Hockey is dying

Post by **wolfe** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:48 am

Despite the few thousand people who fill the arenas in each NHL city, hockey is dying around the country. Take me for example, after the Preds got knocked out of the playoffs, I haven't watched any more playoff games. I don't think I've watched a non-Predators hockey game in years.

Saturday's Game 3 on NBC will probably be the worst TV rating in the history of TV. Not just hockey ratings ... no, no, not just sports ratings ... I'm talking the worst ratings of anything ever broadcast on network TV. The Bicycle Channel was already getting poor ratings, but now NBC is doomed to be unwatchable until this thing is finally over.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnis ... OE=SPOISVA

Hockey is not a major sport. It's not even a top 10 league.
NFL, NBA, MLB, NASCAR, NCAA football, NCAA men's basketball, NCAA women's basketball, spelling bees, poker, bowling, NCAA women's softball all get more viewers than NHL.

Good job, NHL.

bilyeuofbaxter · Post by **bilyeuofbaxter** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:12 am

OLN is only available in 30% of homes in the US. That has something to do with the low ratings. ESPN does not report on hockey anymore b/c they did not renew the contract with the NHL and people blindly follow what ESPN tells them to watch. If you believed ESPN Duke and UNC are the only mens basketball teams in the NCAA. As for you not watching hockey since the Preds lost, too bad for you. The playoffs have been amazing, however if you just watch DUKESPN you would never know.

bilyeuofbaxter · Post by **bilyeuofbaxter** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:30 am

Here is some further evidence of ESPN controlling what the masses watch. Attendance for hockey could most easily be compared to basketball. They have the same amount of games and similar sized arenas. Basketball, in which every dunk by a 7' tall man is made out to be an act of God every night, averaged 17543 per game this season. Hockey averaged 16954 per game this season. A difference of 589 fans per game. People like this sport but, to get good television ratings you must have the somewhat interested audience, which in my opinion is driven somewhat if not totally by the highlights ESPN shows. Does anyone give a fuck about the IRL NO! But, you would think goddam Dannica Patrick was an all-star athlete if you watched ESPN.

Agitator · Post by **Agitator** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:38 am

everyone knows i like to argue, but i jsut can't against Dave's synopsis.

Well said BLUE..,..

Post by **wolfe** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 1:19 pm

Yes, NHL attendance is very good. Actually it's excellent considering they shit on their fans by cancelling an entire season.

Wait until NBC's Saturday night ratings come out. They will be very poor. All the NBC games during the playoffs received poor ratings and (on average) NBC is watched by many more people than ESPN.

My point remains: Without a TV audience hockey is dying a slow death.

Agitator · Post by **Agitator** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 1:38 pm

bilyeuofbaxter wrote:OLN is only available in 30% of homes in the US.

who did OLN have to sleep with to get exclusive rights to the games. i have never heard of the network until this year, and i don't have it, so i hate it.

Post by **wolfe** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 2:03 pm

It was a great move by OLN to get the NHL. I think they expected people to request their cable companies to add the channel to their cable packages. It didn't happen. The NHL playoffs have had record ratings for OLN - but poor by other networks expectations.

The channel is going to rename itself to "Versus" soon and start showing more team sports.

bilyeuofbaxter · Post by **bilyeuofbaxter** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 2:36 pm

"Ohhhhhhh, I thought you said TEEN sports", Jeff Wolfe. A probable quote from Jeff Wolfe after specially purchasing Versus from his cable provider.

Agitator · Post by **Agitator** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 3:30 pm

i can't believe you said that Jeff... you're not right.

bstock · Post by **bstock** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 7:36 pm

thank god for european football - damn yanks