The Playoffs and Low Ratings

[Kin]

I may be misreading you here but just to clarify nobody suggested the NHL could ever approach the size of the NFL but just that they could breed a similar sort of thing where people would tune into a game of the week sort of broadcast featuring two good teams regardless of whether or not one of the teams was local.

Yeah, no, I wasn't suggesting the NHL could approach the size of the NFL.  [Although I do think there is thought (hope) within the league that they could make a bigger dent in the overall North American sporting industry.]

I believe my other point still stands.  Gambling on the NHL would need to explode exponentially for such a thing to take off.  Unless money is riding on the game and/or certain players need to get points for your fantasy team, I can't foresee a Dallas/Tampa Bay game of the week broadcast garnering massive viewership.

That's true although it's an interesting question if gambling fuelled the growth of the NFL or if it was the interest in the sport that fuelled the gambling.

I think your other point is also a really good one about the marketing of the stars. Unfortunately I think that has a lot to do with the structure of the game. The NFL could market a Denver/New England game as Manning vs. Brady and that would kind of play out as any game between those two teams would involve the quarterbacks touching the ball on every play, throwing the ball 20-40 times a night and the outcome being largely determined by what they did. The NHL isn't like that, especially with scoring down. A Crosby vs. Ovechkin game could see both guys only playing a third of the game and not scoring a goal. If I'm tuning into watch Crosby vs. Ovie and get that, I'm going to be bummed out in a way I wouldn't even if Manning/Brady have bad games.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Now that Pittsburgh is in the Cup Final, may help spur ratings somewhat...


Ratings for the NBA playoffs have dwarfed that of the NHL postseason, and that?s to be expected. But the NHL is in a difficult position without any major market teams. The Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings were all eliminated in the first round, likely much to the chagrin of the NHL. The New York Islanders and Anaheim Ducks don?t have as large of a following as the other teams in their cities, but they were knocked out in the first and second round, respectively.

It?s the first time in five years that not one of the three cities is represented this deep into the playoffs. With the Blackhawks winning a third championship since 2010 last year, they highlighted the second-most watched Stanley Cup Finals. The 2014 finals did monster ratings, as far as the NHL is concerned, when the Kings defeated the Rangers.

The best the NHL can hope for this year is a matchup between San Jose (the No.6 TV market) and Pittsburgh (No.23). The Sharks, though, might not bring the ratings that their market size would indicate, considering the NBA?s Golden State Warriors are getting the majority of the attention in the Bay Area.

Pittsburgh, though, might be the most passionate hockey town in all of the country. Even as viewership dropped in 2015, the Penguins still drew the highest ratings of any U.S. team. The Blues, who could still make the Stanley Cup finals, were second in local ratings, though they might not have much national appeal.


http://www.ibtimes.com/nhl-playoffs-2016-how-are-tv-ratings-ahead-stanley-cup-finals-2371982

 

[L K]

Good job NHL......

http://deadspin.com/the-nhl-threatened-to-fine-the-lightning-if-they-didnt-1778925655?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_facebook&utm_source=deadspin_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

 

[TheMightyOdin]

That viewing party looked sweet. Tremendous sized screen would be fun to watch with a bunch of fans like that.

Having watched the least amount of hockey of my hockey fan life these past 18 months Im still surprised at the low viewership.

 

[Al14]

That viewing party looked sweet. Tremendous sized screen would be fun to watch with a bunch of fans like that.

Having watched the least amount of hockey of my hockey fan life these past 18 months Im still surprised at the low viewership.

This party like atmosphere in warm weather climates is exactly what is needed for the interest in hockey to increase.  The NHL is shooting themselves in the foot by cancelling these type of events.