Stanley Cup Finals TV Ratings...

[Caleb Cattivera]

were lower than then the opening round of the softball regional champioships...

hockey fans...how did this happen? i read it in the atlanta newspaper today. just curious.

[preppyak]

since it's not on ESPN, the casual fan never noticed any compelling storylines, thus won't watch.

And, the softball stuff was on ESPN, pre-world cup and other events, so basically it was all there was sports wise at the time, thus people settled for it (I know I did, it was fun to watch).

I've been watching the NHL finals, and the game last night was great...but people may have seen Game 2 and figured it was over.

[Scott Weber]

I don't even know who's in the finals. Honestly. I just don't follow hockey. Nobody in Seattle does. It's probably because we don't have a team, but since the games haven't been on any of the major stations I haven't even seen games on accident.

[Caleb Cattivera]

I don't even know who's in the finals. Honestly. I just don't follow hockey. Nobody in Seattle does. It's probably because we don't have a team, but since the games haven't been on any of the major stations I haven't even seen games on accident.

i know the hurricanes or the storm or whatever the carolina team is, is playing, btu thats it.

[FondestMemory]

i hope the canadian team wins.

[aminorthreat55]

since it's not on ESPN, the casual fan never noticed any compelling storylines, thus won't watch.

And, the softball stuff was on ESPN, pre-world cup and other events, so basically it was all there was sports wise at the time, thus people settled for it (I know I did, it was fun to watch).

I've been watching the NHL finals, and the game last night was great...but people may have seen Game 2 and figured it was over.
Bingo.

[LeftWideOpen]

yeah, not being on ESPN is killing them. Not to mention nobody even watches NBC (nevermind OLN, thats a given), so people don't even see the TV ads for the upcoming broadcasts.

[preppyak]

yeah, not being on ESPN is killing them. Not to mention nobody even watches NBC (nevermind OLN, thats a given), so people don't even see the TV ads for the upcoming broadcasts.
true...i accidentally turned on OLN and found the last series for Carolina...and then I remembered it was the NHL playoffs. I've followed it since then

[tambo41187]

because the american public are freaking stupid and almost all of the games have been on OLN and CBC which most people in the US dont get.

[crit]

go oilers

[histrionics22]

Think of how many people get their sports from ESPN now. Even the most casual sports fans get their sports information from ESPN. They have a complete monopoly over the industry. No ESPN means no ratings. I get most don't even know its playoff time. Plus saturday night is alwasy a slow night ratings wise.

[Brownpants06]

Just like how World Cup ratings aren't that high in the US, American's just don't like some sports, even if their country holds 90% of the teams. It's sad really.

[LeftWideOpen]

Think of how many people get their sports from ESPN now. Even the most casual sports fans get their sports information from ESPN. They have a complete monopoly over the industry. No ESPN means no ratings. I get most don't even know its playoff time. Plus saturday night is alwasy a slow night ratings wise.

if FOX Sports were to pick up hockey, I think it would be successful. Fox Sports is on just about every cable package and they are easily 2nd to the ESPN networks in regards to sports ratings.

[LeftWideOpen]

Just like how World Cup ratings aren't that high in the US, American's just don't like some sports, even if their country holds 90% of the teams. It's sad really.

not really. Hockey and soccer were both predominantly foreign games that were integrated into the U.S on a professional level. They were brought here because there was a market and money to be made. These sports will never reach the level of baseball, football or basketball ...but they are here because there is a market. Hockey is also a big sport among youth despite the outrageous costs associated with it.

[preppyak]

if FOX Sports were to pick up hockey, I think it would be successful. Fox Sports is on just about every cable package and they are easily 2nd to the ESPN networks in regards to sports ratings.
that would be interesting...didn't Fox used to cover hockey at times anyway (glow puck perhaps?)

[LeftWideOpen]

that would be interesting...didn't Fox used to cover hockey at times anyway (glow puck perhaps?)

yep, haha. I wasn't referring so much as to the fox network itself, but FSN. I could envision a scenario though where the fox network televised a game of the week (like they do now w/ baseball) and FSN covered the rest. I think the general public's interest would spike up just because of it being more readily available.

[Brownpants06]

not really. Hockey and soccer were both predominantly foreign games that were integrated into the U.S on a professional level. They were brought here because there was a market and money to be made. These sports will never reach the level of baseball, football or basketball ...but they are here because there is a market. Hockey is also a big sport among youth despite the outrageous costs associated with it.

Agreed on the last part, hockey costs a fucking boatload to play. Although I could see football being pretty expensive to play (I never did myself)

[tambo41187]

Hockey is also a hard sport to translate to TV (causing the whole glow up puck debacle by fox) its much better to actually attend the game. The atmosphere is one thing, there is nothing in america quite like being at a nhl playoff game in overtime. Also its much easier to watch and understand whats going on while at the game as opposed to on tv.

[FondestMemory]

Agreed on the last part, hockey costs a fucking boatload to play. Although I could see football being pretty expensive to play (I never did myself)

it's not as bad as you'd expect. when you play through school and shit, all the pads and crap are pretty much supplied. you have to buy cleats and a mouth guard. that's it, basically.

[histrionics22]

Hockey is also a hard sport to translate to TV (causing the whole glow up puck debacle by fox) its much better to actually attend the game. The atmosphere is one thing, there is nothing in america quite like being at a nhl playoff game in overtime. Also its much easier to watch and understand whats going on while at the game as opposed to on tv.
It's so much easier to follow the puck live. Not that its that hard in the first place, but live it slows down for you. It's awesome going to hockey games.

[bigmike]

OLN's hard to find for the casual fans. Besides, it hadn't been rating well on ESPN for a while before this, so to me, this is pretty expected.

[Broken Parachute]

Not every casual fan has OLN and if they do they probably won't go searching for it. If all the games were on ESPN or NBC...people would watch.

[sweethypocrisy]

because the american public are freaking stupid and almost all of the games have been on OLN and CBC which most people in the US dont get.
fucking stupid? i just dont like hockey that much, sorry. we have a team in town and i like going to their games, but i just dont like watching the nhl on tv, and apparently neither does most of the general american public.

[JezisHChrist]

I don't think the ratings have anything to do with OLN. Like some people said, even when ESPN showed games the ratings still sucked. America mainly doesn't watch or like hockey. No matter what the NHL does, they won't be able to help that.

[Scott Weber]

I don't think the ratings have anything to do with OLN. Like some people said, even when ESPN showed games the ratings still sucked. America mainly doesn't watch or like hockey. No matter what the NHL does, they won't be able to help that.
How can you say that when the majority of the teams in the NHL are in America?

[JezisHChrist]

How can you say that when the majority of the teams in the NHL are in America?
So? They're trying to build the market. There could be 100 teams in the NHL out of America, the fact still is that Americans don't really care about hockey.

[Scott Weber]

So? They're trying to build the market. There could be 100 teams in the NHL out of America, the fact still is that Americans don't really care about hockey.
that's a reaaaaallly broad generalization.

[bigmike]

America has enough rabid hockey fans that keep the game afloat here in the States, but not enough to surpass any of the other major sports in the country.

[tambo41187]

fucking stupid? i just dont like hockey that much, sorry. we have a team in town and i like going to their games, but i just dont like watching the nhl on tv, and apparently neither does most of the general american public.
Cool. The majority of americans have poor taste in everything from the food they eat to the television they watch. The fact that more people watch nascar than the nhl proves my point.

[JezisHChrist]

that's a reaaaaallly broad generalization.
Well I'm talking broadly. I know that there are hot hockey markets and there are a lot of people that love hockey and love watching it, but like BigMike said, there isn't enough of a fanbase to keep it up there at the level as the other major sports, or even girl's softball.

[Scott Weber]

Well I'm talking broadly. I know that there are hot hockey markets and there are a lot of people that love hockey and love watching it, but like BigMike said, there isn't enough of a fanbase to keep it up there at the level as the other major sports, or even girl's softball.
no, there is. the only reason softball is higher rated is because it's on ESPN. Come on, you didn't actually think Softball had more fans than hockey, did you? Seriously, did you?

[LeftWideOpen]

Cool. The majority of americans have poor taste in everything from the food they eat to the television they watch. The fact that more people watch nascar than the nhl proves my point.

wow man, i'm from the northeast and even i can't believe how stuck up that sounds. You really expect kids that live in sweltering 90 degree heat year round to really give a shit about a game played on ice? That's like some kid in Southern Cal thinking its a crime that we don't live and die by the game of volleyball. Just because we are one country doesnt mean we have the same culture ...that much is clear by religious and political beliefs, nevermind the kinds of sports we enjoy. While we may have our own way of doing things that's different from perhaps the South, Midwest or Pacific Coast, it doesn't mean that there way is the wrong way.

Hell, I hate Nascar as much as the next guy but thats because I can't even begin to understand the fun in watching cars race, just like the guy in Texas can't understand why we enjoy playing a game on ice. There's no way we can relate.

[bigmike]

no, there is. the only reason softball is higher rated is because it's on ESPN. Come on, you didn't actually think Softball had more fans than hockey, did you? Seriously, did you?
Even on ESPN it still rated behind Professional Bowling. So whether they have more fans or not is a moot point, kind of, because alot of them aren't watching evidentally.

[tambo41187]

wow man, i'm from the northeast and even i can't believe how stuck up that sounds. You really expect kids that live in sweltering 90 degree heat year round to really give a shit about a game played on ice? That's like some kid in Southern Cal thinking its a crime that we don't live and die by the game of volleyball. Just because we are one country doesnt mean we have the same culture ...that much is clear by religious and political beliefs, nevermind the kinds of sports we enjoy. While we may have our own way of doing things that's different from perhaps the South, Midwest or Pacific Coast, it doesn't mean that there way is the wrong way.

Hell, I hate Nascar as much as the next guy but thats because I can't even begin to understand the fun in watching cars race, just like the guy in Texas can't understand why we enjoy playing a game on ice. There's no way we can relate.
I dont understand how its stuck up, its not like watching hockey makes you better than someone else. All im saying is that just because the american public does not support hockey or watch it does not mean that the quality or game is not good.

[dekdog11]

welll i personally am a huge hockey fan, but i dont get oln
so thats why i cant watch it
it sucks, but at least the rest of the games are on nbc

[Brownpants06]

How can you say that when the majority of the teams in the NHL are in America?

Because your population is 10x greater than ours :/. Winnipeg and Quebec should get their hockey teams back. You never know how much you miss your team until they leave.

[JezisHChrist]

Even on ESPN it still rated behind Professional Bowling. So whether they have more fans or not is a moot point, kind of, because alot of them aren't watching evidentally.
Exactly.

[yodaplaysdrums]

Maybe it gets crap ratings because the sport is not watchable. It is played at too fast a pace.

[mikeford]

Just like how World Cup ratings aren't that high in the US, American's just don't like some sports, even if their country holds 90% of the teams. It's sad really.

more pathetic than sad.


but yeah. most people dont even GET OLN in this country.

[mikeford]

ps the NHL should be way more encouraged than discouraged this season since leaguewide attendence was UP from the last time they had a season

two small market teams making the finals + a shitty TV deal = bad ratings.

[Puck Rocker]

its sad the game last night was good i watch hockey all the time. its just one of those sports u either love it or its like whatever. so many people play but few are die hard fans. espn needs to at least give more highlights n say when games are on then more people might tune in

[Jerm]

Even on ESPN it still rated behind Professional Bowling. So whether they have more fans or not is a moot point, kind of, because alot of them aren't watching evidentally.

it also has to do with hockey fans typically are such die hard fans they only care about their team and that team only. I know once the avalanche got their asses handed to them i stopped watching the playoffs.

[Scott Weber]

i don't know about you guys but OLN is a part of the basic cable package here in Seattle. If you get ESPN, you get OLN.

[sweethypocrisy]

just because espn doesnt air hockey doesnt mean they dont talk about it. i see highlights/analysis on hockey on sportscenter all the time.

[LeftWideOpen]

just because espn doesnt air hockey doesnt mean they dont talk about it. i see highlights/analysis on hockey on sportscenter all the time.

yeah, its a 60 second conversation w/ Barry Melrose about the entire night in hockey. It's usually on about 40 minutes into the broadcast, as well. There's no doubt that ESPN neglects the NHL now. They don't broadcast it so they don't have as much of an interest in it's coverage.

[Brownpants06]

sports ill mentions it occasionally, they usually use all their stuff from tsn canada :/

[weezer182]

i lose interest in hockey fast when the sharks are out :(. especially when the world cup is here

[mikeford]

i lose interest in hockey fast when the sharks are out :(. especially when the world cup is here

so does that mean you'll lose interest in the world cup when the USA is out in a week?

[mikeford]

i don't know about you guys but OLN is a part of the basic cable package here in Seattle. If you get ESPN, you get OLN.

seattle is a big city. i know its the same thing in boston but outlying suburban towns do not necessarily get OLN. i assume its much the same for other places that are outside the big city cable plan.

[weezer182]

so does that mean you'll lose interest in the world cup when the USA is out in a week?not at all. the world cup is the best sporting event in the world. where as the stanley cup happens every year.

[Adeniz19]

to the person who said FSN should start covering the games, they do. they only cover your local area games tho. i get FSN bay area so we get most of the sharks games

[LeftWideOpen]

to the person who said FSN should start covering the games, they do. they only cover your local area games tho. i get FSN bay area so we get most of the sharks games

really? i didnt know that. The Bruins are showed on NESN up here and since FSN never does any national games, I never see hockey on that station.

[Kram41]

It's kind of sad that America doesn't appreciate hockey. It's the more exciting than basketball and baseball in my opinion.

This has been a fun series to watch with Carolina and Edmonton. The problem with hockey (and soccer) is you can't just be sitting around on your couch casually watching the game like you can with baseball, basketball, and football. America has ADD. You have to actually make a conscious effort to pay attention to what's going on. I'm kind of over trying to get hockey accepted in the mainstream because as long as it's still nationally televised in some way, I'm happy.

But if you're free tonight at 5 PST/8 EST, just sit down and watch the game on NBC. The atmosphere in Edmonton is unlike anything you'll see from any of the other major sports. Watch the game and pay attention to it. Maybe you'll start to like it a little bit.

[dubey]

Maybe it gets crap ratings because the sport is not watchable. It is played at too fast a pace.
HAHAHA.

oh America<3

[bigmike]

seattle is a big city. i know its the same thing in boston but outlying suburban towns do not necessarily get OLN. i assume its much the same for other places that are outside the big city cable plan.
Yeah, I get it on my basic cable package in the Kalamazoo area, which isn't a giant city like a detroit/chicago/boston/etc. But i know that if you have a dish around here you don't get OLN.



really? i didnt know that. The Bruins are showed on NESN up here and since FSN never does any national games, I never see hockey on that station.
Yeah, i get basically every Red Wing game on FSN Detroit.

[bigmike]

ps the NHL should be way more encouraged than discouraged this season since leaguewide attendence was UP from the last time they had a season

two small market teams making the finals + a shitty TV deal = bad ratings.
that's it, as well. Even on ESPN the ratings would be slightly higher but not terribly higher because both teams don't draw in the casual fan like a big market team (detroit, NY, Boston, etc.) would.

[weezer182]

they need to make both the nhl and nba playoffs shorter. they both go on way too long in my opinion. a shorter playoffs might up the rankings as well

[Kram41]

Was anyone watching and saw the Canadian national anthem? That was amazing.

[xThursdayxPTWx]

I hate that a lot of Canadians say Americans take the sport for granted, but I guess I could see why. When you have a women's softball tournament beating out the Stanley Cup Finals in the ratings (say what you will about what station its televised on, but NHL has never been a big ratings beast, even when it was on ESPN/ABC and the NHL playoffs have a history of being beat by obscure sports) and people saying "its played at too fast a pace" as their reason they don't like the sport, it just doesn't sound good. Sometimes I really wish I was born in Canada.

[xThursdayxPTWx]

Was anyone watching and saw the Canadian national anthem? That was amazing.

That was insanely awesome. I loved how the singer turned the mic for the crowd to sing and it was still just as loud and coherent. I need to go to a game in Edmonton before I die.

[histrionics22]

Yea the Penguins games were on FSN Pittsburgh our in the middle of PA. However, I did not get OLN out there, and I'm pretty sure a lot of rural America doesn't. Hell I still don't even get MTV2.