Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Half way through year 1. Everyone's thoughts of Sportsnets "Monopoly"?

The_Future · 01-23-2015, 12:35 PM

Well it's about half way through the first season since Sportsnet took over as the primary rights holders for NHL broadcasts. Opposed to Sportsnet, TSN, and CBC sharing the rights.

I am fairly torn on the still, and just wanted to see how others are weighing in.

The Good - I am absolutely thrilled about the online streaming of games. I am a subscriber to Rogers Game Center, and although originally I was confused because it is different than NHL Game Center, it has changed my viewing. I used to subscribe to a satellite company that cost me $80 a month in addition to purchasing Center Ice for an addition $260. I have since dropped the dish and can view ALL the Flames games, anywhere I happen to be. I travel a lot and work oddball hours so I am definitely digging watching on my phone or laptop, as well as Apple TV. It saves me 100s of dollars a year, and the service to date has been top shelf.

The Bad - I fear one day Rogers will start blackouts or install PPV style viewing. I have worked for other streaming companies and after they have you hooked they go in for the kill. I do not know the details of the contract, but let's hope this doesn't happen. Also I will say I do not exactly enjoy the production value of hockey coming out of Sportsnet as much as TSN or CBC. The pre, post and intermission segments really lack professional polish. I am however glad they brought guys like Kelly Hrudy on board, who help class the place up.

The Ugly - Speaking of class, I find Sportsnet to be very classless. They continually make jabs at TSN for "winning" the broadcast rights battle. Guys like Doug MacLean, and Glen Healey are asinine. Additionally there seems to be more and more articles being produced which have misleading titles and/or written in poor taste to gain cheap attention. I personally am not a fan of this kind of "trolling" media and would prefer to see they focus on positive, professional level reporting which could lead to just as many "hits" if you will.

I guess the bottom line is that without Rogers deal I would probably only see about 2/3rds of the Flames games I watch now, and that is what is important. I do however like to go to the next level with hockey and read/watch the follow up news items/highlights/stories and I wish Sportsnet would clean up their act in this department.

01-23-2015, 12:35 PM	#1
The_Future Crash and Bang Winger Join Date: Aug 2010 Exp:	Half way through year 1. Everyone's thoughts of Sportsnets "Monopoly"? Well it's about half way through the first season since Sportsnet took over as the primary rights holders for NHL broadcasts. Opposed to Sportsnet, TSN, and CBC sharing the rights. I am fairly torn on the still, and just wanted to see how others are weighing in. The Good - I am absolutely thrilled about the online streaming of games. I am a subscriber to Rogers Game Center, and although originally I was confused because it is different than NHL Game Center, it has changed my viewing. I used to subscribe to a satellite company that cost me $80 a month in addition to purchasing Center Ice for an addition $260. I have since dropped the dish and can view ALL the Flames games, anywhere I happen to be. I travel a lot and work oddball hours so I am definitely digging watching on my phone or laptop, as well as Apple TV. It saves me 100s of dollars a year, and the service to date has been top shelf. The Bad - I fear one day Rogers will start blackouts or install PPV style viewing. I have worked for other streaming companies and after they have you hooked they go in for the kill. I do not know the details of the contract, but let's hope this doesn't happen. Also I will say I do not exactly enjoy the production value of hockey coming out of Sportsnet as much as TSN or CBC. The pre, post and intermission segments really lack professional polish. I am however glad they brought guys like Kelly Hrudy on board, who help class the place up. The Ugly - Speaking of class, I find Sportsnet to be very classless. They continually make jabs at TSN for "winning" the broadcast rights battle. Guys like Doug MacLean, and Glen Healey are asinine. Additionally there seems to be more and more articles being produced which have misleading titles and/or written in poor taste to gain cheap attention. I personally am not a fan of this kind of "trolling" media and would prefer to see they focus on positive, professional level reporting which could lead to just as many "hits" if you will. I guess the bottom line is that without Rogers deal I would probably only see about 2/3rds of the Flames games I watch now, and that is what is important. I do however like to go to the next level with hockey and read/watch the follow up news items/highlights/stories and I wish Sportsnet would clean up their act in this department. Last edited by The_Future; 01-23-2015 at 12:40 PM.