Category Archives: NHL

Why NBC, NHL shut out by potential viewers by airing Stanley Cup Final games on NBC Sports Network

Posted on by

I received an angry text from my son, Matt, on Saturday night. He is working as an overnight camp counselor in Northern Wisconsin for the summer. He also is a big Blackhawks fan.

On Saturday, Matt and his friends went to the local bowling alley to watch Game 2. One problem: the bowling alley didn’t have the game on its TVs.

Matt’s text: “Unbelievable. NBC (in Northern Wisconsin) doesn’t have the freaking game on.”

At least he didn’t use another word.

I explained to him that Game 2 was on NBC Sports Network, which the bowling alley didn’t have on its cable system. Finally after scrambling through the bars of Northern Wisconsin, and most the first period, they found a place that had the game.

Others, though, weren’t as fortunate. I have heard many complaints about Games 2 and 3 airing on NBC Sports Network as opposed to NBC.

Here’s some explanation and analysis:

********

Why did NBC put those games on NBC Sports Network? The answer is simple. NBC wanted to expose viewers to its cable sports outlet.

While the move upset fans who don’t get NBC Sports Network, NBC got the desired result. Game 3 had nearly 4.01 million viewers, the second highest audience ever on NBC Sports Network (U.S./Japan Gold Medal Olympic soccer game had 4.4 million viewers), and an all-time high for hockey.

Game 2 on Saturday was close behind with just fewer than 3.964 million viewers.

However, and it’s a big however, the NHL is missing out on even higher ratings by agreeing to air the Final games on NBC Sports Network. Game 1 pulled in 6.4 million viewers on NBC.

Again, the reason is simple. NBC is available in 115 million homes. Currently, only 80 million homes receive NBC Sports Network.

That’s 35 million fewer homes who didn’t have access to NBC Sports Network for Games 2 and 3. Do the math, and it’s easy to see why the ratings were lower.

So if you’re the NHL and NBC, and you’re trying to grow hockey fan base, wouldn’t you want to be in as many homes as possible? Well, the answer is yes and no.

Yes, in the short term, the ratings would be higher for Final games on NBC. However, this is about the long term and growing NBC Sports Network.

NBC believes the main way to drive up ratings and more importantly, subscribers, is to air premium content on NBC Sports Network. Final games are premium content.

NBC Sports Network wants to grow its subscriber base from 80 million homes to nearly 100 million homes, or comparable to the distribution for ESPN. It wants potential viewers to call their cable operators and demand that the network either be added to their systems or put on a basic tier.

NBC knows it takes missing out on Stanley Cup Final games for people to make that call.

The NHL also has a vested interest in growing NBC Sports Network. The network is the main home for hockey, airing more than 100 regular season and playoff games. More subscribers means more potential hockey viewers.

And friends, cable is where this is all going when it comes to the biggest games. The BCS championship game already is on ESPN. Next year, the semifinals on Final Four Saturday will air on TBS. In 2016, TBS will begin a rotation where it gets the entire Final Four every other year. The large chunk of baseball’s postseason is on cable.

By the 2020s, it wouldn’t be a surprise if every title game in all the major sports, with the exception of the Super Bowl, is on cable.

As for this year, the remainder of the Stanley Cup Final will be on NBC, starting with Game 4 tonight. My son will be happy and so will people who don’t get NBC Sports Network.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Previously forbidden, Blackhawks dominating sports talk radio in Chicago

Posted on by

For years, the only time you would hear the Blackhawks mentioned on sports talk radio in Chicago was when their score (usually a loss) was reported during updates.

Program directors virtually forbid hosts, including my co-author Dan McNeil of WSCR-AM 670 (a huge pucks guy), to talk about the Hawks and hockey. They were ratings killers. Might as well chat about mahjong considering the low, low interest level.

Obviously, that isn’t the case anymore. In my Chicago Tribune column today, I write about the significance of the Blackhawks dominating sports talk radio in Chicago. Access the entire column via my Twitter feed.

From the column:

The hockey talk is a huge barometer in showing how the Blackhawks’ success goes beyond increased TV ratings for games. It is a sign the team has become more mainstream, keeping closer company with the Bears, Bulls, White Sox and Cubs.

“Now the conversation is going on with people who haven’t traditionally discussed hockey,” said Jim Andrews, senior vice-president for content strategy for Chicago-based IEG. “That’s what you want. It’s gravy on what you’d expect to get.”

WMVP’s Marc Silverman believes the Blackhawks bandwagon is much bigger this year than when they won the Stanley Cup in 2010, judging from the response on his afternoon show. Timing, though, might be a factor.

“It’s the perfect storm for the Hawks,” Silverman said. “The Bulls are done, and nobody wants to talk about the Cubs and Sox. We’re just trying to build a bridge between the Hawks and the beginning of Bears training camp.”

Also, another barometer is how the Blackhawks are registering is in the youth demos:

Ratings growth in the coveted youth demographics might be the most significant development in the Hawks run. Hawks ratings on CSN were up 110 percent for men ages 18-34 and 109 percent for men and women combined in that category.

Young fans have the chance to become lifetime fans.

“It’s a great sign,” Andrews said. “In many sports, the big challenge is attracting younger viewers. You don’t see positive numbers with them. They’re more into the action sports, video games. So any time you see a positive jump (in young demos), it’s a big deal.”

 

Susannah Collins to Chicago Tribune: Still cannot watch a full Blackhawks game; discusses videos that led to her dismissal

Posted on by

You remember Susannah Collins, right?

During the first round of the NHL playoffs, the Blackhawks sideline reporter for Comcast Sports Net Chicago said “sex” instead of “success” during a telecast, and things kind of blew up from there.

She was dismissed after the attention from her slip led to more attention about some racy sports related videos she previously did for another site. The whole thing could have been avoided if handled differently. Instead, it became a needless front-page embarrassment to everyone, including Collins.

Well, Collins reappeared today. She did an interview with the Tribune’s David Haugh. Access the column via my Twitter feed.

Collins said her deal with CSN Chicago had some restrictions on what she could discuss.

However, she said she can’t watch a full game, even though the Blackhawks are going for the Stanley Cup:

Yet even the healthiest of outlooks cannot make watching the Hawks any easier for Collins. As they have kept Chicagoans on the edge of their seats during the Stanley Cup Final with two straight overtime games, Collins crawled under the covers and did her best to ignore action she simply can’t.

“Like the triple-overtime game (in Game 1), I’m literally in bed at midnight, checking my phone,” Collins said. “I equate it to going through a breakup and then watching your former partner do really well and succeed without you. I’ll flip it on to check the score. I’ll check my Twitter feed. But I can’t watch a full broadcast.”

Then there are the Sports Nutz videos that actually helped Collins get a job with Showtime sports and eventually CSN Chicago:

“The content obviously isn’t everybody’s cup of tea,” Collins said. “I never wanted anyone to be offended. I felt horrible if people were. It was meant to be a scripted, satirical thing. I did feel bad if anyone was offended. But I can’t regret … everything that I’ve done in the 21/2 years that I started working in this industry ultimately led me to that job at CSN Chicago. I don’t know if I would have gotten to where I was without those (videos).”

But, I asked, you can see how those blurred the fine line a TV personality walks separating entertainment and journalism?

“For sure,” Collins answered. “But I don’t think we did those videos with the intent of them being hard-hitting journalism. That was not the point. I have a musical theater background. That’s what I did initially when I graduated (from Illinois). I was on stage, a singer and dancer. That was part of my life.”

By doing the interview, Collins clearly wants to rehabilitate her career. The videos weren’t that bad. I’m sure she will end up somewhere.

 

 

Posted in NHL

Will Eddie Olczyk leave booth to return to run a team? Says he has ‘Unfinished business’

Posted on by

A colleague called the other day, raving about Eddie Olczyk as an analyst.

“He’s the best,” the colleague said. “He’s so quick. It’s amazing how he sees everything on the ice.”

Agreed.

NBC is thrilled to have Olczyk as its lead analyst on hockey, and his work on local Blackhawks telecasts is making him an icon in Chicago.

Yet the time might be coming where Olczyk gives up what he describes as “the best job in the world.”

Olczyk clearly has a bad taste from his only previous NHL stint behind the bench. He was fired in Dec., 2005 after a season-plus as head coach with Pittsburgh.

Now 46, Olczyk sounds as if the itch is intensifying to return as a coach or as a front office executive at some level. It might not happen next year, but to hear him talk, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he jumped back in sooner than later.

Olczyk repeatedly used the phrase “unfinished business” when the subject of his future came up during an interview.

“I’m a hockey guy,” Olczyk said. “There’s the unfinished business with the way I left Pittsburgh that’s always going to be there. Whether the opportunity presents itself remains to be seen. It’s always going to an enticing thought. It’s always going to be a stone I’m looking under.”

Olczyk noted that his family situation is changing. He has two boys playing college hockey, and a 16-year-old son who plays junior hockey and could be out of the house soon. Olczyk serves as an assistant coach for his son’s junior team when time allows.

“The stars would have to be aligned family-wise and professionally,” Olczyk said. “It may not occur. I am very content where I am. I take great pride in what I do. But there is that so-called unfinished business. When you get knocked down, you want to get back up and get at it again.”

It will be a tough call for Olczyk, considering what is coming up on the broadcast side. The Hawks are exploding in Chicago; he is part of a NBC/NBC Sports Network team (with Mike Emrick and Pierre McGuire) that is considered one of the best in sports; and he is set to work another Olympics for NBC in 2014.

Yet the pull of being part of the action again might trump all.

“When you’ve been involved in it, it’s always in you that you want to do it again,” Olczyk said.

*******

More from my interview with Olczyk:

On shortened season: Considering where we were six months ago, where you didn’t know if you would have a season, you couldn’t ask for a better Final. I use a phrase I used during the 2010 Olympics. It’s tremendously tremendous. It’s a win-win for everyone, except for the team that loses.

On the rise of the Blackhawks: As a kid, it was hockey, really? Now I couldn’t be prouder that hockey is front and center in our town. To me, a good indicator is that people are planning their day around the puck drop. For many years, it wasn’t like that.

On not winning a Stanley Cup for Blackhawks as a player: We lost to Edmonton in the conference finals (in 84-85) season. It’s still the record for the most goals in a six-game series. Edmonton may give up five goals, but they knew they could score eight.

Obviously, I’m disappointed we couldn’t win. I always dreamed of holding the Cup at home. I lived and died as a Blackhawks fan. To have not won it as a player was very disappointing.

On his place in the organization: This organization lives and breathes hockey 24/7. Everyone involved deserves the credit. To be part of the organization is very important to me. I know where I am on the totem pole. In the big picture, it’s very small. I do take pride that we’ve been able to teach the game and help sell the brand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is it like to call 10 periods of playoff hockey in 2 games? Just ask Blackhawks play-by-play voice

Posted on by

I did my Chicago Tribune column on Blackhawks play-by-play voice John Wiedeman trying to lay low Thursday after calling back-to-back marathons. Please access via my Twitter feed.

********

From the post:

Wiedeman’s vocal cords have gotten an extraordinary workout in recent days. Wednesday on WGN-AM 720, he and analyst Troy Murray called more than 51/2 periods in the Hawks’ 4-3 victory over the Bruins in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. That came on the heels of the Hawks’ clincher over the Kings in double overtime Saturday in the Western Conference finals.

All told, Wiedeman had a two-game span in which he described action for more than 10 periods of hockey. It’s an unprecedented stretch for a Hawks announcer, especially given the magnitude of these games.

“If I got paid by the word, I wouldn’t have to buy a lottery ticket,” Wiedeman joked.

Seriously, Wiedeman insists he wasn’t fazed by the long nights behind the microphone.

“I go into every game thinking of scenarios where it could end up this way (multiple overtimes),” he said. “You have to prepare for that even though it won’t happen 95 percent of the time. However, for that 5 percent, you have to be ready to go.”

Posted in NHL

Triple OT most-watched Game 1 since 1997; nearly 6.4 million viewers

Posted on by

Throw in massive ratings in Chicago and Boston, a triple overtime, and you get a terrific rating.

From NBC:

Last night’s triple overtime thriller (8 p.m.–1:06 a.m. ET) between the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks in the inaugural game of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final averaged nearly 6.4 million viewers, making it the most-watched Stanley Cup Final Game 1 in 16 years, the most-watched Game 1 ever on NBC (since 2006), and up 119% vs. last year.

The game — in which the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Boston Bruins, 4-3, in an epic three overtimes — drew a 3.9 household rating and 6.358 million viewers, up 117% and 119%, respectively, vs. last year (L.A.-N.J., 1.8 rating, 2.902 million).

The 6.358 million viewers are the most to watch a Stanley Cup Final Game 1 in 16 years, just 9,000 viewers off Detroit-Philadelphia on FOX in 1997 (6.367 million), which stands as the most-watched Game 1 ever (since the advent of people meters in 1987). Last night’s game now stands as the second-most watched Game 1.

Viewership for the game peaked in the first overtime period (11:15-11:30 p.m. ET), which was filled with a flurry of action, with nearly 7.5 million viewers (7.444 million).

Bruins-Blackhawks was the No. 1 program of the day across both broadcast and cable among Adults 18-49 (tie, 2.5), Men 18-49 (3.1) and Men 25-54 (3.5). NBC was the top network in primetime (8-11 p.m. ET) for all key male demographics.

NBC is averaging 3.083 million viewers for its coverage of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, up 38% vs. the same time period in 2012 (2.226 million). For the entire playoffs, including last night’s game, NBC, NBC Sports Network and CNBC have combined to average 1.191 million viewers per game, up 7% vs. last year (1.116 million).

LOCAL

Boston received a 28.1 household rating, up 10% vs. the Bruins’ Game 1 rating for the 2011 Stanley Cup Final on NBC in the market (25.5). Chicago received a 25.1 household rating, up 49% compared to the Blackhawks’ Game 1 rating for the 2010 Stanley Cup Final on NBC in the market (16.9).

NBC was the No. 1 rated network overall in Boston and Chicago during the 8 p.m. – 1 a.m. ET time period. Following are the top five markets:

  1. Boston (28.1)
  2. Chicago (25.1)
  3. Providence (18.5)
  4. Buffalo (8.5)
  5. Milwaukee (6.1)

Tired in Chicago, Boston: Towns stayed up late to watch triple overtime thriller

Posted on by

People are dragging in Chicago and Boston today. However, it is a much happier tired in the land of the Blackhawks.

Both cities did huge numbers for the endless Game 1. In Boston, the game did a 28.5 rating, while Chicago averaged a 25.1 local rating.

As expected, the massive ratings generated by the nation’s third (Chicago) and seventh (Boston) markets had a profound effect on NBC’s overall rating. The network did a 4.8 overnight rating, which is the best for an NHL Stanley Cup Final Game 1 since 1997 (Detroit/Philadelphia on Fox: 5.2). You are going back a ways when you’re talking about Fox and hockey.

I don’t have the intervals for Boston, but Chicago, the game peaked with a 29.9 rating (nearly 1 million homes watching) at 10:30 p.m. Central during the first overtime.

A few people bailed as the marathon continued, but as you can see from the 15-minute ratings intervals, the vast majority stayed to the joyous end–at least in Chicago.

10:30pm – 29.9

10:45pm – 25.6

11:00pm – 27.1

11:15pm – 26.1

11:30pm – 23.1

11:45pm – 23.9

Hear this Boston: Eddie Olczyk won’t play favorites for Blackhawks during Final

Posted on by

In my Chicago Tribune column (please access via my Twitter feed), I wrote about how Eddie Olczyk, a former Blackhawks player and its current TV analyst, won’t play favorites in his role as analyst for NBC during the Stanley Cup Final.

Of course, the perceptions always are going to be there.

From the column:

Don’t think for a minute some viewers won’t notice the Chicago connection in Boston.

Olczyk knows there will be Bruins fans who will accuse him of favoritism toward the Hawks. He got a taste during the Pittsburgh-Boston series in the East Final. Olczyk spent eight years as a player, coach and analyst with the Penguins.

“I had Boston people saying I was favoring the Penguins because I used to work there,” Olczyk. “And you know what? There were people in Pittsburgh who thought I was favoring the Bruins. That means I’m doing my job. The perceptions always are going to be there. People are going to hear what they want to hear.”

Olczyk insists he has the same approach with Emrick as he does with Pat Foley. He admits there might be a bit more “shtick” as far as nicknames and other banter during local telecasts of Hawks games. However, he didn’t become one of the best in the business by playing favorites.

“My job is tell people why something happened,” Olczyk said. “If a guy makes a mistake, I’m going to call him out. It’s not any different on a local game or a national game. I take great pride in being consistent. I’m very comfortable in the chair that I sit in.”

Esposito brothers revisited: Chicago-Boston Final should be huge for NBC

Posted on by

I am sure Mike Emrick is gathering his stories on the Esposito brothers. Phil and Tony went at it back in the day.

Throw in some Bobby Orr, Johnny Bucyk, Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita, the old Chicago Stadium, and the old Boston Garden, and “Doc” should be good to go about a Final that links hockey’s present to its glorious past.

It’s hard to imagine a better scenario for NBC than Chicago-Boston in the Stanley Cup Final. It marks the first Original 6 Final since Montreal-New York Rangers in 1979.

If it is a compelling, tight series, NBC stands to break its network record for a Stanley Cup Final.

For starters, it has two large-market teams with passionate followings. Chicago is No. 3 with nearly 3.5 million TV homes, while Boston is No. 7 with 2.366 million homes.

You could argue No. 1 New York with the Rangers might produce better overall numbers, but ratings for that city usually are splintered when it comes to their sports teams. Boston will be fully behind the Bruins. It did a 25.4 rating for its Game 4 clincher against Pittsburgh.

Chicago, meanwhile, did a 19.6 rating for its Game 5 double OT victory over the Los Angeles Kings.

Both teams did huge ratings during their last visits to the the Finals. Chicago pulled a 32.6 local rating for the Blackhawks Cup winner in Game 6 in 2010. Meanwhile, Boston delivered a 43.4 rating for its Game 7 victory over Vancouver in 2011.

Not coincidentally, those games were the highest-rated NHL games since the 1974 Stanley Cup Final, back when the TV universe was totally different.

Large ratings from the Chicago and Boston markets will have a dramatic impact on NBC’s national number again. Interest in hockey has increased in both towns since winning the Cup. Those local ratings might be even higher.

Big smiles here for NBC and the NHL.

A Chicago-Pittsburgh Final with Sidney Crosby might have had a bit more star power. But it’s hard to beat the romance of two Original 6ers from storied hockey towns playing for Lord Stanley’s Cup.

Cue up the stories, Doc. This should be great.

*******

Here’s a rundown of NBC’s coverage:

NEW YORK, N.Y. – June 9, 2013 – NBC Sports Group’s exclusive presentation of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final begins Wednesday night with Game 1 between the Eastern Conference Champion Boston Bruins (2011 Stanley Cup Champions) and Western Conference Champion Chicago Blackhawks (2010 Stanley Cup Champions) at 8 p.m. ET on NBC from United Center in Chicago, Ill. NBC Sports Group broadcast (NBC), cable (NBC Sports Network), digital (NBC Sports Live Extra and NBCSports.com), and regional (CSN Chicago and CSN New England) assets will all contribute to the comprehensive coverage of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final.

NBC will broadcast Games 1 and 4, and, if necessary, Games 5-7, while NBC Sports Network will telecast Games 2-3. In addition, NBC Sports Network will present pre-game and post-game coverage each game night. And for the first time ever, the Stanley Cup Final will be streamed live through NBC Sports Live Extra.

NBC Sports Regional Networks will continue to surround the Blackhawks (Comcast SportsNet Chicago) and Bruins (Comcast SportsNet New England) with in-depth live-event and/or news coverage. NBCSports.com will provide comprehensive online coverage of the Final with online-only video, contributions from Comcast SportsNet insiders, and constant news updates from ProHockeyTalk.

2013 STANLEY CUP FINAL SCHEDULE

Coverage of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final begins Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET when the Chicago Blackhawks host the Boston Bruins on NBC. All 2013 Stanley Cup Final games will air exclusively on NBC or the NBC Sports Network. Following is the full schedule (all times ET and subject to change):

Wednesday, June 12
8 p.m. Bruins @ Blackhawks (Game 1) NBC
Saturday, June 15
8 p.m. Bruins @ Blackhawks (Game 2) NBC Sports Network
Monday, June 17
8 p.m. Blackhawks @ Bruins (Game 3) NBC Sports Network
Wednesday, June 19
8 p.m. Blackhawks @ Bruins (Game 4) NBC
Saturday, June 22
8 p.m. Bruins @ Blackhawks (Game 5) * NBC
Monday, June 24
8 p.m. Blackhawks @ Bruins (Game 6) * NBC
Wednesday, June 26
8 p.m. Bruins @ Blackhawks (Game 7)* NBC

* If Necessary

NBC SPORTS LIVE EXTRA COVERAGE

For the first time ever, the Stanley Cup Final will be streamed live. NBC Sports Live Extra — the NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets — will live stream all Stanley Cup Final games. NBC Sports Network games will be live streamed via “TV Everywhere,” the media industry’s effort to make quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms.

For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra. The NBC Sports Live Extra app for mobile devices and tablets is available at the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and on select Android handset and tablet devices within Google Play.

Stanley Cup Final games airing on:

  • NBC will live stream to PCs, mobile devices and tablets through NBC Sports Live Extra.
  • NBC Sports Network will live stream to PCs, mobile devices and tablets through NBC Sports Live Extra, and to the digital platforms of participating cable, satellite, and telco services, via “TV Everywhere.” “TV Everywhere” is available on an authenticated basis to subscribers of participating MVPDs.

In addition to live streaming the Stanley Cup Final, NBC Sports Live Extra will offer bonus coverage by utilizing Star Cam and Spotlight Cam for each game of the Stanley Cup Final. Star Cams are dedicated cameras that follow a star player from each team throughout the entire game. Spotlight Cam is a unique top-of-the-glass camera that is positioned at center ice. They are exclusive to NBC Sports Live Extra. This also marks the first time this season that alternate cameras have been used for the live streaming of games that air on NBC Sports Network.

COMMENTATORS

Emmy Award-winner Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick (play-by-play), Eddie Olczyk (analyst) and Emmy Award-winner Pierre McGuire (‘Inside-the-glass’ analyst) will call the action during each game.

The studio team will feature host Liam McHugh and analysts Mike Milbury and Keith Jones, with the latest highlights, news, analysis and player interviews, live on-location from either the United Center in Chicago, Ill. or TD Garden in Boston, Mass. The team will cover intermission reports during games, and pre-game and post-game shows on NBC Sports Network.

Additionally, Jeremy Roenick will conduct on-ice segments and demonstrations as part of the coverage.

ENCORES

NBC Sports Network will air encore presentations of the previous night’s NHL Live post-game show, as well as a cut-down version of the Stanley Cup Final game from the previous night.

NHL Live post-game encores will air nearly every day at 6 a.m. ET and 8:30 a.m. ET, with the game encore airing from 6:30-8:30 a.m. ET.

COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL COVERAGE

Comcast SportsNet Chicago, the hometown network for the Chicago Blackhawks, and Comcast SportsNet New England (Boston Bruins) will air special pre- and post-game coverage for all games, as well as in-depth coverage and analysis of their hometown teams.

COMCAST SPORTSNET CHICAGO

Comcast Sports Net Chicago, the hometown network for the Chicago Blackhawks, will provide expanded, local “Blackhawks Post-Game Live” coverage, hosted by Pat Boyle & Steve Konroyd, following every Stanley Cup Final telecast. CSNChicago.com will also deliver “Blackhawks Post-Game Live” via live stream following every game.

In addition, the network will provide expanded pre/post-game coverage nightly on “SportsTalk Live”, weekdays at 5:30 p.m. CT, and on “SportsNet Central”, nightly at 6:30 p.m. CT, on game days, along with providing a half-hour show nightly at 11:00 p.m. CT on non-game days entitled “Blackhawks Fever”.

CSNChicago.com‘s Blackhawks “Insider” Tracey Myers and Comcast SportsNet’s Blackhawks beat reporter Chris Boden will cover every Stanley Cup Final game from either the United Center or TD Garden.

COMCAST SPORTSNET NEW ENGLAND

Comcast SportsNet New England will provide extensive coverage of the Bruins/Blackhawks series with Pre-Game Live and Post-Game Live shows surrounding every Stanley Cup Finals game. Michael Felger and Tony Amonte will lead the coverage, with analysis of each game and response to Bruins fans’ questions, posts, and tweets submitted on Twitter, Facebook, and CSNNE.com.

Unfiltered, in-depth discussion and analysis of the team’s playoff performance will also be part of all Comcast SportsNet programming, including Chevrolet SportsNet Central and UNO’s Sports Tonight. CSNNE.com Bruins Insider Joe Haggerty will once again be on-site providing in-arena reports from every game, both home and away, and will be joined by Comcast SportsNet anchors Mike Giardi and KevinWalsh.

CSNNE.com will provide 24/7 coverage of the Bruins Playoffs action including daily game-day and off-day coverage from Haggerty and the entire CSN crew and post-game editions of “The Great American Hockey Show.” Fans can also follow @CSNNE on Twitter and join the conversation by using #BruinsTalk in their Twitter comments throughout the series.

NBCSPORTS.COM

In addition to its live stream coverage via NBC Sports Live Extra, NBCSports.com’s ProHockeyTalk will anchor NBC Sports’ online and mobile coverage of the Stanley Cup Final.

ProHockeyTalk provides unique, informative and entertaining news, commentary and analysis — updated around the clock — on all the stories surrounding the Stanley Cup Final. Other NBCSports.com features will include:

  • PHT Extra, a multiple-times-a-week online-only video segment.
  • Online-only videos featuring NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network hockey commentators previewing upcoming Stanley Cup Final games.
  • Content provided by Comcast SportsNet NHL insiders.
  • A NHL Stanley Cup Final Channel Finder tool that will help fans locate the times and stations for every Stanley Cup Final game.

SOCIAL MEDIA

In addition to broadcast, cable, regional and digital platforms, NBC Sports Group will connect with NHL fans via numerous social media initiatives, including social integration, on-air integration and news:

  • Social Integration:
    • Social Stanley Cup Final Schedule:
      • Fans that come to the Stanley Cup Final Schedule page on NBCSports.com/NHLonNBC will not only be able to see schedule updates, but also dive into a deep photo experience. Fans can upload photos showing their Stanley Cup Final team spirit directly to NBCSports.com or through team specific hashtags. Fans can vote on their favorite pictures and see the best of photos from the NHL and the teams using #StanleyCup. The best fan photos from this experience will be featured on-air during NBC and NBC Sports Network games.
    • #StanleyCup: NHL Fans can join the conversation by using the #StanleyCup hash tag across every game of the Stanley Cup Final.
    • NHL on NBC Sports Instagram: NHL fans can upload photos to Instagram and use #StanleyCup. The NHL on NBC Sports Instagram account will feature select fan photos.
    • Live Twitter Chats: Fans will have the opportunity to have live Twitter chats with NHL and NBC Sports personalities and commentators.
  • On-Air Integration:
    • Polls: Fans can weigh in on a variety of NHL themed polls on Facebook and Twitter that commentators will discuss throughout the Stanley Cup Final.
    • #MVPonNBC – During pre-game, post-game and in-game coverage, fans can tweet who they think is the #MVPonNBC. Commentators will discuss the fan favorites and weigh in with their own opinions.
  • News:
    • Fans can engage with Twitter (@NHLonNBCSports) and Facebook (facebook.com/NHLonNBCSports) to receive the most up to date tune-in information, scores, reports and stories from around the NHL and ProHockeyTalk.

 

 

 

 

Hey Rovell, you need to get facts straight about Blackhawk rating for double OT game

Posted on by

Update: When the Hawks scored winning goal in OT, an estimated 843,000 homes in Chicago were watching.

Also, the game did a 37 share in Chicago. That means of the people who were watching TV last night, 37 percent–almost 2 out of 5–were tuned into the game.

Just adding a bit more “perspective” to Rovell’s tweet.

********

Among Darren Rovell’s blizzard of tweets Sunday was this one:

4 out of 5 people in the Chicagoland area did not watch the Blackhawks on TV last night.

The ESPN sports business reporter is a Twitter machine, sending a seemingly infinite stream of facts about his beat. This one, though, is totally out of context.

Restaurants were empty last night in Chicago because everyone was watching the double OT thriller. I should know. The place we went to (don’t get on me, previous commitment) usually is jammed on a Saturday night. But there were plenty of tables available.

Here’s the reason: Game 5 of the Chicago-Los Angeles series did a 19.6 local rating. That means an average of nearly 700,000 homes tuned in during the telecast.

And while I don’t have the exact number, I’m betting the local rating was deep into the 20s during the two overtimes. Those are numbers usually are reserved for the Bears in this town.

And let’s not forget, it was a Saturday night. I’m sure the bars were jammed with happy Blackhawks fans.

Furthermore, the 19.6 local rating was the highest for a non-Stanley Cup Final game in Chicago. Nationally, the game did a 2.9 overnight rating on NBC, the network’s highest ever for a conference final.

I’m not going to get into an analysis of how the ratings work, but those numbers are huge. To suggest nobody cared in Chicago is flat-out wrong.

C’mon Darren, you know better.