Quote:
Originally Posted by GioforPM
a. The NHL is below the NFL and NBA in ticket price and above MLS and MLB. Your complaint is about pro sports.
b. Who knows what you mean by "ridiculous". But what were your alternative contracts that you had in mind?
c. The bandwith to stream a live event in 4K is huge. Just going from 720 to 1080 would probably double costs. And even if they broadcast to the provider in a higher def, the provider often throttles the broadcast down to save $. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UX75uEq9IdU
d. Lockouts are as much on the players as owners - and they provided the cap structure that a lot of teams seem to need. And FYI as far as number of lockouts/strikes go: MLB:9, NFL: 8, NBA: 4, NHL: 4
e. This is pretty nitpicky. The number of drafted players that go that route is extremely small. |
A) Agreed, it is all sports that are expensive, and Bettman is the guy in charge of hockey who has the ability to change that, if that were his priority (it isnt).
B) The Canadian TV contracts have no options for streaming at a reasonable price. Hopefully Amazon assumes this deal in the future and bundles it in with prime memberships. The regional blackouts, excessive price and cumbersome navigation of finding the broadcaster (formerly NHL center ice vs sportsnet vs prime vs cbc vs tsn) are all things the NHL could negotiate in contracts but they don’t. The fan experience takes a back seat to money.
C) Invest in your product to improve the product. Very simple concept.
D) The goal should be no lockouts, not fewer lockouts than other businesses.
E) He’s the top dog for these negotiations, nitpicky or not. Maybe it isn’t important to you but it might be important to others.