NHL TV ratings are down across the board on average for Rogers

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by JerryUnderscore

I think the under 30 group still cares just as much about sports, but the "local sports team" isn't as much of a thing anymore.

Someone might grow up in Calgary cheering for the Flames, but they will continue to do so even if they move to Toronto or Montreal or New York.

Millennials are much more transient than previous generations (which is neither a good or bad thing, just a thing), which means we take our hockey passion with us wherever we live.

I think a big part of this is the Internet. When you grow up with the Internet you're less aware of regional loyalty to certain things.

I love the Flames, but it's probably only because my dad loved them so I grew up watching them. I have friends who are Boston, Montreal, Toronto, and (ugh how) Minnesota fans. They're all able to watch more games than I can and we all generally go to the same number of games per season (0-1, mostly because it's a silly amount of money, but so fun).

I love watching hockey though, even when the Flames aren't playing. With Gamecenter I turn it on, pick a game I think will be good, and watch. I have it on almost every night (mostly because I don't have cable and I don't always pay enough attention for narrative based stuff).

I think it's more common for younger people (especially the 15-25 crowd) to be huge hockey fans that cheer for the Flames, rather than huge Flames fans. The difference isn't huge, but it definitely exists. Whether you cheer for the Flames, or you're a huge Flames fan, you should always dismiss Oilers/Canucks/Jets fans immediately though.

My opinion at least, based on my experience.

[GirlySports]

I would counter that with the internet there is so much more information about the Flames that if you were a young die hard Flames fan, how would you have time to follow anyone else?

You get all 82 Flames games on tv or radio. There are video clips of everything from highlights to interviews to features. There CP! Reading all of Fire and Ice takes a whole day. There are practice reports, lineup reports, strategy discussions, Wideman sucks discussions, even radio streaming of Stockton games and their lineup and practice reports.

[AcGold]

You forgot Edmonton is no Good

[thymebalm]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I'd like to see sports (the NHL specifically, since it's the one I follow closest) sell the rights to a streaming service. Each team could have a channel where you could watch live games, games that have finished, highlights, commentary, etc..

But what is it, 10 more years of Sportsnet? Ugh.

Get ready for this... It's called Gamecenter Live.

-watch live games? check.
-watch games that have finished? check.
-highlights? check.
-commentary? home feed or away? they have both. check.

It's available on all kinds of mediums. This is exactly what you are looking for.

[FireGilbert]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I think a big part of this is the Internet. When you grow up with the Internet you're less aware of regional loyalty to certain things.

I love the Flames, but it's probably only because my dad loved them so I grew up watching them. I have friends who are Boston, Montreal, Toronto, and (ugh how) Minnesota fans. They're all able to watch more games than I can and we all generally go to the same number of games per season (0-1, mostly because it's a silly amount of money, but so fun).

I love watching hockey though, even when the Flames aren't playing. With Gamecenter I turn it on, pick a game I think will be good, and watch. I have it on almost every night (mostly because I don't have cable and I don't always pay enough attention for narrative based stuff).

I think it's more common for younger people (especially the 15-25 crowd) to be huge hockey fans that cheer for the Flames, rather than huge Flames fans. The difference isn't huge, but it definitely exists. Whether you cheer for the Flames, or you're a huge Flames fan, you should always dismiss Oilers/Canucks/Jets fans immediately though.

My opinion at least, based on my experience.

Great point. I became a hard core Flames fan listening to 66CFR and watching games on 2&7. If the internet was around back then there is a good chance I would have ended up cheering for another team.

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I'd like to see sports (the NHL specifically, since it's the one I follow closest) sell the rights to a streaming service. Each team could have a channel where you could watch live games, games that have finished, highlights, commentary, etc..

But what is it, 10 more years of Sportsnet? Ugh.

I see where you're coming from and I think eventually something like this will happen, but the streams are still a few minutes delayed. Until they can stream truly live I don't have a desire to watch streams. I'd rather watch on TV. Reason being I like to follow along on Twitter/CP and I can't do that due to the stream delay.

[JerryUnderscore]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

I see where you're coming from and I think eventually something like this will happen, but the streams are still a few minutes delayed. Until they can stream truly live I don't have a desire to watch streams. I'd rather watch on TV. Reason being I like to follow along on Twitter/CP and I can't do that due to the stream delay.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure that will ever happen.

This is from the FAQ for Sportsnet Now, but I believe applies to all streaming services:

The lag time compared to live broadcast is dependent on the device being used, the location and connection of the user, and other factors. The lag time is typically between 30-60 seconds.

Because internet streaming lags behind television, your sports apps may send off a notification of a goal or a result before you have seen it. If you wish for this not to happen, you must disable your game alerts/notifications.

I don't know enough about all the ins and outs of the IT world to speak definitively, but I suspect there will always be a 30-60 second lag in streaming.

Of course, it's possible enough people are like you and find that lag unacceptable enough to the point that cable will always have a market.

[JerryUnderscore]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I think it's more common for younger people (especially the 15-25 crowd) to be huge hockey fans that cheer for the Flames, rather than huge Flames fans. The difference isn't huge, but it definitely exists. Whether you cheer for the Flames, or you're a huge Flames fan, you should always dismiss Oilers/Canucks/Jets fans immediately though.

I'm not in that age bracket anymore, but I would definitely put myself in the "huge Flames fan" category over the "huge hockey fan that cheers for the Flames".

I didn't grow up in Calgary or even in a hockey family, but I've cultivated my love of the Flames all the same. Like GirlySports said, it's much easier to be a diehard fan now than in the past just because of how much information is out there.

However, I recognize that my experience might not be typical. Maybe most people fall in love with the sport much more than any team, but the certainly wasn't my experience.

[Azhouse]

Flames first and then hockey fan. I grew up with 2&7 and 66 CFR (didn't QR77 have them first?) as well. Back then you didn't get all of the games on TV so you were forced to listen to them on the radio. I went to my first games with Dad at the Corral. Front row seats in the corner.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by JerryUnderscore

Unfortunately, I'm not sure that will ever happen.

This is from the FAQ for Sportsnet Now, but I believe applies to all streaming services:



I don't know enough about all the ins and outs of the IT world to speak definitively, but I suspect there will always be a 30-60 second lag in streaming.

Of course, it's possible enough people are like you and find that lag unacceptable enough to the point that cable will always have a market.

I'm not a technical genius, but its just a different broadcast method. I'd be confident that streaming lag will be solved relatively quickly (if it isn't already). I can Facetime or Skype with someone with no delay so don't see why streaming sports would be any different once you have enough bandwidth to accommodate everyone.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

Get ready for this... It's called Gamecenter Live.

-watch live games? check.
-watch games that have finished? check.
-highlights? check.
-commentary? home feed or away? they have both. check.

It's available on all kinds of mediums. This is exactly what you are looking for.

GCL is not it's all cracked up to be. A major improvement since MLBAM took over, but still a ways to go. For instance, blackouts. Not true HD. Lag.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

GCL is not it's all cracked up to be. A major improvement since MLBAM took over, but still a ways to go. For instance, blackouts. Not true HD. Lag.

I have GC for the first time this season. I was reluctant at first because of all the issues you brought up. But really, it's not that bad.

-The blackouts still exists, but is easily fixed with a VPN.

-It sure looks true HD to me. Waaaaay better then SN. On some broadcasts (even the SN feed) I can get 60fps.

-Lag is pretty much non-existent. Sometimes at the beginning of the game, the feed might 'stutter' a tiny bit. But it's definitely not laggy (ie buffering) the whole time.

Now maybe this is because I have Shaw's 150mpbs internet, so those issues don't happen for me. I could see a reduction in image quality if you were still using Telus 25 for example.

Really the only thing I have to complain about GC is that sometimes the video player window will crash if I press the skip ahead button too quickly. But that's fixed by clicking at a slower pace. And also make sure to select the option to view games from the start. So if the window does crash, you don't have the game ruined for you if your like me and like to wait an hour after puck drop so you can skip commercials.

I use Chrome when viewing GC, but I've heard recently that MS Edge actually works better and you always get full 1080p image. I'm going to try that tonight and see if I noticed a difference.

Also, it works pretty well if you use it through Kodi. You don't even need a VPN to bypass the blackouts. You get every game.

Overall I've found GC to be a pretty slick package and because it works so well for me, I've been able to cut the cable chord and not miss a beat.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

I see where you're coming from and I think eventually something like this will happen, but the streams are still a few minutes delayed. Until they can stream truly live I don't have a desire to watch streams. I'd rather watch on TV. Reason being I like to follow along on Twitter/CP and I can't do that due to the stream delay.

45 second delay by my estimate. I shut off my phone's notifications and tell my friends to not say a god damn word about anything for a minute haha

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

I have GC for the first time this season. I was reluctant at first because of all the issues you brought up. But really, it's not that bad.

-The blackouts still exists, but is easily fixed with a VPN.

-It sure looks true HD to me. Waaaaay better then SN. On some broadcasts (even the SN feed) I can get 60fps.

-Lag is pretty much non-existent. Sometimes at the beginning of the game, the feed might 'stutter' a tiny bit. But it's definitely not laggy (ie buffering) the whole time.

Now maybe this is because I have Shaw's 150mpbs internet, so those issues don't happen for me. I could see a reduction in image quality if you were still using Telus 25 for example.

Really the only thing I have to complain about GC is that sometimes the video player window will crash if I press the skip ahead button too quickly. But that's fixed buy clicking at a slower pace. And also make sure to select the option to view games from the start. So if the window does crash, you don't have the game ruined for you if your like me and like to wait and hour after puck drop so you can skip commercials.

I use Chrome when viewing GC, but I've heard recently that MS Edge actually works better and you always get full 1080p image. I'm going to try that tonight and see if I noticed a difference.

Also, it works pretty well if you use it through Kodi. You don't even need a VPN to bypass the blackouts. You get every game.

Overall I've found GC to be a pretty slick package and because it works so well for me, I've been able to cut the cable chord and not miss a beat.

I agree. I've tried it a few years and not been impressed. 60FPS is what I think makes the difference. The overall picture is pretty much the same as Cable/Satellite now.

[polak]

Wow your guys' friends must be a lot different than mine. None of my friends are hockey fans first, including myself. We're all Flames fans first and foremost and then will watch some other hockey if nothing else is on, maybe.

I personally find it really hard to get into any sport without a team that I have a real connection too. I don't hate football or basketball however I DESPISE baseball but I'll "watch" (I use that word very loosely) a Jays game over pretty much any football or basketball game just cause I have a team I can get behind.

Either way, I don't really see a gap or difference in the amount of Flames fans from one generation to the next. I'm sure whatever they call the generation younger than Millennials will also love hockey just as much, so long as they have a team to get behind.

[East Coast Flame]

Originally Posted by polak

Wow your guys' friends must be a lot different than mine. None of my friends are hockey fans first, including myself. We're all Flames fans first and foremost and then will watch some other hockey if nothing else is on, maybe.

I agree with this. I'm 30 and my friends and I had a discussion at the pub the other night about this - aside from playoffs, no one watches games other than their own team anymore. Personally, I don't think I have watched a non-flames regular season game in probably 5 or more years.