Hockey is no longer a major sport in the US

[Jon Miller]

I don't beleive that OLN is commonly available in the DC area either.

JM

[Sava]

Just browse the websites of the various cable providers. They usually have a listing of the packages and the channels included. I'm familiar with Chicago area providers because my sister recently had problems with her cable company. She lives in Chicago. I'm out in the burbs. OLN is only included in the most premium packages in all the cable services available in both areas. Same with the satelite services of Dish Network and DirectTV.

Does anyone from the other metro areas want to chime in on this?

JM from DC

70 million households my ass... most people don't get the best packages. I bet they are including all satelite subscribers, regardless of what specific programming they have.

Fuzzy math.

[Jon Miller]

Eh, it might actually be there. Just not one that I or my freinds have ever watched (and they like sports, and I have seen them watching Hockey.. but they watch ESPN).

JonM iller

[Sava]

Well, either way, I think the discussion is pretty irrelevant. The ratings sucked. That's what is important. A lot of people can't get OLN, those who do, probably don't even know it exists.

[Ming]

Originally posted by Sava
70 million households my ass... most people don't get the best packages. I bet they are including all satelite subscribers, regardless of what specific programming they have.

The numbers he is using are from Nielson, the leading authority on TV ratings... (for what that's worth )

And they are correct. They do not include all satelite (or cable) subscribers regardless of what package they have. They really do cover those that CAN watch the network. (I went back to the primary Nielson data to see if he was pulling a number out of his ass)

But I'm not surprised that it's easy to find people who don't get it, since more than one out of three people can't

Needless to say... it's a worthless television contract, and the league will remain second rate until they get a real one

[atawa]

Poker gets more viewers then ice hockey

[Arrian]

Easily.

-Arrian

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Poker Fights rule.

[atawa]

Amazing, I watched it once but fell asleep halfway.

[gjramsey]

Originally posted by Sava
Does anyone from the other metro areas want to chime in on this?

OLN is on Basic Cable in Houston with Time Warner.

I, however, watched the game on INHD (simulcast of OLN's broadcast). HD hockey is mucho better then standard TV.

[Dis]

good riddance.

[Kontiki]

In any event, I'm not sure hockey is (was) considered one of the major pro sports in the US because of it's television ratings - they've never been particularly high, especially relative to NFL, MLB and NBA. I think that distinction has more to do with the fact that:

A) It's a organized team sport with a clear hierachy of levels (minor leagues, etc) and drafts
B) Franchises are geographically based and generally worth in excess of a hundred million dollars
C) The best players from around the world play in the league
D) The average salary of a player in the league is over $1 million and is independent of individual endoresments
E) The league has a history of continuous operations going back to 1917

[Dis]

It was bigger when they had big star it seemed. Gretzky, that Mario Lemiuox guy (you can tell I don't follow it that closely).

Are there any big stars out there today?

[joncha]

Ty Conklin

[Pekka]

Only 600k? Wow, that's low... That's really really low. Something is wrong, it's not just that the game is what it is (meaning awesome!), there has to be some more problems, 600k just is too low for 'well we don't like hockey anymore'. It still should get way more than that..

Also people have been talking that the popularity has been rising this season, especially because it's a bit faster with the new rule enforcement.

I guess it just isn't true.

Then again, this is just a conspiracy to justify the future losses in hockey WC, Olympics etc... as we know, US isnt' even top 4 these days with best players on ice. Some good youngsters coming up, maybe in few years again, after getting rid off those oldies like Chelios and stuff. Overrated 40+ folks just won't cut it. There's bound to be more young and talented players, maybe it's the managment that sucks.

It also might help (Stanley Cup Finals) if it was other teams in it than Carolina and Edmonton.