38 replies to this topic

[QuackHead]

Just curious

[Dark Knight]

I get VS but it's the biggest joke. The NHL should be on ESPN and the ASG should be on NBC for maximum coverage. You don't promote a sport by burying it in a channel hardly anyone gets.

Bettman's a moron

[jusducks6]

I am in the minority I love Versus. We pretty much get the whole station and the commentators are really great for the most part.

[Dark Knight]

I am in the minority I love Versus. We pretty much get the whole station and the commentators are really great for the most part.

But you are already a hockey fan. If you want to promote a sport and get more fans you don't put it on VS.

[QuackHead]

I had VS. last season at my old house. I remember them playing Darts on Fox Sports while the NHL playoffs were happening. So sad. Winning the Cup catapulted the fan base to a level worthy of a FSN bid.

[MrsBevo]

Vs. didn't come on the basic cable, so I had to upgrade to digital. The weird thing was when it was Adelphia, it would have cost me $30+ per month to upgrade. When Time Warner took over, digital cable was cheaper. It's a crappy channel, though, and they don't do a good job. Unless it is something like this or a Ducks game, I don't even bother to watch.

[pixiedawn]

I have it at home, and I think the bars at my work have it, (they have Center Ice for sure.)

It is a crap station.

[Veca]

We get it and yes!! I do get "it".......

[jusducks6]

I had VS. last season at my old house. I remember them playing Darts on Fox Sports while the NHL playoffs were happening. So sad. Winning the Cup catapulted the fan base to a level worthy of a FSN bid.

Ducks have been on FSN for a long time a long with almost all the other teams unless there on Comcast sports net, sports south, RDS, CBC, TSN, Altitude, or MSG.

[Duckbill]

I agree with DK, no matter what you think about Versus, it's not going to grow the sport. I will credit Versus for improving their coverage from their initial year of having the NHL on OLN, and I will also credit Versus for doing what they can to improve the content of their network. I can now say that I watch it for more than just hockey as their offerings of college football and college basketball give me more to watch. Versus has made multiple attempts to get NFL and MLB games as well.

But even ARENA FOOTBALL realized that they needed to go with ESPN in order to grow their sport. Not that I like ESPN but they have the availiablity, and they also have legions of groupies who gobble up their magazines, play fantasy sports to the exclusion of other aspects of their life, and shamelessly name their children "Ess-Pin" (spelled ESPN). The network is also a self-publicizing monster. If ESPN had hockey again they would market it so hard you'd be hard pressed NOT to see a guy in ice skates during any one of their programs. Markets would expand, and the sport would enjoy a little more respect than it does nowadays. Granted their overpromotion of the NFL and terrible announcers have made Monday Night football (Sunday nights before that) nearly unwatchable unless its a good game, and their commentators are shameless homers for anything out of New England, but it's a sacrifice i'd be willing to make.

NBC was not a bad choice for games, but none of the major broadcast networks have time to put a lot of promotion into any of their products except for NFL and College football, hence the huge transition of most pro sports to cable over the last few years.

I had VS. last season at my old house. I remember them playing Darts on Fox Sports while the NHL playoffs were happening. So sad. Winning the Cup catapulted the fan base to a level worthy of a FSN bid.

NOt sure what' you're getting at with this post. Do you mean that the later rounds of the playoffs should have been on FSN? Given that FSN is not an all encompassing Network but instead a somewhat loose organization of regional networks, I don't think it would have been possible. Plus Versus has a way better picture quality than FSN.

Supposedly Versus is going to team up with Golf Channel to come out with an HD channel that will split time between the two networks, which possibly means more hockey games in HD. I am liking that idea very much seeing as how INHD isn't offered anymore and I can't get games on there.

[M T]

I get it.

[QuacksMeUp]

I don't get it. I have 3 ESPN "sports" channels, 2 FOX "sports" channels, channels 2,4,7, 9, 11, 13. If the NHL can't manage to show their games on any of these channels on a consistent basis, why would I want to buy a package or VS when I already buy all of these so-called sports channels? The NHL could decide tomorrow to put all their games on QVC? Which actually would be great, because I get them on my basic already. And you could shop for cosmetics and pots and pans between periods! I think I'm on to something here...

[BuckyHermit]

NBC was not a bad choice for games, but none of the major broadcast networks have time to put a lot of promotion into any of their products except for NFL and College football, hence the huge transition of most pro sports to cable over the last few years.

An interesting tidbit: not all NBC stations carry the games. For example, the Stanley Cup Finals did not air on KING-5, the Seattle affiliate we get here in Vancouver with basic cable. I had to tune into WDIV Detroit, which I thankfully have. (I can't stand the CBC guys, especially when a Canadian team is involved.)

[Duckbill]

An interesting tidbit: not all NBC stations carry the games. For example, the Stanley Cup Finals did not air on KING-5, the Seattle affiliate we get here in Vancouver with basic cable. I had to tune into WDIV Detroit, which I thankfully have. (I can't stand the CBC guys, especially when a Canadian team is involved.)

That's really weird, could it have had something to do with you being in Vancouver, and thus able to get CBC where they might have some sort of playoff exclusive rights that would keep NBC's broadcasts out of Canada?

[ducksfan95]

I get it but i agree with all of you. Bettman needs to get a brain and learn how to promote a sport and channels that everyone actually gets. When it was on ESPN it was great and even i wouldnt mind FOX (ugh..) but anything but versus. i like some of the shows that they have for hunting and fish but overall there are alot of better channels that the greatest sport in the world can be put on

[BuckyHermit]

That's really weird, could it have had something to do with you being in Vancouver, and thus able to get CBC where they might have some sort of playoff exclusive rights that would keep NBC's broadcasts out of Canada?

No, because NBC Seattle had aired some games previously in the season, and there are no blackouts for us via the major networks (NBC/CBS/FOX/ABC). There are no restrictions on national networks, as far as I know. Only local ones (ie. FSN, Comcast Sportsnet, Altitude, MSG, Rogers Sportsnet, etc.) have restrictions.

Besides, if there was a restriction, I wouldn't have been able to watch it via NBC Detroit.

(On an off-topic note, if they ever air Ducks games on KTLA, I'd be thrilled, because that's available Canada-wide on digital cable. I watch Clippers games on it sometimes.)

[Duckbill]

No, because NBC Seattle had aired some games previously in the season, and there are no blackouts for us via the major networks (NBC/CBS/FOX/ABC). There are no restrictions on national networks, as far as I know. Only local ones (ie. FSN, Comcast Sportsnet, Altitude, MSG, Rogers Sportsnet, etc.) have restrictions.

Besides, if there was a restriction, I wouldn't have been able to watch it via NBC Detroit.

Gotcha.

(On an off-topic note, if they ever air Ducks games on KTLA, I'd be thrilled, because that's available Canada-wide on digital cable. I watch Clippers games on it sometimes.)

Man I was bummed when KCAL quit broadcasting Ducks games, because I have that channel in HD. KTLA would be be a good, but since the Samueli's own KDOC I doubt they are going to move them off of that station anytime soon.

[Soundgirl2002]

The Versus network is a very big joke. I can't stand the fact that they air very few games. I get more Rangers, Islanders and Devils games living on the east coast on MSG and FSN then on Versus. Plus I wish their was some way that all the networks could cover an even spread of east coast and west coast games as I hardly ever get to see the ducks play living out here with out purchasing NHL Center Ice. Hell I wouldn't mind if Time Warner Cable added the CBC network to its channel line up so that I could get even more hockey.

[BuckyHermit]

The Versus network is a very big joke. I can't stand the fact that they air very few games. I get more Rangers, Islanders and Devils games living on the east coast on MSG and FSN then on Versus. Plus I wish their was some way that all the networks could cover an even spread of east coast and west coast games as I hardly ever get to see the ducks play living out here with out purchasing NHL Center Ice. Hell I wouldn't mind if Time Warner Cable added the CBC network to its channel line up so that I could get even more hockey.

CBC doesn't carry too many Ducks games though, except the playoffs. The only Ducks game they carried this season was the one against Calgary back near the end of December. But if you're into the Northwest Division, all power to ya, because they show those so often (due to Cgy, Edm, Van being in that div).

[Duckbill]

See, I just sort of thought of something that makes me a little guilty. I'm glad Versus doesn't carry more Ducks games though because, being a resident of Southern California I get all the games on my basic cable. If Versus got more Ducks games, they would actually be LESS availiable in the team's home market! It's incredibly selfish, but it's easier for more California fans to see the games if the Ducks aren't on nationally.

But it's a sacrifice that almost needs to happen. I don't get why Versus doesn't do a West coast game more often anyway. Sure the east fans won't see as much of it, but it's way better than some third run replay of a second rate cage fighting organization or a barbecue cookoff now eh?

[432j]

I do receive Vs. at home.

However, as I pointed out in another thread recently, I have seen more Pro Bull Riding this season (3 events) than I have hockey games (1) this season on that network.

I thought they had maybe quietly stopped showing the NHL in preparation of the contract expiring. I was shocked to hear they exercised their option to continue their NHL "coverage."

They are at a point where the coverage they provide is credible, but it is way too infrequent. Given their other programming alternatives, the NHL should be on that network nightly.

NHL went to Vs. to be a big fish in a small pond. IMO, they're not getting that benefit at all.

[Dark Knight]

NHL went to Vs. to be a big fish in a small pond. IMO, they're not getting that benefit at all.

Especially not for a network that features a lot of fishing shows

[TroyLoney]

The NHL was on ESPN between 1992 and 2005 - how'd they do in "growing the sport" during that time? Pathetic. The ratings got worse and worse and the sport saw its popularity in America get smaller and smaller. So why would going back to ESPN, who already has the NFL, MLB, NBA, NASCAR, WNBA, Poker, Tennis, Golf, College Basketball, College Football, Arena League football and unlimited airings of Around the Horn and PTI, be good for the NHL? In fact, since the NHL left ESPN they have added NASCAR Truck Series Racing and the NFL so the NHL would get even less coverage than they did before!

I get Versus and I think they do a good job with their coverage of the NHL and while I wish they had more NHL related programming on other than games, I also get the NHL Network so I simply tune into that for highlights, analysis and features.

Not that I like ESPN but they have the availiablity, and they also have legions of groupies who gobble up their magazines, play fantasy sports to the exclusion of other aspects of their life, and shamelessly name their children "Ess-Pin" (spelled ESPN). The network is also a self-publicizing monster. If ESPN had hockey again they would market it so hard you'd be hard pressed NOT to see a guy in ice skates during any one of their programs. Markets would expand, and the sport would enjoy a little more respect than it does nowadays. Granted their overpromotion of the NFL and terrible announcers have made Monday Night football (Sunday nights before that) nearly unwatchable unless its a good game, and their commentators are shameless homers for anything out of New England, but it's a sacrifice i'd be willing to make.

None of that happened when the NHL was on ESPN back in 2004, so why would it be different now? They didn't market the sport worth a damn and as a result nobody watched their games. Then they complained about the low ratings.

ESPN is not the answer to the NHL's woes on television as they proved for 13 years. I'm not sure what the answer is, but I know it's not ESPN. They had their chance and they did a horrible job.

[Reb]

I know what the answer is. It's Network TV that everyone gets (NBC, CBS, ABC, etc.). Not everyone can afford cable or satellite channels. So, negotiate a contract with one of the Networks that all have access to. THAT'S the way to build fan support. Then again, no one listens to me. Why? Because I've got two strikes against me already. I'm old and I'm poor. No one listens to the elderly and impoverised.

[Duckbill]

I get Versus and I think they do a good job with their coverage of the NHL and while I wish they had more NHL related programming on other than games, I also get the NHL Network so I simply tune into that for highlights, analysis and features.

I agree with you on this but things are not going to improve unless Versus does something to get in more homes, which they have so far been unable to do.

None of that happened when the NHL was on ESPN back in 2004, so why would it be different now? They didn't market the sport worth a damn and as a result nobody watched their games. Then they complained about the low ratings.

ESPN is not the answer to the NHL's woes on television as they proved for 13 years. I'm not sure what the answer is, but I know it's not ESPN. They had their chance and they did a horrible job.

I know ESPN isn't perfect, and I dislike what that network has become but they aren;t going to get recognition on versus. ESPN, if they decide they want hockey back and if they put the same effort into marketing the NFL, MLB, and NBA, will get better ratings than Versus jsut based on availiability and will market the hell out of it like they do all of their products. Like I said in my original post, Versus has made big attempts to get more major sporting events on their network, but they haven't done a lot to get in more homes.