Posted on 02/13/2010 7:51:28 PM PST by The Pack Knight
VANCOUVER – From horse-racing conflicts to shuttering the big screen at Mellon Arena, NBC has given hockey fans as much anxiety and anger as watching Jay Leno sit in Conan's chair.
The latest affront to puckheads: The U.S. vs. Canada men's preliminary-round showdown Feb. 21 won't be shown on NBC, but on cable's MSNBC at 7 p.m. EST. Instead, the Peacock will bring fans an exhilarating night of ice dancing, women's speedskating, men's freestyle skiing and men's giant slalom – rather than what amounts to an NHL all-star game on an international stage.
To the surprise of no one, NBC's getting torched for this: Outspoken player agent Allan Walsh tweeted that it was "disgraceful, and Chicago Now called it inexcusable: How can the NHL cancel their all star game and postpone their season for two weeks to accommodate the Olympics without getting any major network attention during the Winter Olympiad?
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...
Honestly, while I see the argument, it still doesn't make much sense to me. NBC is the only broadcast network that carries the NHL, and certainly spent a lot of money promoting the Winter Classic and will probably spend a lot more promoting the Stanley Cup finals. They certainly seem invested in generating interest in the NHL.
So now they have the opportunity to broadcast the biggest showcase of NHL talent this side of the All-Star Game, except this game actually matters and is one both the fans and the players actually care about. What better way to generate interest in NHL hockey than broadcasting it on prime time?
But, whatever. Far be it from me to suggest to NBC that it show a sport people actually care about.
It might also be that Hockey is a sport that most Americans just don’t care for.
Nancy Boy Channel
Oh come now. Less than ice dancing? Please.
I have Ice skated since I was a small child.
I would much rather watch figure skating than hockey mtself, but really....this is the twenty first century. Put it on multiple chanels or online. There is no reason the consumer should have to choose.
The old media are dying for a reason.
Ughhh. I like hockey but I don’t think I can bring myself to watch MSNBC. I just can’t do it......who will be the announcers Maddow and Olberman?? NO THANKS! I will watch the Food Network.......
Thanks for my first laff of the day!
>>Oh come now. Less than ice dancing? Please.<<
Since chicks watch the Winter Olympics more than guys, and most guys don’t care for hockey, then yes.
It was clearly selection of one demographic over the other ... American women are likely more into “ice dancing” than American men are into non-NHL hockey.
SnakeDoc
>>I will watch the Food Network.......<<
Iron Chef or World’s Worst Cook — now THAT is competition. And don’t get me started on my newest: Three Sheets!
?
They promote those NHL events because they carry it and that is about it. As far as investment in the NHL goes they pay zero in rights fees to the NHL. They have an ad revenue sharing scheme but how much ends up with the NHL who knows. The NHL is run by morons.
That is so gay.
Hockey doesn’t even pull a one rating on national TV most times. Why would the olympics be any different. Smart decision on NBC’s part.
“Oh come now. Less than ice dancing? Please.”
Women seem to love figure skating and ice dancing. I have no interest in it personally, but the other sports mentioned sound good - I can watch hockey any time, but short-track speedskating is cool, and seldom seen other than during the Olympics.
Maybe Sid could be more like Ovy and leave his feet every hit, go knee on knee, board someone, cherry pick, or win a Stanley Cup - oh wait, Ovy doesn’t have one. Sorry.
Yet.
There is also a chance that for the first time the US couple may take the gold.
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