7 replies to this topic

[DropThePuck]

Bettman spent much of his 30-minute, state-of-the-union news conference Monday evening responding to criticism of the OLN television deal in particular.
...
The NHL's competition committee will meet again this summer and look at possibly other rule changes.

"I like the rule change that you can't change your players when you ice the puck and I'd like to also see that considered for when the goaltender freezes the puck," said Bettman.
...
The NHL's unbalanced schedule, which saw teams play eight games within their own division but none against some teams from the other conference, will be kept for next season. The 2006-07 playoffs will also end earlier than this year. A possible Game 7 in this final would go June 19.

<lots more at this link>

[pixiedawn]

He likes the OLN contract?? Is he nuts??? Oh I could go on a tirade...but I won't.

[GLOVESAVE35]

He likes the OLN contract?? Is he nuts??? Oh I could go on a tirade...but I won't.

That's Bettmanspeak for "I screwed up royally but can't admit it."

[Veca]

I see Mr. Buttman hasn't grown a brain as of yet. Wow, what a surprise.

[Dark Knight]

The last quote on that article shows how much Bettmann doesn't understand what the problems with the league, especially in what concerns TV deals are concerned. "It's about the hockey, it's not about the markets."

[Just Duckie]

The last quote on that article shows how much Bettmann doesn't understand what the problems with the league, especially in what concerns TV deals are concerned. "It's about the hockey, it's not about the markets."

If the NHL wants the sport to grow, of course its about the markets. They need to get into more than 70 million households and in sportsbars and hotels. ESPN has 70 million households on one of their channels alone. Hockey has always been a sport that has drawn fairly well at the gate, but it needs to grow the t.v. audience to be really successful and to get the $$$ from a network t.v. contract.

Maybe Bettman is just putting a good face on the lack of coverage? And maybe he was in a bind because ESPN declined the NHL option and wasn't treating the NHL well. I dunno though, because OLN's coverage seems pretty dismal and limited. The only way I can get OLN is if I decide to change to DirectTV or pay for premium cable, and I'm not going to do either right now. And it's worse in Orange County where most (over 50%?) of the households don't have OLN and couldn't watch the Ducks play in Round 3.

ESPN wasn't covering hockey very well during the regular season, but it was great during the playoffs because it had multiple channels and it also allowed dual coverage of the local teams with FSN. OLN saying they want exclusivity may be smart business on their part in the short term, but it hurts NHL fans because of OLN's limited reach and the NHL is stupid for agreeing to it.

[GLOVESAVE35]

[Dark Knight]

That's about right GS35...