Sportsnet has ruined hockey - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

calgaryblood · 03-31-2016, 12:32 AM

I've never been as disinterested in a season than this year and it's not because we suck. I've been watching for a long time and even in the young guns era I was more excited for hockey than this. I was at home doing nothing and didn't turn on the game until the second period. It's just so boring watching a game on SN especially when the games don't matter. I've been a die hard fan for a long time and would never miss a period let alone a game. I used to watch at least 2 full out of market games a week. This year I've maybe watched 3 total. TSN used to make the games exciting even CBC went down the drain.

Their production value is awful. Consistently miss plays. Tonight Bollig went after a Duck because of a dirty hit and you'd think the camera would be focused on that? Nope. As usual they are out of it and don't really pay attention to the play. The HD is SD. Worst HD I've ever watched. Sound is awful. They don't turn up the crowd volume like NBC does.

NBC is an American network and they blow SN out of the water with their games.

How many years are left?

hwy19man · 03-31-2016, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

How many years are left?

There is a decade left on the contract.

GreenLantern2814 · 03-31-2016, 12:57 AM

They don't know how to sell games at all. Every promo is 'Player X and his team roll into city Y to take on Who Cares and the fighting squirrels'. Ho-lee why do I care? You could cut together promos and build narratives throughout the season with just a little effort.

Instead, a game between Chicago and LA is given relatively the same treatment as a Calgary/Arizona Tuesday nighter.

There's a real shortage of good hosts - any game Leah Hextall doesn't do is painful, but I'm sure her back hurts from carrying John Shannon, PJ Stock, Corey Hirsch, Colby Armstrong etc.

Everyone who tries to be a character comes across as either a fool (PJ Stock protects Ondrej Pavelec in an expansion draft?)

That's really their biggest problem. It's not Strombo. Strombo is a good host. But their lead analysts on HNIC are Glenn Healy, Damien Cox and Nick Kypreos.

Kelly Hrudey is great because he's a nice, personable, professional broadcaster who knows what he's talking about and knows when to bring the wood to a player. His takedowns of Bourque and Semin are legendary for because they're done with grace and timing.

Nobody at Sportsnet corporate knows how to tell a story. The whole operation smacks of people who have never travelled outside the Toronto city limits, and I refer you to the ALDS to observe why Toronto can't have nice things. They can't handle it.

Even their trade deadline coverage - a bunch of BS fake reactions to allegedly huge deals. Yep, I'm sure Ford was thrilled with the premium they paid for airtime the moment Kris Russell finally moved.

Here's an idea. How about you show Antoine Vermette scoring that OT winner for Chicago, and then cut to 'we have a trade, Vermette to Chicago etc' and write something about how nobody knows the way it's gonna be. Rinse and repeat that for ten TV spots and you've instantly made the trade deadline more compelling. Instead, they brag about their hack analysts and how you'll see it here first. Dude, SureLoss is going to have it before all of you, so just put on a good, professional, fun show and chill the #### out about it.

Sportsnet operates under the assumption that we're coming anyway. As our ladies will all tell us, that's not how it works.

MOD EDIT: No swearing please.

hwy19man · 03-31-2016, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

There's a real shortage of good hosts - any game Leah Hextall doesn't do is painful, but I'm sure her back hurts from carrying John Shannon, PJ Stock, Corey Hirsch, Colby Armstrong etc.

That's really their biggest problem. It's not Strombo. Strombo is a good host. But their lead analysts on HNIC are Glenn Healy, Damien Cox and Nick Kypreos. And all of those guys, I'm sorry, are a$$holes. Do you want to spend your leisure time with a bunch of self important a$$holes? I don't.

PJ Stock and Healy came from the CBC and Healy was on TSN before that. Cox is the main problem. Most of the studio analysts on TSN were just as inferior. The lone exception is Bob Mckenzie, who is simply the best and better than all the rest.

hwy19man · 03-31-2016, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

I've been watching for a long time and even in the young guns era I was more excited for hockey than this. I was at home doing nothing and didn't turn on the game until the second period. It's just so boring watching a game on SN especially when the games don't matter. I've been a die hard fan for a long time and would never miss a period let alone a game. I used to watch at least 2 full out of market games a week. This year I've maybe watched 3 total. TSN used to make the games exciting even CBC went down the drain.

It is the opposite for me as I watch more games now than before Sportsnet acquired all the national rights in Canada. Ray Ferraro with his inferior colour commentary ruined the TSN games. I really appreciate the extra games Sportsnet puts on through out the week.

T@T · 03-31-2016, 01:31 AM

The so called HD is truly appalling, watering down the quality to save bandwidth certainly wont help viewership.

I emailed them long ago on this subject with...drumroll

Spoiler!

Maybe jihad-ism to their email is needed.

feedback@sportsnet.rogers.com

Tsawwassen · 03-31-2016, 04:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

The whole operation smacks of people who have never travelled outside the Toronto city limits, and I refer you to the ALDS to observe why Toronto can't have nice things. They can't handle it.

Even their trade deadline coverage - a bunch of BS fake reactions to allegedly huge deals.

Uh TSN is in the same boat about travelling, read my sig. Trade deadline was basically the same thing on TSN, overhyping and exaggerating minor deals.

Tsawwassen · 03-31-2016, 04:50 AM

I get that people don't like the new kid on the block or a change. Go back in time (in the Delorean) and see how other newcomers and changes went through similar patterns of being blasted and fans just really ticked at them. TSN went through this, FOX taking over the NFC package from CBS. NBA fans were angry when NBC lost the contract, Monday Night Football going bye bye on ABC.

Mean Mr. Mustard · 03-31-2016, 06:02 AM

Hockey coverage has never been better for the average fan, sure there are some personalities that you don't like but with a basic cable package you can watch your favourite team 82 times a year. If your favourite team is out of market you can sign up and pay online and watch them 82 times a year. Is it perfect, no. There are some hosts who are annoying and the sound is off by a bit but seriously, is there nothing else to be concerned about? Sportsnet has ruined hockey? No, having an noncompetitive home market and a saturation of the market has done a lot more to ruin hockey.

dissentowner · 03-31-2016, 06:22 AM

I am not complaining one bit. Growing up as a Flames fan in SW Ontario was brutal back in the 80's because you rarely got to see the team play. Hell, I used to tune into a Detroit radio station on my radio when the Flames were playing the Wings and that was exciting back then, to even hear the game. Before CI it was listening to games online in the early days of the internet and that was amazing. During the beginning of the alt.flames emailing group or whatever it was called. Then CI came out and I was set. Not only could I watch the Flames play every game but I watched a ridiculous amount of other games that didn't mean crap to me. Is Sportsnet coverage perfect? Nope. Do I care? Nope. I get to see the Flames play every game, all I have to do is remember the struggles when I was younger to get any Flames news at all, let alone watch them play and I count myself lucky.

Alberta_Beef · 03-31-2016, 07:04 AM

I don't have any issues with Sportsnet, but I have learned that these days people need to complain about something or they are not happy.

PugnaciousIntern · 03-31-2016, 07:07 AM

There was a thread I started last year 'Let's Do Something About Sportsnet'. Personally, it still rings true today.

Hrudy and Ball are the saving grace in my opinion.

Resolute 14 · 03-31-2016, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsawwassen

I get that people don't like the new kid on the block or a change. Go back in time (in the Delorean) and see how other newcomers and changes went through similar patterns of being blasted and fans just really ticked at them. TSN went through this, FOX taking over the NFC package from CBS. NBA fans were angry when NBC lost the contract, Monday Night Football going bye bye on ABC.

Sportsnet isn't the 'new kid' though. It has been broadcasting NHL hockey since the day it signed on the air in 1998, and has previously held the national rights.

The problem with Sportsnet is not that it cant, or it doesn't really know how to. But that it simply doesn't want to. Because wanting to match TSN's level of production quality would require spending money on the production quality.

Erick Estrada · 03-31-2016, 07:19 AM

Yeah RSN isn't a new kid on the block at all as they were doing Flames games in the 90's. As Resolute said they have always cut corners and that just doesn't work in Television where presentation matters more than the actual product.

savemedrzaius · 03-31-2016, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hwy19man

It is the opposite for me as I watch more games now than before Sportsnet acquired all the national rights in Canada. Ray Ferraro with his inferior colour commentary ruined the TSN games. I really appreciate the extra games Sportsnet puts on through out the week.

How can anyone not like Ferraro? Guy comes across as humble, but with insight into the game...lots of stories from when he played, which I like. When him and Miller call a game I don't think there is much better.

burn_baby_burn · 03-31-2016, 07:36 AM

My biggest beef is the HD quality. Absolutely brutal! The hosts and analysts I could care less about. I don't watch games live anymore unless I'm at the Dome. PVR's have enhanced my viewing experience.

Toonage · 03-31-2016, 07:38 AM

Brought this up during the GT last night. I hate how the analysts all talk over one another. Its maddeningly unprofessional and it has to turn away potential viewers. Also kills me that John Shannon, an ex TV producer is one of the worst at it.

Seriously, if you want to attract new viewers, screaming nonsense and confusing every topic isn't the way to do it.

And thats even before we address the on ice camera work.

Vinny01 · 03-31-2016, 07:38 AM

I don't get the hate. TSN was fine but how many times did they cut in late to a nationally broadcast Flames game so we could watch the final minutes of a Leafs 5-2 loss?

Sportsnet has a lot of errors but certainly their broadcasts are not ruining hockey for me.

shotinthebacklund · 03-31-2016, 07:43 AM

I get to watch every game of the year regardless if im in a seat or on my couch. No Wednesday blackouts. Our regional crew is the best in many years.

While the HD is atrocious , the production and use if mics in rink and ice is garbage and it sometimes cuts in out I can stomach all of it knowing that the game is on tonight.

Dr. Doom · 03-31-2016, 07:58 AM

Yeah I dunno I've come to just acknowledge it.
You have to view it as a trade up between coverage quantity over quality really.
And the hope is that the quality improves over time.

Before this deal, being in Southern Ontario, they were literally jamming the Leafs down our throats here and we didn't get to see a lot of other games period. I can't imagine being subjected to that today.

I'll take this any day over the situation we had.