Quote:
Originally Posted by Arctother
Um, well, no. Apples to Apples, yes - but the games in the US on Versus are simply not as available as the games on ESPN.
And the weekend games on NBC are on the weekend - so if we were talking weekend game vs weekend game fine.
But weeknight games, basketball benefits from all those casual fans who get home, crack a brew, and might watch a hockey game if it was on, but it is not so they watch the basketball game.
Yes, I know in some regions, the local channel (Comcast Sportsnet etc) will show hockey on weeknights. But not in much of the USA, including some major media markets - Seattle for one. So, if you do not get Versus....
-Arc
|
That's part of the reason so many writers on down on the NHL. Yes, Versus does a very good job covering the NHL. However, they're no ESPN. People don't just randomly tune into Versus and say "I'm bored, I wonder what Versus is showing right now." The fact is, if the NHL wants to be in the same category as the NBA and MLB in the U.S. they need the support of the casual sports fan. I still think the NHL needs to be on ESPN if they want to work their way back into the mainstream American sports. At least they need to be talked about on a regular basis (on Sports Center and their talk shows) for something other than a major event.