Well, of course. Any rights money the NHL is getting from Disney and Turner probably beats what it could get from the barely detectable CBS Sports Network, and definitely beats paying for air time while trying to sell its own advertising. The ESPN+ deal is primarily there to get regular season games to the teams' out-of-market fans, so whatever Disney makes on them in the playoffs is gravy.
You don't have to be a subscriber to look at a given night's schedule. Here's what viewers to ESPN+ had a choice of a couple of Saturdays ago. Scroll down to "ice hockey" and you'll see that three NHL playoff games were available that night on the Plus.
True. And now that we're at the conference final (i.e., semifinal) stage, the games disappear from ESPN+. Tomorrow's schedule:
Turner needs sports more than the leagues need them. TNT/TBS without sports would just be another place for syndicated shows. I wish they could ink a deal with the PAC 12 to give them some sort of CFB presence
The two important (read: Los Angeles) schools are headed for the Big Ten in a couple of years. The PAC-12 conference becomes a mid-major the day that happens. Four of the others (both Arizona schools plus Oregon and Washington) may join the Big 12, putting another nail in the PAC-12 coffin. I can see a merger with the Mountain West in the future.
So, someday, we may see a Michigan-Wyoming or Ohio State-San Jose State Rose Bowl! The future's so bright ...
Canadians watch the Stanley Cup playoffs only when there is Canadian interest. Once the last Canadian team is eliminated, the Canadian viewership of the CBC's coverage drops dramatically.
Those are already here. They're called "cream puffs of the week" games.
The Rose Bowl likely will drop the PAC-12 once the LA schools leave. I can see the Big 12 taking their place.
We just need a Turner Sports Network. Also Game on CBS because some people don't get TNt/TBS same with ABC. Heck Stuidio Crews aren't live at Conference Finals in either Sports same with NBATV/NHL Network.
Who gives a flying puck where the studio crews are?
Have you got stats to back that up? After all, hockey is Canada's national sport and there are a majority of Canadian players in the league compared to players from every other nation (even though sometimes it feels like "our" Russians versus "their" Russians).
According to this list on Wikipedia, since 2011, with the exception of Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final, all of the annual top 10 most watched Stanley Cup playoff games included Canadian teams.
This is why the Major Junior leagues (WHL, OHL, QMJHL all with 16-20 year-olds) are so popular in Canada…it is essentially their equivalent of American college football. The games are fun to watch as they include the best young players who will go on to be stars in the NHL.
Yes, but that does not prove your point. You said that Canadian viewership declines significantly if no Canadian team is playing. This list does not show that, in fact, the inverse.
