ESPN/Versus and throwback commercials

August 1, 2009   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

There’s been much talk centered around whether hockey will return to ESPN. Of course, there are plenty of detractors who like to point to how the game would not be front and center like it is on Versus.

However, it’s like comparing vanilla to mint chocolate when looking at the difference between the two networks. One covers all sports while the other is still a work in progress fresh off the Tour de France. Versus’ coverage has improved since the OLN inception giving fans a couple of exclusive nights along with plenty of postseason doubleheaders. Though we still have issues with certain things like faulty production, bland intermission/postgame and other unpredictable foul ups which insult fans’ intelligence. The lack of quality research during select broadcasts have made their own production talent look like idiots. Something that rarely happened in Bristol.

There also was the Game 7 fiasco which screwed over non-Center Ice subscribers who might’ve had interest in a much better conclusion between Carolina and Boston than Pens-Caps. What made it even worse is a Versus segment in which they broke down what was so wrong with the Caps while not even paying attention to the other game. We get the whole Crosby-Ovechkin rivalry but it was moot that night.

If the NHL returned to ESPN, would they take a back seat to the NFL and NBA? No doubt. Though it would really be basketball since football concludes the first week of February. Could the guys up at Bristol make enough room to split up the NBA, NCAA and NHL coverage? Possibly. If hockey returned, it would be on ESPN2 which wouldn’t interfere with their NBA coverage on ESPN. However, it might cut into NCAA hoops. Would they shift some games to ESPN University? Of course, most would take it as insult but as a former employee, you have to look at differently. From their perspective, it’s about the bottom line. As much as I despise ratings, basketball is more popular than hockey. Something network execs must consider.

However, that doesn’t mean the game isn’t growing after coming off the highest rated Stanley Cup Game 7 on network TV in 36 years. It was also the best rated Final since Carolina-Detroit in 2002 when ABC had it. The game is making a comeback. With electrifying stars like the aforementioned Crosby, Ovechkin along with Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Jarome Iginla, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Nicklas Backstrom, Eric Staal, Rick Nash, Ryan Getzlaf, Zach Parise, Thomas Vanek, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter, it’s easy to love the direction the game’s headed. Increasing the level of excitement is Islander top pick John Tavares, who should help keep the club in Long Island.

A perfect reason for ESPN to get back in as they know how to promote stars. Something the NHL should get a clue at. I’m not advocating getting rid of Versus as they’ve been a good partner following the lockout and were the only network willing to take a chance. Not that I blame ESPN one bit after how much money they put into the league. A fact plenty of cynics like to conveniently ignore. Try ignoring this:

In 1998 ESPN committed to new long-term contracts with the National Football League and the National Hockey League. An eight-year, $18 billion television package with the NFL was announced at the beginning of the year that included ABC, CBS, and ESPN. NBC and TNT (Turner Network Television) dropped out of the package. ESPN’s and ABC’s parent, Walt Disney, paid more than half of the total package, or $9.2 billion. ABC retained its Monday Night Football package and ESPN expanded its Sunday night coverage for the full season. Annually, ABC would pay about $550 million a year and ESPN $600 million a year to broadcast NFL football games for the next eight years. Later in the year, in spite of ratings declines, ABC and ESPN agreed to a five-year, $600 million contract with the NHL to start with the 1998-99 season. The contract gave ABC exclusive national broadcast TV rights and ESPN exclusive national cable TV rights for NHL games.

More of the company history can be found here. Whether they return or not depends largely on Gary Bettman, who gave a nice endorsement of Versus to concerned players at a rare face to face meeting in Las Vegas following the league awards. One might ask why they would want ESPN back in. It’s got to do with promoting the game. Whether one likes to admit it or not, they always had the best commercials/promos.

NHL2Nite was a must watch with John Buccigross, who has incredible passion for the sport. Hard to believe Barry Melrose remains under contract as a part-time analyst on Sports Center. That’s gotta be the easiest paycheck after the failed return behind the bench in Tampa. Hell. Even Matt Barnaby is employed there. And he’s never been afraid to give an opinion.

So, would a return to Bristol work? As long as all parties are satisfied. I say split up the coverage between, Versus, ESPN and NBC. Given how little NBC has put into airing games, why not? Getting hockey back on ESPN would be positive, giving our best players more exposure. Considering all the wacky rule changes to make the game more viewer friendly (we don’t COUNT), what would be the harm? I kinda miss these commercials:

Or how about this classic interview between Gary Thorne and Brendan Shanahan?

Why didn’t he play it? Would that have been classic. I’ll tell you what else I miss. The old Nike commercials. Were there any better than these?

Die! Maple Leafs! Die!!!!!! That was one crazy goalie. The game needs these type of ads back. The one I really liked was this Crosby/Ovechkin from a few years ago. They need to do more of that. Sometimes, I think they take it too seriously. We have some of the best personalities out there. Isn’t it about time they were marketed? I say yes.