In their infinite wisdom, executives at the ‘Worldwide Leader in Football and Basketball’ took time away from kneeling at the altar of Roger Goodell and discussion of the undying virtue of the routine slam dunk to make the decision to chip away at the foundation of the final vestiges of hockey programming on its family of networks.
After years of carrying the Frozen Four semifinals on ESPN2 and the title game on ESPN, ‘the deuce’ will now be home to college hockey’s season swan song and one of the semifinals while the first semifinal has been relegated to the never-popular ESPNU.
While it’s true that those of us most passionate about college hockey are an easily offended and defensive lot when it comes to the game we love, it is a difficult pill to swallow when our sport’s … ahem … one shining moment (sorry, it just slipped out) is devalued by a network whose criteria for a ‘top play’ is the NBA equivalent of an empty-net goal.
By not televising hockey, they do not give it a chance to grow. They don't televise hockey because it's not popular, but did they ever think that the reason it isn't popular is because they don't televise it?
By not televising hockey, they do not give it a chance to grow. They don't televise hockey because it's not popular, but did they ever think that the reason it isn't popular is because they don't televise it?
Obviously this is just vastly unfortunate, but expected in a time when the vast majority of college hockey audiences actually see the games live rather than via television.
We will see where it goes from here. The NCAA gets better every year and hockey is still a very popular sport.
Atmosphere at games is like a smaller 'football' club in europe.
The chanting, singing, and band is great.
Its too bad I never went to a big school with a D1 team. So I have no allegiance to any school. But I like the main competitors. Michigan, North Dakota, Wisconsin, BU, BC, RPI, Maine U, Providence are my favorites. For different reasons. RPI for personal reasons.
i know ive said it before but i just recently finished up at merrimack. Theres nothing like D1 hockey. It was a great experience. The Hockey East is one of the most exciting things to watch out of all the NCAA sports and respective divisions. The rivalry and passion up there for it is almost unparalleled. I played another sport up there and I can tell you right now hockey takes center stage AINEC.
I went to a D-III school with an awesome broadcasting program that streams the hockey games and does a better job than the pros can probably do. ESPN has nice cameras and all but the commentators (sorry Thorne) rarely know anything about the teams, players, etc. I'd much rather have the production on ESPNU or ESPN2 if it means there's commentators who prepared ahead. I think the smaller the better in terms of network coverage. The people that want to watch it will find the networks. Not a huge issue.
Thanks for posting this, ESPN has been dead to me for years, so I wouldnt have found out until The Frozen Four.
Seriously, I watch SNF on ESPN...... and....ehhhh... I think that's about it. They have absolutely destroyed what was once the dominant player in sports programming, and it's NOT just because they couldnt care less about hockey, virtually all of their programming has degraded.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HagelinForPresident
Too bad it is up in 12 years
NBC Sports could purchase the remaining rights from ESPN, and probably at par if ESPN is backseating it.
At least NBC sports airs college hockey on Friday nights
Yes! I'm a Cats fan (I used to live in Burlington) and I've had the privilege of watching them get destroyed on live national television TWICE in the last few weeks.
ESPN reaches out to fans of basketball football and baseball. Hockey does not appeal to their demographic interests (no racism intended).
That's not true. Has nothing to do with target demos. Anyone that watches sportscenter or any sports channel is either an avid or casual fan which basically can be classified as every league's sports fan.
They have no investment in hockey, so they don't care if they grow the sport or not. That's why NBC is promoting the hell out of hockey. They have a 10 year $200 million dollar investment.
espn doesn't promote hockey because the nhl didn't like the contract offer they received from espn, which is why they went to versus/nbc sports instead. when hockey was on espn2 it got much more air time.
espn has no rights to broadcast the nhl, so they're not going to show it. plain and simple.
Thanks for posting this, ESPN has been dead to me for years, so I wouldnt have found out until The Frozen Four.
Seriously, I watch SNF on ESPN...... and....ehhhh... I think that's about it. They have absolutely destroyed what was once the dominant player in sports programming, and it's NOT just because they couldnt care less about hockey, virtually all of their programming has degraded.
NBC Sports could purchase the remaining rights from ESPN, and probably at par if ESPN is backseating it.
That's a good point, it probably wouldn't cost much for them to purchase it either, considering it's not very popular and they don't make a big fuss about it.
Hope they do so. Hope NBC Sports really starts to kill ESPN.
Yes! I'm a Cats fan (I used to live in Burlington) and I've had the privilege of watching them get destroyed on live national television TWICE in the last few weeks.
espn doesn't promote hockey because the nhl didn't like the contract offer they received from espn, which is why they went to versus/nbc sports instead. when hockey was on espn2 it got much more air time.
espn has no rights to broadcast the nhl, so they're not going to show it. plain and simple.
USA Hockey and Hockey canada want to remove fighting from college and juniorhockey.
I still go up there quite a bit because the gf's family is from n.VT, not a helluva lot going on, but it's a lovely place, especially if you're a skier or into fishing.
