Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXIV: A Season without Chuck
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think FSWI is basically run/programmed out of Minny. As an example, any Brewers/Bucks post-game shows where both parties aren't in the same spot, the host is usually in Minnesota, though it says "FSWI Studios". I always looked at FSWI as basically a subchannel of FSNorth. The same stuff and then swapping Brewers/Twins, Bucks/Twolves, etc. I assumed for the last few years that as the Bucks return to relevance and others' interest rises, that will put the squeeze on any Badgers games being aired on FSWI. I think the last few years have borne that out.
Though more games may be added to the TV schedule, it's not going to be what it used to be. I think I wrote this last year, but I originally got Charter back in 2003 specifically because there were so many games on FSWI (then FSNorth I believe). I've since made my way to Uverse due to fewer service interruptions vs. Charter and now of course, I don't get the Wisconsin Channel unless I use rabbit ears, which I still can't figure out how to do on my TV. Between that and the paucity of games on channels I do get (not ASN, whatever the bleep that is?!), it will be hard to gin up the internal interest in really following the team closely. They are losing a generation of fans as the TV coverage declines. I learned about Badger hockey as a child growing up in Milwaukee staying up to watch those late night replays which eventually led to asking for tickets to the Bank One Showdown at the Bradley Center for Christmas presents and subsequently to attending every game for 11 years through college, grad school, and a few years after that. Oh well, I suppose. Perhaps we'll have more than a handful of W's or some hay in the barn or be halfway up the mountain by the time the games make it to TV next year. They haven't lost me yet, but they sure as heck are trying.
