When Bad Things Happen to Good Playoff Games
Saturday afternoon revealed just how much NBC values the NHL as a broadcast property.
With Ottawa and Buffalo headed for overtime, the network bailed, leaving hockey fans high and dry. Outside Buffalo, NBC affiliates switched to coverage of the Preakness Stakes, even though the race itself was over an hour away. The end of Buffalo's season was relegated to the cable hinterlands of Versus.
It will be interesting to see how commissioner Gary Bettman - aka Mr. Smoothie - tries to spin some good news out of this one. Also, what might we hear from our embedded blogger at NBC.com, Eric McErlain?
This is a colossal embarrassment for the NHL, revealing where hockey sits in the American TV pecking order: somewhere behind jockey interviews, analysis of turf conditions, and the final verdict on who wore the best hat at the Kentucky Derby. NBC pays nothing to broadcast hockey, and treats the game accordingly.
Update, May 20: Fans must have been holding their breath when Sunday's Anaheim-Detroit game also went into overtime. Would NBC cut away in favor of, say, a particularly gripping episode of Hogan's Heroes? This time, the network stuck with the hockey game.
Postscript: Eric McErlain does not mention the Preakness fiasco at his NBC blog. But he has a comprehensive post at one of his other blogs, Off Wing Opinion.
Comments
horsesh!t. Heidi revisited. why not show the game in a second box or hold it and play after race. or better yet, only show the race and keep the game going without the stupid stuff associated with the Preakness.
LOL- I think that NBC will demand an apology from Mr. Bettman. They will demand that the NHL play Sunday morning games at 7 am!!!
Hopefully the 7 am start times will NOT interfere with infomercials!
CBC better show some balls and make their own demands for night games. Only fair since they pay the BIG BUCKS to broadcast the games.
Peace…I’m out!
Gary Bettman asked for this by bowing down to NHL’s demands. I’m sure his negotiating strategy won’t change. He’ll march into NBC offices, bend over, and say, “Please sir, may I have another?”
What an embrassement. I hope that NBC at least apologizes for the disgrace that happened.
Thanks for your stance on NBC’s pathetic hockey coverage, especially re: the Buffalo vs Ottawa overtime Heidi Bowl. I have e-mailed NBC thru it’s web site regarding their inept coverage of that game and hockey in general. I personally think Versus has done an excellent job of covering hockey ( although they tend to broadcast too many East Coast games, Avalanche fans here). Perhaps Versus can buy out NBC’s hockey contract and we will be able to see crucial playoff games from beginning to end.
How pathetic for NBC! It’s any wonder network tv still exists with the crap programming that they have. As far as I’m concerned NBC, FOX, ABC, & CBS can go off the air! May you rot in peace!
Go Senators!!!
I live in Canada so I was watching the CBC feed so I got to see the Sens win in OT. The only drawback to the CBC is it’s based in Toronto and it really kills the anouncers to say anything good about the Ottawa Senators. I solved that problem when possible CBC on the TV & Team 1200 on the radio. At least their announcers get our players names correct and screamed with excitement when the Sens won. Unlike CBC who could care less. Sorry for the rant about CBC when this was about the lousy coverage from NBC. What’s more exciting, jockey weight-in or an overtime goal! In my opinion it the goal!!
GO SENS GO!!!
I hate what NBC did, That is horses**t. Why take the NHL if it is not a priority. Who cares about horse racing, Would NBC have taken off NFL or the NBA I think not. I hope the NHL does not go to NBC next year, They suck.
Bettman’s attempt to make hockey a top 4 sport in the USA has failed miserbly.
Much like if we had the commissioner of cricket growing the sport on NTV here.
Not enough fans, not enough households for your tv network.
Kitchener/Waterloo, Winnepeg, The Southern Shore. Stick to the known hockey hotbeds Gary. You little American tyrant you….
… Maybe the NHL should go to ABC, who stuck with the Indy 500 through a rain delay…who knew if the rain would eventually stop for the race to continue. Of course Peyton Manning waved the green flag. They’re probably after NFL contracts. Rod Brind’Amour lives in Indy, a member of last year’s Stanley Cup winner. They didn’t have him waving anything.