Announcement

**notyoueither** · June 17, 2006, 00:58

I'd also wager that Regina could support a team along the same lines that Green Bay supports an NFL franchise, but they would be last in line.

**DanS** · June 17, 2006, 00:58

Columbus metro population is 1.7 million.

Quebec metro is 700,000
Winnipeg metro is 700,000
Hamilton metro is 700,000
Halifax metro is 350,000

Why on earth would you move from a 1.7 million market to a 700,000 market, when the 1.7 million market is inclined to support your product?

**Imran Siddiqui** · June 17, 2006, 00:59

Now there is screaming by Yanks who can't get the games.

Screaming? More like a shrug and moving on for a lot of former fans.

**DanS** · June 17, 2006, 01:00

Imran: Perhaps I didn't make myself clear. I saw you ridiculing MLS for its broadcast deals. Different sport.

**notyoueither** · June 17, 2006, 01:02

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

You've been drinking tonight, right? The NHL hasn't helped OLN do jack. Comcast (who owns OLN) tried to use it to force cable companies to put it on 'basic cable', but it ended up being an utter mess. And the ratings numbers show that OLN isn't going to come close to winning anything. It hasn't even come into sniffing distance of FSN, not even mentioning ESPN!

I was agreeing with what you said, and you laugh?

People will urge cable to put OLN on basic cable.

Doesn't seem outrageous to me.

There are a lot of hockey fans in the snow states.

**notyoueither** · June 17, 2006, 01:06

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

Now there is screaming by Yanks who can't get the games.

Screaming? More like a shrug and moving on for a lot of former fans.

Good.

The game won't be build on casual viewers who would pick beach vollyball over Stanley Cup Playoffs.

I've never deceived myself that hockey would become number 3 in the US.

I'd rather the game have stable franchises and good TV deals in markets that will watch it than push people who wouldn't know slashing from a two line pass into missing their beach vollyball.

If the game is good, it will grow. The game is good.

**Imran Siddiqui** · June 17, 2006, 01:06

Originally posted by DanS
Imran: Perhaps I didn't make myself clear. I saw you ridiculing MLS for its broadcast deals. Different sport.

Ridiculing it as a big time sport when it took no money for TV deals is a far different than saying they shouldn't take those deals when they are a minnow sport.

[q=nye]People will urge cable to put OLN on basic cable.[/q]

Yeah, that's happened

.

OLN is mostly on basic cable on Comcast and a few other cable companies. The others aren't feeling much pressure from NHL fans to put OLN on their basic cable tier. Especially when ratings have been in the toilet, even on NBC.

**notyoueither** · June 17, 2006, 01:07

Originally posted by DanS
Columbus metro population is 1.7 million.

Quebec metro is 700,000
Winnipeg metro is 700,000
Hamilton metro is 700,000
Halifax metro is 350,000

Why on earth would you move from a 1.7 million market to a 700,000 market, when the 1.7 million market is inclined to support your product?

I wouldn't, if they support the product.

If they don't, there are welcome homes for the franchise.

**Imran Siddiqui** · June 17, 2006, 01:08

[q=nye]The game won't be build on casual viewers who would pick beach vollyball over Stanley Cup Playoffs.[/q]

Casual viewers are the base from which you get your new hard core fans. The NFL figured this out a while back.

**notyoueither** · June 17, 2006, 01:12

The better question is would I sacrifice the product to get that 1.7 mil to like it.

The answer is no.

**** them if they don't like it. It's their loss if they don't like the fastest, hardest, most exciting game on offer.

I'm not here to argue that every Yank should love hockey. Either you do, or you don't. It might grow on you and if it does then great, but I am against the league prostituting itself for the unlikely prospect that hockey will ever out pace basketball.

**DanS** · June 17, 2006, 01:14

Originally posted by notyoueither
If they don't, there are welcome homes for the franchise.

Smallish homes, to be sure. I don't know why you're pimping minor league towns. Having one team in a Green Bay is great. But to build a league on such towns seems foolhardy to me.

**Imran Siddiqui** · June 17, 2006, 01:14

The better question is would I sacrifice the product to get that 1.7 mil to like it.

Isn't that exactly what the 'new rules' were designed to do?

And how is it "sacrificing the product" to take a less lucrative monetary deal in exchange for a far greater television coverage?

**notyoueither** · June 17, 2006, 01:14

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
[q=nye]The game won't be build on casual viewers who would pick beach vollyball over Stanley Cup Playoffs.[/q]

Casual viewers are the base from which you get your new hard core fans. The NFL figured this out a while back.

Hard core hockey fans come from the home.

However, I am not adverse to giving major networks some gifts to get exposure, as I said.

What I am against is begging a mutt network to broadcast games.

The NHL does not need it.

**notyoueither** · June 17, 2006, 01:16

ESPN wants to keep showing poker and let OLN have NHL?

Fine. Let's see who pulls more viewers in 5 years.

**DanS** · June 17, 2006, 01:17

What exactly is a mutt network?

Announcement

Hockey is no longer a major sport in the US

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment