure he/she does, that's been well known for a long time. This is another example of you making a nonsensical point. Sportscenter hit a 41 year low in ratings last year, I think they were/are averaging about half a million per "episode" (the main 6pm broadcast). What does ESPN being apart of the same company as ABC have to do with SC's low ratings?

disagree 46:

why are u whining about ESPN THEN..... don't respond to ignorant posts like does anyone watch Sportscenter

the simple answer is YES

 

[46zone]

disagree 46:

why are u whining about ESPN THEN..... don't respond to ignorant posts like does anyone watch Sportscenter

the simple answer is YES

What does yes mean? I’m not whining about ESPN. OP guessed that Sportscenter’s audience has diminished and facts bear that out.

 

[varsaku]

I will wait on my judgement on their coverage once NFL season gets going.

 

[IU Hawks fan]

Think the last time I watched SportsCenter was in a hotel in Arizona the day after the NBA stopped the season last year and the pandemic really became official.

When I have 10-15 minutes free I turn on CBS Sports HQ, but overall I have no need to watch sports studio shows, better things to consume on the tube once a game ends. If I want to see highlights I find them online.

 

[S E P H]

no it hasn't....

no other broadcast or cable network has what ESPN Has.....

you do realize ABC is the same company as ESPN

Just because ESPN is still the biggest player in sports fandom (which pretty much consists of 85% casual fans), doesn't mean they haven't lost record number of people compared to ten years ago. There's a reason why ESPN/Disney went on a fire spree the last the couple of years. Still, NHL being on ESPN is good because it increases the percentage of casual fans willing to watch whatever sports is on for that day.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Just because ESPN is still the biggest player in sports fandom (which pretty much consists of 85% casual fans), doesn't mean they haven't lost record number of people compared to ten years ago. There's a reason why ESPN/Disney went on a fire spree the last the couple of years. Still, NHL being on ESPN is good because it increases the percentage of casual fans willing to watch whatever sports is on for that day.

casual... is not a terminology that applies to pro hockey at any level....

 

[S E P H]

casual... is not a terminology that applies to pro hockey at any level....

Agreed, hockey fans are either super hardcore or don't give a shit which is why I mention this deal is still good along with the impact that ESPN treats the sport fairly. But more casual fans watching = a higher chance a percentage of them (whatever that may be) eventually becoming hardcore fans.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Agreed, hockey fans are either super hardcore or don't give a shit which is why I mention this deal is still good along with the impact that ESPN treats the sport fairly. But more casual fans watching = a higher chance a percentage of them (whatever that may be) eventually becoming hardcore fans.

that's not casual....

u either are or you're not....

it has nothing to do with ESPN/Disney having the NHL Contract

 

[Night Shift]

First they gotta get Max Kellerman out the door. Doesn't like hockey, has no respect for the game so someone else needs to take his spot. Can't have guys like him bad mouthing the Nhl now.

I bet you ratings will go up when that happens