Half way through year 1. Everyone's thoughts of Sportsnets "Monopoly"?

[The_Future]

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.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Nick Kypreos has shockingly emerged as a legit broadcasting star. He's been great this season. The end of HNIC with him, Hrudey and Elliotte Friedman is consistently the best part of the evening.

[Finger Cookin]

Ron MacLean or Doug MaLean. Who do you mean?

[dammage79]

Regionally, production quality is still an area to improve upon. Ball/Hrudey are amazing.

Nationally? Blackouts suck, other than that I feel they've been progressively getting better as the season has gone along. I thought I'd have been happy to listen to Dave Randorf and Paul Romanuk but both leave something to be desired with their play calling. Maybe we as Flames fans are spoiled with Ball/Hrudey though.

[mrkajz44]

I think they are still in a little bit "over their heads" in terms of being able to cover so much hockey. In time, this will improve and I don't see a huge issue with it right now to be honest.

For me, this year is 100% better due to Hrudey and Bell; best PBP team in many years. Everything else is secondary.

[sureLoss]

What has been refreshing is the idiots (i.e. Healy and Cox) have been getting less and less on air time.

At the start of the season they were at the forefront.

[AC]

All I have to say:

[The_Future]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

Ron MacLean or Doug MaLean. Who do you mean?

Doug MacLean. My bad, I enjoy Ron MacLean.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Nick Kypreos has shockingly emerged as a legit broadcasting star. He's been great this season. The end of HNIC with him, Hrudey and Elliotte Friedman is consistently the best part of the evening.

No doubt.

There was an amazing interview with Strombo on XM this morning. He talked about his passion for the game and how hockey has been so entrenched in his life.
Then he talked about what he's trying to bring to Sportsnet and hockey. He was the son of an immigrant and always felt like hockey has never been as "inclusive" as it could be. There's always been a way to present it, watch it, play it, talk about it, etc. He wants to bring new people in. Get young people enthused. It was actually really engrossing listening to him talk about it.
I really think some people choose to have strong opinions about things for the sake of having a soapbox. I agree that strong personalities can be off-putting (old Kypreos, McLean, Cox), but the George hate from some is simply a random hated IMO. He's one of the best at what he does and he brings something new. That's refreshing and great for the sport IMO

[The_Future]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

What has been refreshing is the idiots (i.e. Healy and Cox) have been getting less and less on air time.

At the start of the season they were at the forefront.

I still find the "Interactive" ice area on the set to be a bit brutal. They have a real struggle using it to actually convey what they are getting at. I am also not really a fan of George Stroumboulopoulos. Well I am a fan, I just don't feel like he is really a fit for the NHL.

[The_Future]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

No doubt.

There was an amazing interview with Strombo on XM this morning. He talked about his passion for the game and how hockey has been so entrenched in his life.
Then he talked about what he's trying to bring to Sportsnet and hockey. He was the son of an immigrant and always felt like hockey has never been as "inclusive" as it could be. There's always been a way to present it, watch it, play it, talk about it, etc. He wants to bring new people in. Get young people enthused. It was actually really engrossing listening to him talk about it.
I really think some people choose to have strong opinions about things for the sake of having a soapbox. I agree that strong personalities can be off-putting (old Kypreos, McLean, Cox), but the George hate from some is simply a random hated IMO. He's one of the best at what he does and he brings something new. That's refreshing and great for the sport IMO

You can tell Nick really has a passion for the sport. Lot's of times during Hockey Central at noon guys will be screwing around and you can see visible displeasure on his face as he is taking the subject at hand a little more seriously.

George I like, I just don't really think he is a good fit for the NHL. I guess that is just my opinion.

TSN must really be reeling after paying that high licensing fee for the old HNIC theme song now.

[Ashasx]

I still don't like the intermission panel for non-HNIC games.

When the Flames played on TSN, we'd get actual decent between-period discussion. And by that I don't necessarily mean quality, but quantity.

It seems that there's barely any discussion in-between periods on Sportsnet and it's 75% commercials. It was not like that on TSN.

And half the freaking time they replay a segment that was on during the pre-game! What discussion the panel of two might have is ridiculously superficial and designed for children.

[CsInMyBlood]

As far as our Flames games go:

All I know is I have not even once wanted to mute my TV.

With Kerr and Simmer I did it or would want to do it about 10 times a game.

Ball is such an upgrade on Kerr and Hrudey is a great color man.

I have also enjoyed being able to see other teams play on a nightly basis.

All in all, I can't complain too much. Well Healy is a complete tool, but that will obviously never change. I also think it wouldn't hurt to have more post game content.

[driveway]

[corporatejay]

There is so much hockey on now, it is truly amazing. I feel like every night of the week I have 2 or 3 options for games and saturdays are just amazing. How can any one not like this. Sure, there are some kinks but the delivery has been awesome. Also their HNIC coverage is top notch, I miss "After Hours" interviews but their Post-Game show is really good.

[calgarygeologist]

I really appreciate the additional game broadcasts available now (I was never a GameCenter subscriber) especially on Saturday nights. I still can`t stand watching the off ice programming featuring Strombo and Kypreos and others (although they do have a couple folks who are watchable but don`t get enough air time.)

[Vinny01]

Ball and Hrudey is a massive uograde on Kerr and Simmer. There are more nationally televised games on now. All things considered it is better than last year

[Burke Salad]

I expected many failures and I have not been dissapointed by my prediction.

[Enoch Root]

Much better than I expected so far - and improving.

Ball and Hrudey are awesome - I just wish they did the national games as well.

Still too much Shannon, but the national analysts, with Friedman, Kypreos and Hrudey at the forefront, are great.

And as sureloss noted, Healy seems to be getting less and less time.

[The Yen Man]

Its been a bit rough around the edges, but overall I'm pretty happy with the overall product. I love the fact that there are so many more games on. I do miss the TSN panel, as I still find them far superior to SN weekday panel. I have no problems with the weekend panel (except for Healy). Heck, as others have mentioned, I've turned th corner on my opinion on Kypreos. I don't mind him anymore. Get rid of Healy, and I'm a happy man.