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troutman · 04-20-2011, 09:24 AM

TV market could prevent Coyotes’ move to Winnipeg
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sport...rticle1991965/

The Phoenix Coyotes may play their last game in the desert on Wednesday, but there is one big reason why the NHL has fought long and hard to prevent a possible franchise move to Winnipeg: Television.

A survey of several current and former NHL governors – who would not speak on the record because commissioner Gary Bettman frowns on public discussions of league business – highlighted the league's need to keep the Phoenix market (the 12th-largest in the United States, according to Nielsen Media Research) in order to maximize a U.S. TV contract.

“It's not that they don't want to go back to Winnipeg, it's that they want to keep the Phoenix market,” said one governor, who believes Winnipeg will be the next city to get an NHL franchise even if the Coyotes stay in Arizona. “All our broadcast partners want to keep that market.”

At this point, it looks like the Coyotes will return to Winnipeg, from whence they came in 1996. None of the governors interviewed were optimistic the municipal bond deal that is supposed to pay for Chicago businessman Matthew Hulsizer's purchase of the Coyotes from the NHL can be saved.

One governor said Canadians may not like it, but the NHL is a U.S.-based league, with only six Canadian teams, so the 24 American franchises are more interested in developing markets at home.

That governor also said it would be hard to sell a team from a small Canadian city, like Winnipeg, to fans in his market, “especially on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.”

If an NHL team is to move, most owners prefer it to be the Thrashers because that will ease another of the league's problems.

[aren't TV ratings in that market terrible? now that the NHL has a 10 year US TV contract, isn't this a moot point? why don't they care about losing the Atlanta TV market? none of this adds up]

04-20-2011, 09:24 AM	#1289
troutman Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Crowsnest Pass Exp:	TV market could prevent Coyotes’ move to Winnipeg http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sport...rticle1991965/ The Phoenix Coyotes may play their last game in the desert on Wednesday, but there is one big reason why the NHL has fought long and hard to prevent a possible franchise move to Winnipeg: Television. A survey of several current and former NHL governors – who would not speak on the record because commissioner Gary Bettman frowns on public discussions of league business – highlighted the league's need to keep the Phoenix market (the 12th-largest in the United States, according to Nielsen Media Research) in order to maximize a U.S. TV contract. “It's not that they don't want to go back to Winnipeg, it's that they want to keep the Phoenix market,” said one governor, who believes Winnipeg will be the next city to get an NHL franchise even if the Coyotes stay in Arizona. “All our broadcast partners want to keep that market.” At this point, it looks like the Coyotes will return to Winnipeg, from whence they came in 1996. None of the governors interviewed were optimistic the municipal bond deal that is supposed to pay for Chicago businessman Matthew Hulsizer's purchase of the Coyotes from the NHL can be saved. One governor said Canadians may not like it, but the NHL is a U.S.-based league, with only six Canadian teams, so the 24 American franchises are more interested in developing markets at home. That governor also said it would be hard to sell a team from a small Canadian city, like Winnipeg, to fans in his market, “especially on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.” If an NHL team is to move, most owners prefer it to be the Thrashers because that will ease another of the league's problems. [aren't TV ratings in that market terrible? now that the NHL has a 10 year US TV contract, isn't this a moot point? why don't they care about losing the Atlanta TV market? none of this adds up] Last edited by troutman; 04-20-2011 at 09:34 AM.