tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761321691079178688.post2195671310474020673..comments2024-03-17T02:14:05.623-05:00Comments on Cycle like the Sedins: How could ESPN be any worse for the NHL than NBC? Tell me. Honestly.jamestobrienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16607553979777452973noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761321691079178688.post-16303197240162875782009-04-19T15:29:00.000-05:002009-04-19T15:29:00.000-05:00Good points, everyone.Good points, everyone.jamestobrienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16607553979777452973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761321691079178688.post-58669870716907193742009-04-19T13:15:00.000-05:002009-04-19T13:15:00.000-05:00Ratings are an educated guess derived form a sampl...Ratings are an educated guess derived form a sample group in each of the targeted age groups. They simply give networks an idea of how many TVs were tuned into their program at any given time. They do not and cannot count the actual number of eyes viewing said TV. <br /><br />Unfortunately execs won't look at 10,000 butts in chairs in a park and say "wow, we had 10,000 folks + whatever the ratings say" it will instead be seen as a low rated game, thus making it harder for them to feel motivated to a) air games b) not pre-empt them and c)sell air time.Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10220448812074695556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761321691079178688.post-36952946093185415612009-04-19T02:13:00.000-05:002009-04-19T02:13:00.000-05:00I wholeheartedly agree.
My guess on why Bettman i...I wholeheartedly agree.<br /><br />My guess on why Bettman is stuck with NBC is that he wants ABC involved if he signs an ESPN deal, like the deal they signed in 1999. Only ABC is in a different place now than they were in 1999. They have the NBA, and they don't want to gamble with the NHL ratings. And when Bettman asked them to renew, they offered him 1/10 of the contract they originally signed.<br /><br />And Fox won't touch Bettman since he screwed them to sign with ABC. So, NBC, who's fourth and really has had no idea what to do with itself since it lost NBA on NBC, is the only network willing to give Bettman a network deal.<br /><br />He's defended the deal a few times by saying he thinks it's important that hockey have national telecasts. And in his defense, he made a really smart move signing with Fox after the '94 lockout. But he never should have screwed Fox, and he never should've turned down ABC's offer.Anaheim Callinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02136410235455457786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761321691079178688.post-47649428185061981302009-04-19T01:39:00.000-05:002009-04-19T01:39:00.000-05:00Definitely an asshole move on NBC's part. What I d...Definitely an asshole move on NBC's part. What I don't get, is that, aren't Nielsen ratings based on how many people are watching? I remember getting surveys from them and it asked how many people were were in the house and shit. If the advertising is being seen, I don't see what the problem is.AmyBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05000509911620245092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761321691079178688.post-4783401379507986302009-04-18T21:59:00.000-05:002009-04-18T21:59:00.000-05:00Well said, Alexander Dubcek. I didn't think about ...Well said, Alexander Dubcek. I didn't think about the (obviously weak) argument of "lead-ins" but I can see NBC trying to float that bullshit.<br /><br />The thing is, people will assemble for games that skew the numbers. At places called "bars."<br /><br />Ugh, don't get me started on this shit.jamestobrienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16607553979777452973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761321691079178688.post-51787564711838304212009-04-18T21:26:00.000-05:002009-04-18T21:26:00.000-05:00As far as I can tell, the only argument NBC seems ...As far as I can tell, the only argument NBC seems to have is that its coverage of the Pens-Flyers series could be a lead-in to whatever craptacular programming follows, and so there's a potential for a loss of carryover audience share if people are assembling outside the Igloo to watch instead of sitting on their couches at home, where some of them will stay tuned in for "local programming" (which is what's scheduled for the post-Game 3 slot according to TV Guide). It's a pretty pisspoor reason if you ask me.<br /><br />My suspicion is that the vagaries of TV ratings and advertising rates are such that, even though NBC must recognize it'll have a captive audience of 10,000 or more watching outside the Igloo, there's no way to translate that into Nielsen points, and without Nielsen points, there's no way for NBC to turn to advertisers and say, "Look, if you advertise during Game 3, you'll reach this number of households according to Nielsen, plus this secondary audience watching in public."<br /><br />Really, I think this is probably a reflection of the problems Nielsen and the networks have been facing for some time with the advent of DVR, online viewing, timeshifting and all the other technological advances that have eroded the number of people who watch TV live (as programs are aired), even if the total number of people watching (combining live audiences, recordings and online/downloads) is holding pretty steady and even growing in some cases.<br /><br />Mainly it just sucks for Pens fans who want to watch the game in a festive atmosphere with other diehards.<br /><br />But it's one more way that NHL on NBC blows.Alexander Dubcekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02687830440483865198noreply@blogger.com