NBC likes the NHL, it really does ...
One of the most popular sports in the world of sports media these days is knocking the National Hockey League’s television situation in the U.S.
Targets of ridicule include the fact that the league still can’t get a rights fee from network television, it’s still fighting with bowling in the ratings lists and it insists on selling its cable package to Versus, a network that’s so high up the dial it gives remotes nosebleeds.
Some of that ridicule was heightened this week when the league signed a new deal with NBC, once again without a rights fee. Compared with the billions and hundreds of millions commanded by the like of the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball the NHL isn’t even on the map south of the border.
It leaves the NHL in the same position as the likes of the Arena Football League, though at least the NHL didn’t take a year off. Oh, right, it did. But not this year.
Despite all this criticism, the fact is the NBC deal is a pretty good one for the league. It's not as if the NHL had any choice - no one else came calling - but NBC has done some good things for the league.
By playing the game by NBC’s rules, the league has seen its ratings increase. Regular-season ratings are still dismal, but the winter outdoor games and the Stanley Cup finals have scored impressive numbers. That should continue to grow as long as NBC continues to air a first-rate product.
Is it a great deal? Well, no, considering the NHL gets little money out of its profit-sharing arrangement. And NBC’s scheduling demands and insistence on putting hockey behind horse racing preview shows certainly don't do much for the league's image.
But things are looking up. It’s even possible – though not probable – that when the new deal expires in 2011, somebody like Fox or ABC might even be interested.
Okay, maybe that's a stretch. But if ratings for the NHL's big events continue to grow, there could be interest a little farther down the road.
Gee. Lousy TV ratings, lack of interest, and not getting anything for their TV rights? Sounds like the NBA and baseball on Canadian TV to me. So why is it just hockey that gets dragged through the mud all time?
Posted by: JoeKnowsIt | 07/17/2009 at 04:22 PM
Because baseball and basketball aren't desperately trying to make it big in Canada by compromising their playoff schedule in order to broadcast the games for little or no money.
Posted by: Jason Cormier | 07/17/2009 at 07:31 PM
Um.. this post is about NBC, you know, in AMERICA. Your point is irrelevant. Try to keep up.
Posted by: Mike | 07/17/2009 at 07:55 PM
I still don't know why the NHL bothers anymore. You would think, after 40 years of being rejected by broadcasters in the states they would just 'get it'. Americans, by and large, do not like hockey. They don't dislike it - they just DON'T CARE. Give it up Gary. Stop trying to grow the game in the states. You can't grow oranges in Canada, and you can't grow hockey in the states.
Posted by: Giller | 07/20/2009 at 10:50 AM
It's good to see a modest increase in US viewership. But, I think the article gives a little too much credit to NBC and not enough to the on ice product. It also doesn't hurt to have Chicago resurrected from years of mediocre performance hosting the Winter Classic and going deep into the playoffs and your finals featuring the 3 best players (at least statistically) in the game.
Posted by: other mark | 07/20/2009 at 12:26 PM
Hey Mike. Who cares about NBC in America? How does that apply to us again? What it shows glaringly is they have their sports, and we have ours. Get it?
Posted by: JoeKnowsIt | 07/20/2009 at 09:19 PM
Well for starters, I would say that Chris cares ... and the other posters who commented care ... and the NHL fans care.
In case you didn't know, the name of the blog is "SPORTS MEDIA WATCH" so this story DOES APPLY. It's your insulting comment meant to change the subject does not.
Also, there are only SPORTS! Not MY SPORTS and YOUR SPORTS, not OUR SPORTS and THEIR SPORTS, just SPORTS. What an extremely ignorant, divisive and ultimately sad viewpoint you have.
I get it, but I'm afraid you never will.
Posted by: Mike | 07/22/2009 at 09:28 AM
Well Mike. Thats your opinion. But the facts don't agree with you. And its nice you consider "their" sports ours as well. But as the anthem flap at the baseball all-star game showed, they could care less about you.
Posted by: JoeKnowsIt | 07/22/2009 at 09:47 PM
What "facts"? You say the word alot, but never say any actual facts.
Is it because you don't have any?
Posted by: Mike | 07/24/2009 at 07:35 AM