from Amazon
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Versus
Versus is a cable channel, where the NHL has its games.
On my cable system (Cablevision), channels 35, 36 are ESPN2 and ESPN. Channels 37 through 49 are various movie and serial channels, like USA, TNT, AMC. Channels in the 50s are entertainment shows, the 60s are weather and CPAN types, and 70s have MSG and YES. All the way on channel 408 is Versus. Men are channel surfers. But, they’re not going to surf from channel 72 to 408. They’re certainly not going to type 408.
According to The Hockey News, MLB on FOX got a 2 rating, and NHL on NBC got a 1. That’s pretty good in comparison. Remember that the NHL revenues are a bit over 2 billion, compared to the 6 billion of MLB. Versus is on about half the homes of NBC, but it got 20% the ratings of NBC. Location, location, location. Versus needs to at least move into the channels 140s, like ESPN News and Fox Sports.
The NHL should also abandon any hopes to “convert” fans, especially since this is being done at the expense of annoying the core base. The NHL is a regional sport. Leave it at that. Bettman has the same attitude like NJ politicians, as they tried to come up with a state slogan (all of the form “Please love me"). Desperation is not attractive.