Hockey Playoffs on TV - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

jcookc6 · 06-07-2004, 12:30 PM

If you ever watched the Hockey Night in Canada production on the CBC, you would understand. The Disney/ESPN/ABC production is unwatchable unless you turn the sound off.
CBC's ratings continue to climb: Game 6 attracts 4.673 million viewers

Canadian Press

Monday, June 07, 2004

TORONTO (CP) - Canadian ratings for the Stanley Cup final are on fire.

Saturday's Game 6 between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Calgary Flames drew 4.673 million CBC viewers, making it the second-highest rated NHL game ever for the network.

Only Game 7 of the 1994 final between Vancouver and the New York Rangers, the last time a Canadian team played for the Cup, drew more, with 4.957 million tuning in to watch the 3-2 Rangers win. The Lightning defeated the Flames 3-2 in double overtime Saturday to force Game 7.

Aside from Game 2, the numbers for this year's series have steadily increased. Game 1 attracted 3.063 million compared to 2.811 million for Game 2 and 3.135 million for Game 3. Game 4 drew 3.450 million viewers while Game 5 brought in 3.515 million.

Last year's Game 6 between Anaheim and New Jersey, which was also played on a Saturday night, drew just 1.510 million viewers.

The record audience for a sporting event in Canada, with more than 10 million English and French-language CBC viewers, was the Canadian men's gold medal hockey win over the U.S. at the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics.

The American ratings for this year's series have been among the lowest since U.S. networks began carrying the Cup final in 1998.
© Copyright 2004 The Canadian Press
http://www.canada.com/components/pri...8-D2B8A841074A

Averett · 06-07-2004, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jcookc6
The American ratings for this year's series have been among the lowest since U.S. networks began carrying the Cup final in 1998.

That's really too bad... I've been watching though. If I had CBC I'd watch there, but ESPN/ABC is my only option. Well, I guess I could put it on mute and get some web broadcast..

Ace_O_Spades · 06-07-2004, 12:57 PM

the web broadcast is delayed by a few seconds.... trust me

DDDDave · 06-07-2004, 01:04 PM

Of course the American ratings are lowest in ten years. It is the first time in ten years that there has only been 1 American team in the finals. I can assure you it is on in about 80% of households in Tampa. But there is no Detroit, New York, Dallas, etc. to make up the other half of the ratings. I think this ratings argument is a total "Well DDDUUHH".

ForgottenKnight · 06-07-2004, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jcookc6
If you ever watched the Hockey Night in Canada production on the CBC, you would understand. The Disney/ESPN/ABC production is unwatchable unless you turn the sound off.

I don't have to have seen a production in Canada to understand. I hate watching games on ESPN and ABC. ABC uses the ESPN anouncers, and they SUCK! They're bias like none other! And it's not just playoff games, but every game!
I like watching Hockey on Fox Sports Rocky Mountain. Yeah I know it's always the best when it's your home anouncers, but still, they at least give the other team a lot of credit where it's deserved! The ESPN anouncers will give credit to one team when it's not deserved, and not give any credit to another team that has repeatedly earned it again and again in that game!

Corneo · 06-07-2004, 09:38 PM

YES! And I though I was the only one crazy when watching NHL on ABC sports. Something about CBC just can't be replicated.

jcookc6 · 06-08-2004, 04:04 AM

There is something about the announcers on on ESPN/ABC and also the other major networks. They just don't shut up. Someone way up there has determined that people watch sports broadcasts, not for the contest at hand, but to listen to the none ending yackity yak. If I was blind, nowadays it would pay to listen to the game on TV, than on radio, as they talk more on TV.

jcookc6 · 06-08-2004, 04:19 AM

Article from the "Toronto Star" last week,
here is the link,
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Con...d=971358637177

jcookc6 · 06-08-2004, 04:20 AM

sorry about that. here is the article
Cole key to CBC success

CHRIS ZELKOVICH

Flipping back and forth between CBC and ABC during the Stanley Cup final reveals some major differences.

For one, ABC doesn't have a guy wearing an electrified Calgary Flames jersey over a jacket that was apparently made from a tablecloth. Why, there was even a sense of objectivity on the American network.

But it goes much deeper than that.

The most obvious difference is that the game sounds a whole lot more exciting on ABC. That's because ABC broadcasts in surround-sound while the CBC has yet to shell out for stereo. Maybe next century.

The difference was most noticeable during the introduction to Saturday's game, when the roar of the crowd in Calgary rattled my speakers. It gave a viewer the feeling he was in the middle of madness. On CBC, it sounded like a Blue Jays crowd.

On CBC, they talk hockey. On ABC, they talk some hybrid sport that includes things like "the zone" and "the side wall."

But if you watch long enough, you realize there's another big difference: Bob Cole.

And I don't mean that in the "What game is Bob Cole watching?" sense. I mean it in the "Bob Cole can really make a game sound exciting" sense.

The guy who calls hockey for ABC, Gary Thorne, is pretty good even if you're baffled by his penchant for weird terminology, which is obviously aimed at those millions of Americans who don't understand hockey.

But he's no Bob Cole.

The difference between Thorne and Cole's calls were as noticeable as the difference between the quality of the network's sound.

That was most obvious on a breakaway by Tampa Bay's Brad Richards. On ABC, it sounded pretty much like a routine play. On CBC, Cole wrung every ounce of excitement and emotion out of the play, making it sound like a game turning point.

In fact, it was.

It's been said that Cole conveys the flow of the game so well that a blind person could follow the action when he's in the broadcast booth. Sometimes only the visually impaired would fail to notice that things aren't unfolding quite as Cole calls them, but sometimes I wonder how important that really is.

Besides, when he does mess up Harry Neale can usually correct him.

Ask most people what they like or dislike about specific announcers and the answer usually comes down to the voice. On that, Cole has few peers. He may be in the twilight of his career, but he can still crank it up.

There's also a major similarity between the two networks: They both do a pretty good job of covering the game.

And that has to be a concern for the NHL. After all, if ABC can't outdraw the WNBA with a solid product, just what is NBC going to have to do when it takes on this albatross next season?

God of Thunder · 06-08-2004, 04:36 AM

Bob Cole and Harry Neale are not the only reason I watch CBC.

How can we have a discussion about CBC'c hockey coverage and not include the Coach's Corner crew?

Grapes is the only reason HNIC is worth watching!!

jcookc6 · 06-08-2004, 08:24 AM

Grapes is on his way out, politically correct don't like his views on the people from the east of Ontario.

God of Thunder · 06-08-2004, 08:47 AM

That's why I like him

BTW, this is about the fifth time CBC has threatned to fire Don. It ain't gonna happen. The fans tove him too much.

paddyjoe · 06-08-2004, 10:34 AM

Grapes is a hockey legend in Rochester. Back in his heyday with the Rochester Americans, he could've been coach, GM. and the Mayor all at the same time. At one time, he just about saved hockey in this town. I wish we could pick up his broadcasts. Nobody knows the game better.

perripken · 06-08-2004, 06:06 PM

Don Cherry also coached our high school hockey team when he was in Rochester. What a great guy! He is 10 times better to listen to than Melrose, Saunders and Pang!

sherpahigh · 06-08-2004, 09:03 PM

I hate Bob Cole. Nuts he drives me...Bon Cole does.

Spartak · 06-08-2004, 10:59 PM

Thorne is a cool announcer, IMO. Whenever he yells "SCORRRRRRREEEESSS!!!!".. just sends shivers down my spine

Especially if its the Red Wings, go Wings go!!

Panger is pretty cool, Clement and Melrose should go fall in a hole or something.

NOTE TO MELROSE: MULLETS WENT OUT OF FASHION IN THE 80s.

streak_56 · 06-09-2004, 01:07 AM

Living in the US I get ESPN/ABC and it doesn't even come close to CBC.... I try to legally get the CBC network on my satelite but unfortuneately it doesn't. The announcers, color commentators... everything about it is better.... the only thing I liked about ESPN so far was that two years ago they used a distant cousin of mine as a commentator (Pat Verbeek.... for those who know who he is). But other than that... I think that ESPN/ABC are only concerned with ratings rather than the actual importance of the game itself. Melrose said that a Canadian team will never make it to the Cup and it happened and he so quickly changed it to a Canadian team will never win the Cup, and I've never liked him since. Someone needs to make him STFU. Pang is OK, Clement knows his stuff but Clement is in the same boat as Melrose.... screw 'em all and broadcast the damn CBC down here.

perripken · 06-09-2004, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Spartak

NOTE TO MELROSE: MULLETS WENT OUT OF FASHION IN THE 80s.

My sentiments exactly!

God of Thunder · 06-09-2004, 11:48 AM

That's why I love living in Michigan. In some areas you can get CBC with just an antenna. I live far enough inland that I have to have cable to get it, but I still get it.

If it weren't for Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond doing the broadcasting for Detroit, I would watch all games on CBC.

jcookc6 · 06-09-2004, 05:48 PM

I was watching the President Reagan thing this afternoon on C-Span. All you could hear was the background noise, the hoof beats and the commands of the soldiers.
I thought to myself, what a wonderful idea for a Sports Network, no announcers, just the crown noise and the PA announcer. No yakity Yak. If you want information, don't be lazy and look it up on the computer. If you don't know what is going on, you probably won't be watching it anyways. They could put the commercials on at appropriate times.

06-07-2004, 12:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
jcookc6 Psycho Location: Venice, Florida	Hockey Playoffs on TV If you ever watched the Hockey Night in Canada production on the CBC, you would understand. The Disney/ESPN/ABC production is unwatchable unless you turn the sound off. CBC's ratings continue to climb: Game 6 attracts 4.673 million viewers Canadian Press Monday, June 07, 2004 TORONTO (CP) - Canadian ratings for the Stanley Cup final are on fire. Saturday's Game 6 between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Calgary Flames drew 4.673 million CBC viewers, making it the second-highest rated NHL game ever for the network. Only Game 7 of the 1994 final between Vancouver and the New York Rangers, the last time a Canadian team played for the Cup, drew more, with 4.957 million tuning in to watch the 3-2 Rangers win. The Lightning defeated the Flames 3-2 in double overtime Saturday to force Game 7. Aside from Game 2, the numbers for this year's series have steadily increased. Game 1 attracted 3.063 million compared to 2.811 million for Game 2 and 3.135 million for Game 3. Game 4 drew 3.450 million viewers while Game 5 brought in 3.515 million. Last year's Game 6 between Anaheim and New Jersey, which was also played on a Saturday night, drew just 1.510 million viewers. The record audience for a sporting event in Canada, with more than 10 million English and French-language CBC viewers, was the Canadian men's gold medal hockey win over the U.S. at the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics. The American ratings for this year's series have been among the lowest since U.S. networks began carrying the Cup final in 1998. © Copyright 2004 The Canadian Press http://www.canada.com/components/pri...8-D2B8A841074A

06-07-2004, 12:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ace_O_Spades The Death Card Location: EH!?!?	the web broadcast is delayed by a few seconds.... trust me __________________ Feh.

06-07-2004, 01:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
DDDDave Addict Location: Sarasota	Of course the American ratings are lowest in ten years. It is the first time in ten years that there has only been 1 American team in the finals. I can assure you it is on in about 80% of households in Tampa. But there is no Detroit, New York, Dallas, etc. to make up the other half of the ratings. I think this ratings argument is a total "Well DDDUUHH". __________________ I am just a simple man trying to make my way in the universe... "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." - Thoreau "Nothing great was ever accomplished without enthusiasm" - Emerson

06-08-2004, 04:36 AM	#10 (permalink)
God of Thunder Talk nerdy to me Location: Flint, MI	Bob Cole and Harry Neale are not the only reason I watch CBC. How can we have a discussion about CBC'c hockey coverage and not include the Coach's Corner crew? Grapes is the only reason HNIC is worth watching!! __________________ I reject your reality, and substitute my own -- Adam Savage

06-08-2004, 08:47 AM	#12 (permalink)
God of Thunder Talk nerdy to me Location: Flint, MI	That's why I like him BTW, this is about the fifth time CBC has threatned to fire Don. It ain't gonna happen. The fans tove him too much. __________________ I reject your reality, and substitute my own -- Adam Savage

06-07-2004, 09:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
Corneo Insane	YES! And I though I was the only one crazy when watching NHL on ABC sports. Something about CBC just can't be replicated.

06-08-2004, 04:04 AM	#7 (permalink)
jcookc6 Psycho Location: Venice, Florida	There is something about the announcers on on ESPN/ABC and also the other major networks. They just don't shut up. Someone way up there has determined that people watch sports broadcasts, not for the contest at hand, but to listen to the none ending yackity yak. If I was blind, nowadays it would pay to listen to the game on TV, than on radio, as they talk more on TV.

06-08-2004, 04:19 AM	#8 (permalink)
jcookc6 Psycho Location: Venice, Florida	Article from the "Toronto Star" last week, here is the link, http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Con...d=971358637177

06-08-2004, 04:20 AM	#9 (permalink)
jcookc6 Psycho Location: Venice, Florida	sorry about that. here is the article Cole key to CBC success CHRIS ZELKOVICH Flipping back and forth between CBC and ABC during the Stanley Cup final reveals some major differences. For one, ABC doesn't have a guy wearing an electrified Calgary Flames jersey over a jacket that was apparently made from a tablecloth. Why, there was even a sense of objectivity on the American network. But it goes much deeper than that. The most obvious difference is that the game sounds a whole lot more exciting on ABC. That's because ABC broadcasts in surround-sound while the CBC has yet to shell out for stereo. Maybe next century. The difference was most noticeable during the introduction to Saturday's game, when the roar of the crowd in Calgary rattled my speakers. It gave a viewer the feeling he was in the middle of madness. On CBC, it sounded like a Blue Jays crowd. On CBC, they talk hockey. On ABC, they talk some hybrid sport that includes things like "the zone" and "the side wall." But if you watch long enough, you realize there's another big difference: Bob Cole. And I don't mean that in the "What game is Bob Cole watching?" sense. I mean it in the "Bob Cole can really make a game sound exciting" sense. The guy who calls hockey for ABC, Gary Thorne, is pretty good even if you're baffled by his penchant for weird terminology, which is obviously aimed at those millions of Americans who don't understand hockey. But he's no Bob Cole. The difference between Thorne and Cole's calls were as noticeable as the difference between the quality of the network's sound. That was most obvious on a breakaway by Tampa Bay's Brad Richards. On ABC, it sounded pretty much like a routine play. On CBC, Cole wrung every ounce of excitement and emotion out of the play, making it sound like a game turning point. In fact, it was. It's been said that Cole conveys the flow of the game so well that a blind person could follow the action when he's in the broadcast booth. Sometimes only the visually impaired would fail to notice that things aren't unfolding quite as Cole calls them, but sometimes I wonder how important that really is. Besides, when he does mess up Harry Neale can usually correct him. Ask most people what they like or dislike about specific announcers and the answer usually comes down to the voice. On that, Cole has few peers. He may be in the twilight of his career, but he can still crank it up. There's also a major similarity between the two networks: They both do a pretty good job of covering the game. And that has to be a concern for the NHL. After all, if ABC can't outdraw the WNBA with a solid product, just what is NBC going to have to do when it takes on this albatross next season?

06-08-2004, 08:24 AM	#11 (permalink)
jcookc6 Psycho Location: Venice, Florida	Grapes is on his way out, politically correct don't like his views on the people from the east of Ontario.

06-08-2004, 10:34 AM	#13 (permalink)
paddyjoe through charlatans phone Location: Northcoast	Grapes is a hockey legend in Rochester. Back in his heyday with the Rochester Americans, he could've been coach, GM. and the Mayor all at the same time. At one time, he just about saved hockey in this town. I wish we could pick up his broadcasts. Nobody knows the game better.

06-08-2004, 06:06 PM	#14 (permalink)
perripken Now a registered fossil Location: Home of the shrinking Kodak	Don Cherry also coached our high school hockey team when he was in Rochester. What a great guy! He is 10 times better to listen to than Melrose, Saunders and Pang! __________________ And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years. Abraham Lincoln

06-08-2004, 09:03 PM	#15 (permalink)
sherpahigh So Hip it Hurts Location: Up here in my tree	I hate Bob Cole. Nuts he drives me...Bon Cole does. __________________ "It'd be better for me if you don't understand"

06-08-2004, 10:59 PM	#16 (permalink)
Spartak Bang bang Location: New Zealand	Thorne is a cool announcer, IMO. Whenever he yells "SCORRRRRRREEEESSS!!!!".. just sends shivers down my spine Especially if its the Red Wings, go Wings go!! Panger is pretty cool, Clement and Melrose should go fall in a hole or something. NOTE TO MELROSE: MULLETS WENT OUT OF FASHION IN THE 80s. __________________ I can read your mind... looking at you... I can read your mind...

06-09-2004, 01:07 AM	#17 (permalink)
streak_56 who ever said streaking was a bad thing? Location: Calgary	Living in the US I get ESPN/ABC and it doesn't even come close to CBC.... I try to legally get the CBC network on my satelite but unfortuneately it doesn't. The announcers, color commentators... everything about it is better.... the only thing I liked about ESPN so far was that two years ago they used a distant cousin of mine as a commentator (Pat Verbeek.... for those who know who he is). But other than that... I think that ESPN/ABC are only concerned with ratings rather than the actual importance of the game itself. Melrose said that a Canadian team will never make it to the Cup and it happened and he so quickly changed it to a Canadian team will never win the Cup, and I've never liked him since. Someone needs to make him STFU. Pang is OK, Clement knows his stuff but Clement is in the same boat as Melrose.... screw 'em all and broadcast the damn CBC down here.

06-09-2004, 11:48 AM	#19 (permalink)
God of Thunder Talk nerdy to me Location: Flint, MI	That's why I love living in Michigan. In some areas you can get CBC with just an antenna. I live far enough inland that I have to have cable to get it, but I still get it. If it weren't for Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond doing the broadcasting for Detroit, I would watch all games on CBC. __________________ I reject your reality, and substitute my own -- Adam Savage

06-09-2004, 05:48 PM	#20 (permalink)
jcookc6 Psycho Location: Venice, Florida	I was watching the President Reagan thing this afternoon on C-Span. All you could hear was the background noise, the hoof beats and the commands of the soldiers. I thought to myself, what a wonderful idea for a Sports Network, no announcers, just the crown noise and the PA announcer. No yakity Yak. If you want information, don't be lazy and look it up on the computer. If you don't know what is going on, you probably won't be watching it anyways. They could put the commercials on at appropriate times.