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Why the negativity towards more TV coverage?

K

komey1

Here we go
It seems like when I read the threads regarding the new TV deal with Versus and the expected increased coverage on the BTN when their conference gets started, there is a lot of negativity. I for one don't quite get it. If the goal is to increase the sport, one of the BEST tools for doing so in more TV coverage.

I get that ratings won't be great - but will they be comperable to the ratings Versus is getting for Friday and Saturday otherwise from January-February? I'd say there is a decent chance of it. Yes, it's not going to be a big number, but it will be a number. And with a national network like Versus covering college hockey, they will be more likely to promote it. And if it gets better ratings, who knows what could happen in the future.

We talk about hockey being a niche sport. It's lacrosse also a niche sport? Yet they get their games on ESPN during the regular season. And not for nothing, there really isn't a major leagues of lacrosse for the players to go to, unlike hockey with has the NHL.
 
Re: Why the negativity towards more TV coverage?

As a college hockey fan, I think it is a good thing because it will increase exposure for the sport. However, as a Gopher hockey fan it is hard to get excited about it because virtually all of our games are televised state-wide already. And to be honest, I don't think increased national exposure will help or hurt our program all that much. Just my thoughts.
 
Re: Why the negativity towards more TV coverage?

People watch TV because when they're watching TV ... it tells them to watch other stuff. What that means is that audience is related to promotion. If NBC/Versus promotes the schedule then they'll boost their ratings. If they toss it on randomly like Fox College Sports then only the existing audience will find it. College Hockey Inc. should be actively working NBC/Versus to provide a solid promotional backing for the shows. Work out some sort of partnership with NBC perhaps.
 
Re: Why the negativity towards more TV coverage?

JDUBBS1280 said:
As a college hockey fan, I think it is a good thing because it will increase exposure for the sport. However, as a Gopher hockey fan it is hard to get excited about it because virtually all of our games are televised state-wide already. And to be honest, I don't think increased national exposure will help or hurt our program all that much. Just my thoughts.
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The Gophers have the best ratings of any school in the country so it can't hurt.
 
Re: Why the negativity towards more TV coverage?

T.V is increasingly a niche market proposition. T.V. can introduce a LOT of money into the college hockey world; enough money to change college hockey rules, college hockey recruiting, even college hockey conferences! The most hardened college hockey reactionaries are being forced to consider the impact T.V. might have upon college hockey and to recognize that T.V. money could "professionalize" college hockey.
The heated rejections of the desirability and feasibility of T.V. coverage of college hockey is a form of denial.
 
4four4 said:
The Gophers have the best ratings of any school in the country so it can't hurt.
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Oh, I didn't mean to suggest that it could hurt Minnesota. I just don't know how it could help the Gophers. They are already one of the most recognized programs nationally. Kids that play for the Gophers know they will recieve a lot of exposure. And even if it does increase the exposure of the program nationally, I don't think it will change their recruiting much. I do think it would be good for college hockey in general though, which benefits every program in the long run.
 
Re: Why the negativity towards more TV coverage?

My only concern is that if Versus ends up only broadcasting games between The Usual Suspects, then that will be one more factor driving a wedge between the Haves and the Have Nots of college hockey.
 
LynahFan said:
My only concern is that if Versus ends up only broadcasting games between The Usual Suspects, then that will be one more factor driving a wedge between the Haves and the Have Nots of college hockey.
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The have nots need to find the right AD/coach. I don't see why Versus should feel the need to televise a Michigan Tech-Bowling Green matchup. I'm all for more TV coverage regardless of who's playing.
 
Re: Why the negativity towards more TV coverage?

The basis for NBC/Versus' (NBC Sports Network) pursuit of college hockey is twofold: 1) accumulate media properties, and 2) increase capital through advertising and regional broadcast rights fees...that's it folks...period. There's been an intense sports media property arms race within the industry over the past couple years, but most of the media goodies have already been signed (i.e. Pac-12, Longhorn Network, BTN, SEC, Versus/NHL, etc.). The next big media contracts on the table will be when the BTN (2016) and the Big East (2013) leverage their accumulated market assets against ESPN/ABC for top dollar.

NBC Sports Network sees college hockey as a potential media asset. The bottom line is they don't care about increasing interest in college hockey anymore than any other sport, unless it translates into a brand market share with favorable margins. They're working off specific market potential demographics and stats that indicate an emerging nationwide public interest in the NHL. The "normality assumption" is interest in an NHL brand of hockey can be linearly equated to creating a nationwide college hockey TV market.

Given the uncertainty of market response, this most certainly will be a pilot program with an exit strategy. NBC is not going to sell their soul to expand interest in college hockey. If ratings don't match projections, and sponsorship and right fees flatline, they'll most likely pull the plug on college hockey in a heartbeat. Of course this also may prove to be unfavorable for a long term media deal between NBC and the NCHC, if NBC's soon venture into college hockey goes belly up. My guess is public interest will fluctuate, and college hockey will NOT be an immediate nationwide media success. IMO, without specific branding, college hockey in general is still too much of a niche market for nationwide coverage.
 
Re: Why the negativity towards more TV coverage?

LynahFan said:
My only concern is that if Versus ends up only broadcasting games between The Usual Suspects, then that will be one more factor driving a wedge between the Haves and the Have Nots of college hockey.
Click to expand...

Then why doesn't the have nots step up their college hockey game?
 
Re: Why the negativity towards more TV coverage?

I don't think folks are being negative about the TV coverage nor about getting more college hockey televised. I read it as being much more a reaction to those posters, whose teams are going to the big10 or the bhhc, who seem to be overly optimisitic about all the revenue they see getting from all these new leagues and the rumored tv contracts. IMO, they are not being realistic and those revunues will be not be anywhere close to what they are projecting.
 
Re: Why the negativity towards more TV coverage?

LynahFan said:
My only concern is that if Versus ends up only broadcasting games between The Usual Suspects, then that will be one more factor driving a wedge between the Haves and the Have Nots of college hockey.
Click to expand...
Would UVM (Vermont) be considered a Usual Suspect? If so, I'm all for it! ;)
 
Re: Why the negativity towards more TV coverage?

fangers said:
I don't think folks are being negative about the TV coverage nor about getting more college hockey televised. I read it as being much more a reaction to those posters, whose teams are going to the big10 or the bhhc, who seem to be overly optimisitic about all the revenue they see getting from all these new leagues and the rumored tv contracts. IMO, they are not being realistic and those revunues will be not be anywhere close to what they are projecting.
Click to expand...

I agree that there is are some overly optimistic expectations of the revenue. Name recognition for the best hockey teams will take some time. Certainly each prodcast on Versus this year (if not every year) will have at least one name that the casual viewer will recognize.
 
Re: Why the negativity towards more TV coverage?

I don't think the negativity is simply because there is the prospect of more college hockey on TV. I think it is more a concern of what may happen down the road.

Sure, getting a chance to see your team play when you may not otherwise is a good thing. Seeing anyone play if you aren't actually AT a game is something that many of us here enjoy, regardless of who is playing. I think what most of us fear is anything that hints at losing any control of our game, our little niche game, to the TV allure and the TV dollar.

Pro sports, and college football and basketball give it to TV any time TV asks them to. They have to because they are now in love with and dependent on all the TV $$$. The BCS would not exist were it not for all that TV money. Deserving teams not making the NCAA basketball tournament in favor of big time programs who have mediocre seasons being invited would not happen without TV money. 90 minute long half time shows and ridiculously over-hyped wardrobe malfunctions would not happen without TV $$$. Major League Baseball playoff games ending too late for kids to see them in half the country would not happen were it not for TV money.

Fortunately, this is hardly likely with college hockey, something I'm sure most of us know. I'm not sure what Versus is looking at as far as what kind of numbers will make this a successful venture. I'm sure it is not even NHL-like ratings. Whatever happens, this isn't going to be the next American Idol. And since the NCAA, the individual conferences, and teams aren't going to realize some huge pot of gold at the end of the Versus rainbow, hopefully they will resist all temptation to give away too much of the control to television.
 
Re: Why the negativity towards more TV coverage?

IrishHockeyFan said:
Sure, getting a chance to see your team play when you may not otherwise is a good thing. Seeing anyone play if you aren't actually AT a game is something that many of us here enjoy, regardless of who is playing. I think what most of us fear is anything that hints at losing any control of our game, our little niche game, to the TV allure and the TV dollar.
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The problem is that without TV exposure, it's hard to see our litle niche sport grow.
 
Re: Why the negativity towards more TV coverage?

fangers said:
I don't think folks are being negative about the TV coverage nor about getting more college hockey televised. I read it as being much more a reaction to those posters, whose teams are going to the big10 or the bhhc, who seem to be overly optimisitic about all the revenue they see getting from all these new leagues and the rumored tv contracts. IMO, they are not being realistic and those revunues will be not be anywhere close to what they are projecting.
Click to expand...

I don't think EVERYONE whose team is going to the BTHC is reacting as though their team will be seeing a dramatic increase in revenue. The Gophers were doing just fine from a revenue standpoint before the formation of the BTHC was announced. In fact, I don't think Minnesota will nearly as big of a revenue increase as some of the other teams joining the BTHC. In fact, I think most Gopher fans are indifferent, if not upset, about the new conference.
 
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