Joe Vision

[GREENTROIT]

True, but these public viewing parties have happened in the past, with the exact same contract in place. Last year for Game 6 in Pittsburgh, Joe Louis showed CBC. Why can't they show CBC this year? Because the NHL has explicitly urged the broadcast companies not to allow the games shown to large audiences. They don't want the two major viewing markets [[Detroit and Pittsburgh), to turn off TV's and gather at the arena. They want all the TV's on.

[raptor56]

The other problem is, the current NBC agreement pays the NHL revenue only if the network takes in over X amount of money. Higher ratings means more money for NBC, which in turn equals a paycheck for the NHL. This doens't explain, however, why JoeVision was allowed last year.

On a side note, the NHL and NBC are set to extend their contract through the 2010-2011 season. this means in 2011 both the NBC and Versus contracts will be up for bid.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sport...rticle1169950/

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puc...urn=nhl,168456

[diver1369]

You guys can argue the contract talk all you want to and shift the blame. The bottom line is that the fans who have supported their team season long are denied the experience of a shared event. It's petty and counterproductive. I'm watching the complete game tonight on CBC, including the playing of the National Anthem which NBC sells out for a commercial.

[Downriviera]

You can't beat Joe Vision for rating info. If there are 19.000 there watching the game, rack up 19,000 viewers for the network. Much more accurate than Nielsen ratings or whatever.

[noenaim]

I don't blame NBC for not wanting Joe Vision they need every rating point they can get. Going head to head with the NBA they are going to get clobbered,in the U.S. no one out side of Michigan and Pittsburgh will be watching. The NHL is such a poorly run league a TV contract with a 5th network like VS. and having their playoffs the same time as the NBA.

[diver1369]

It's a challenge to try and pitch a sport like hockey in an area where most of the residents have never played the game. Hockey must seem to be a curiosity to them. Basketball, baseball and football has been played by most Americans and generates a lot of passion. Only the northern tier of States have the culture and conditions for hockey to be a part of the sports scene. The NHL has tried for years to break into the American market but I believe it will always have limited success.

[Blarf]

Aren't all ticket sales for Joe Vision donated to charity?

Sounds like a public relations nightmare. Good luck with that one NBC/NHL.

[jcole]

Aren't all ticket sales for Joe Vision donated to charity?

Sounds like a public relations nightmare. Good luck with that one NBC/NHL.

Problem is, nobody outside of Detroit or Pittsburg cares, so NBC isn't sweating it too much.

[diver1369]

I read in today's Freep that twice as many Americans as Canadians are watching the Stanley Cup Finals because of the larger market size. That's the incentive for the NHL to continue to pursue some level of success in promoting the game down here and to appease the wishes of the US broadcaster of the games. Bottom line, we won't have to worry about Joe Vision until next year.