The Rise of Hockey
Posted by jtbourne on November 5, 2009 · 7 Comments
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Now that I’ve 100% accomplished getting straight people to be nice to gays (phew, glad that’s over with), I’m tackling getting hockey on TV in the US. Next week I’ll end racism and cure cancer.
*****
Hockey isn’t just re-emerging, it’s resurging. So why did I have to buy DirecTV’s NHL package to follow it?
Can I get the language of origin, please?
I’ve railed about this before, but hockey’s lack of prevalence on American television is startling. To date, I’ve spent the majority of my life in hockey-soaked markets like Canada and Alaska, so this is all new to me. Here in Phoenix, I’ve had to track down a hockey bar recently nicknamed the “Hoser Hut” (Cactus Jacks) to catch a conversation on anything frozen that isn’t a margarita. The game is too good these days to fall behind the PBA, poker and a SPELLING BEE in television ratings. I mean… right?
Almost a decade ago, with defense at a premium, and “interesting” at a deficit, Gary Bettman recognized that it wasn’t a complete overhaul the league needed, but a makeover. And look how pretty it is now:
Nineteen of the 24 US-based NHL teams (through October 18th) had seen increased or level TV ratings from last year at this time. The Anaheim Ducks, New Jersey Devils and Florida Panthers have made the biggest strides, with over 100% increased viewership over the first few weeks (while a third of NHL teams saw more than 50% gains). Sportsnet Chicago saw the Blackhawks set their all-time record in one day ratings on October 14th when the team played a regular season game against the Oilers.
That was nice of all their fans to squeeze in for a picture
And for the most part, attendance has mirrored the ratings – 18 teams are even or improved in that category already, with the Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils, Florida Panthers and Columbus Blue Jackets leading the pack in percentages gained. Aside from the Bruins, please re-read those team names. Yeah. Things are going well (sidenote – this information is from the NHL’s media site, where they included Atlanta in that group – I refuse to include them based strictly on seeing one game on TV where their attendance was worse than a swine-flu giveaway).
And NHL.com is getting more hits than Joe Mauer, up 25% from this time last year, and up 36% in unique visitors. They’re selling NHL gear quicker than Usain Bolt riding a cheetah (or would that slow it down?… fine, YOU come up with 100 metaphors a day) , and video plays are up a whopping 139% so far.
Stewart Cink is tweeting about the Thrashers. ESPN Sports Guy and basketball guru Bill Simmons is re-connecting with the Bruins after divorcing them years ago. The once-mainstream NHL is slowly leaking back into the public consciousness.
And, rightfully so. Watching hockey has replaced “doing literally anything else” on my “what I feel like doing tonight” list – a complete change from what it was five years ago. So why is it so hard to get a game covered by anyone other than The Little Network That Could, Versus (who, by the way, is also at all-time NHL ratings highs)?
Oh look, he's wearing his save percentage...
These days, Ovechkin is so nationally famous that even ESPN dares to occasionally run some of his highlights (the worldwide leader in sports they feel like covering), Sidney is more famous than Bing, and teams in major original six markets are good again (welcome back Ranger/Blackhawk fans. Didn’t hear from you for awhile there). Fine, Toronto isn’t good, but they could be stay popular if they went over 40 years without a cup. …wait…
The reasons for this swell of public interest have been discussed in plenty. But still, it’s refreshing to hear any positivity when it comes to the NHL. Us hockey people took a beating in the 90’s there, when goalies were wearing Michelin Man style gear and the Devils were forechecking agressively, only holding up when the other team had possession. Or were about to. Or were in the vicinity. That vicinity being the same half of the ice.
I know Bettman must want a TV deal as bad as anybody, so why do most people down here have to drive to their Friend-With-Pirated-Canadian-Satellite’s house to catch a game that wasn’t filmed on a Motorola Razr? After we get the head-check thing sorted out (which I could do over lunch while eating a hotdog), it’s time the NHL made getting a good TV deal its major goal. That should be the league’s own metaphorical Stanley Cup.
Because 2-0 scores no longer means the game is over. Tic-tac-toe goals are a thing of the 80’s – we’re now seeing tic-tac-tac-tic-tac-toe goals (anyone catch the Capitals passing play five/six days ago? I was like a bench player in And1 basketball, standing, screaming, taking off my shirt and spinning it around…)
He's feally rast.
Every night, new young talent is meshing with resurgent names from the dark, defensive days (one rhymes with Tall Bariya), while the speed of the skating and snapshots have reached levels once thought unreachable. Gary basically has an empty net breakaway here, and just needs to slide this one in. Get this on American television, somehow.
NHL highlight packages are truly highlights (as much as I enjoy a good dunk from a seven-footer with three foot arms or a diving catch, there’s nothing like hockey’s reel). Even the often-sassed-by-hockey-fans network ESPN has started to include around three plays in their nightly top ten from our much improved league. Plus, they love them some Melrose over there (I have to admit, I do too, but it’s hilarious because you know he’s about the 74,000th smartest hockey man in America)
The Winter Classic is a big enough hit that they can afford to gouge the fans again (how nice). And high-definition has almost voided the “I can’t see the puck” mantra chanted by fans in the heavily-defensive ‘90’s/early 00′s (what, Fox’s laser-streaks didn’t fix the problem?).
Before national coverage could be expanded, the sport has needed to qualify as “watchable” again. And it’s exceeded that.
Bettman has applied the league with the right make-up, gave it a nice haircut, and helped it to fit into its old skinny jeans. Now it’s time to find the league a dancin’ partner.
So come on, Bettsy-boy. You own the ‘Yotes now, that’s over with. Step up on head-checks first, and get a TV deal second (head-checks article coming… fittingly, it’s still stored in my head). There’s your agenda.
This is what I'd look like with a mustache.
I'm a hockey player turned writer. After playing for Alaska Anchorage in the WCHA (NCAA), I carried on with a NHL tryout (New York Islanders in 2007) before spending a couple seasons in the AHL/ECHL. My father, Bob Bourne, won four Stanley Cups with the Islanders in the '80's, as did my fiancee's dad, Clark Gillies. I'm now a columnist for USA Today, Puck Daddy (Y!) and Hockey Primetime.com.
Justin…I don’t really have anything constructive to add…Other than that Toskala caption made me spit my soda out at work.
You owe me a new keyboard dammit!
//ESPN Sports Guy and basketball guru Bill Simmons is re-connecting with the Bruins after divorcing them years ago.//
Excuse me, gotta go throw up now….
OK, back. Just the thought of that empty-headed, mysoginistic, pinkberry-guzzling, Melrose Place-watching, front-running dipshit even mentioning my Bruins makes my blood boil. That bozo wouldn’t know David Krejci or Vladimir Sobotka if they hit him over the head with a Czech-English dictionary. UGH.
Anyway, to your main point. I stopped watching SportsCenter last year when they didn’t even mention the first Bruins-Canadiens game of the season and spent 10 minutes on an interview with Pacman Jones. At ESPN, it’s the NFL, NBA, college basketball, college football, baseball and the WNBA, in that order. They look upon hockey as a joke. I mean, seriously, Barry Melrose?
As a DirecTV customer, I lost Versus this fall, and they gave me NHL Center Ice for free this season when I called to complain. Unfortunately what I wanted more than anything was simply access to Bruins games on Versus, since I have NESN, but it was better than nothing (and it’s fun to see the Leafs flailing).
Bottom line — a national TV deal would be wonderful, but with WHOM?
There is one dilemma with a TV deal for hockey, and Char hit on it: Who?
No network will dare place $5 on coverage, unless it is a game of the week thing like NBC. I’d like to think FOX could get in the hunt, but left turns and football bring too much money to the table. ESPN? Please. They’re running MAC, WAC and other “football” games on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and that day that has yet to be named. (You know, that one in between someday and any day.)
That leaves a couple of options.
1. Versus continues to build a brand. Not a given considering their horrible studio presence and lack of availability, but it’s there and it’s cheap.
2. All of the Fox Sports networks. Most (several) show local games, but I have a feeling that all (most) are just like FSNorth here in Minn. If the Wolves (the freakin’ Wolves!) are playing, that gets priority. Many games are thrown on a less-than-standard def local channel that makes Versus seem like ESPN’s NFL games. Of the 68 games that reamain for the Wild, three are not on any TV, 15 are on said crappy local station, 10 are non-HS FSNorth and one is NHLN only. Yeah.
Also a note on this: there have been six Gopher games this year. All were on non-HD FSNorth, and two were on tape delay (DU and Anch.).
3. A cheaper option to the Center Ice package. This is the future of all big sports, get a jump on it now. Soon enough, the NFL network will give FOX and ESPN a game a week and the rest will be available with season ticket packages only, at least until seats run out.
4. ESPN2. Or 3, 4, 5, 6, 7…
I would have to say Alaska is a frustrating place to watch hockey because during the week, the games are generally over or in the 3rd period by the time you get off work and we get the same low coverage that everyone else gets in the lower 48. It is nice, though, that Monday Night Football starts at 5pm instead of 7 or 8
Justin, it would be interesting to hear your take on the best and worst places to go watch an NHL game for those of us who have to travel to catch a game live or make trips to see our home team on the road.
Nothing about the 2009 World Series Champions?
You’re still #1 J.B. I have a new show for you to watch too. It’s called The League. It’s about a group of friends and their fantasy football league. It’s on fx, thursday nights after It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia (which is also awesome). Check it out.
jl
(sidenote – this information is from the NHL’s media site, where they included Atlanta in that group – I refuse to include them based strictly on seeing one game on TV where their attendance was worse than a swine-flu giveaway).
I have watched 2 games at Atlanta and if they say that their attendance is up… then they must have only had the players wives and girlfriends watching the games before because that was sad! I honestly think my beloved Cyclones had more fans at the game last night then Atlanta did!
Very funny and interesting post!
This is weird for me, since I’m a Canadian and hockey is HUGE here. Seriously, everybody watches the game. Even in university, when we can’t afford TVs we find a way to watch hockey.
There may be more American teams, but it’s still Canada’s game.
Oh, and the Leafs may suck now, but just you wait, someday we will recapture that cup! I mean, we still have a better chance than the Ottawa Chokers…I mean Senators.