Sportsnet now no.1 sports broadcaster in Canada

[Red Menace]

I will say their coverage is not nearly as bad as I feared it would be.
It is watchable.
Not exactly a ringing endorsement, but there you have it.

[CroFlames]

TSN is far ahead of Rogers in terms of production, and their people. Sportsnet has botched the whole damn thing from start to finish.

I'm glad I get to watch NBC regularly, and that's a shame. Canada should have the best people and production for hockey, but they blew it.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by flambers

Personally I liked what Sportsnet provided last year. Lots of variety, could change a channel and watch others games.

I would expect the 1st year was really difficult, Sportsnet will only get better.

Sportsnet ratings will increase as well.....

Sportsnet has broadcast hockey for its entire existence. This isn't even the first time Sportsnet has had national rights.

If there is one thing Sportsnet has a great deal of experience with, it is not improving broadcast quality.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Sportsnet has broadcast hockey for its entire existence. This isn't even the first time Sportsnet has had national rights.

If there is one thing Sportsnet has a great deal of experience with, it is not improving broadcast quality.

Scope of what they were broadcasting previously to what they broadcast in 2014-2015 Hockey season is completely different in my view.

[Burke Salad]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

They'll always be last place in my heart

Greatest post in history!

[PegCityFlamesFan]

Seeing plugs like Corey Hirsch on a panel, with tools like John Shannon and John Maclean is pathetic. I am so glad the Jets games are mostly regional on TSN.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Wormius

So despite pretty much owning all of hockey in Canada, they only beat out TSN by a margin of 0.2?

Impressive what a near monopoly on the hockey market in Canada can buy you.

that seems insane to me, what would TSN be if they had hockey

just shows how much of a better product TSN is that they can stay that close without NHL Hockey

[nik-]

I think what pissed me off the most this year is sticking one of two remaining Canadian teams in the playoffs with ####ing Romanuk and Johnson.

Garbage. I'd much rather have our regional guys.

Sportsnet is top now, but we'll see what happens in 11 years, after TSN continues to buy up the rights to all the other sports and then goes head to head with Sportsnet on another deal. If they can even share the rights, it will destroy Sportsnet because they'll have nothing.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

I thought Sportsnet Saturday Night National coverage was good. Not perfect, and it's not like everything they did I liked, but it was a quality TV show IMO. Saturday night panel was good, on air talent was good, set design was good. I was impressed with what they did with Saturday night, and actually liked it better than what IMO is a very overated TSN panel and coverage from previous years, and liked it least equally with CBC's Saturday night coverage in recent years.

[browna]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

I thought Sportsnet Saturday Night National coverage was good. Not perfect, and it's not like everything they did I liked, but it was a quality TV show IMO. Saturday night panel was good, on air talent was good, set design was good. I was impressed with what they did with Saturday night, and actually liked it better than what IMO is a very overrated TSN panel and coverage from previous years, and liked it least equally with CBC's Saturday night coverage in recent years.

I only watch Flames games 95% of the time during hockey season. The panels were a bit better (which isn't saying much over previous years) for regional games, but the Saturday night coverage was very good, post game. It wasn't quite as formal or as prepackaged...you got to hear Kypreos and Hrudey speak more at length about the game, or about their experience, not given 15 or 20 seconds to say their bits and move on. Friedman of course on there is always excellent, and then the troll Cox, who is there simply to be a foil.

TSN always tried to make national games into some sort of mini drama, with some talking point (in the panel and even with Cuthbert, or Ferraro, or Johnson (or McGuire before that)) repeated ad naseum and hyping something that didn't need, or warrant hyping. Panel (outside of McKenzie) would be short sound bursts of liking them hear their own voice, and post game they would go right to Sportscentre. Highly overrated.

Shame the Flames got the B panel in round 2 of the playoffs.

But one thing we're forgetting so far in this thread, that bringing on Rick Ball and Kelly Hrudey, along with Roger Millions, was an astronomical leap ahead over the screetchy, out of tune, off-timed broadcasting dud (and Simmer) we had the previous 2 seasons. It went from barely unwatchable/unlistenable broadcasts 65 times a year, 180 degrees, to wishing Flames didn't have the national games and the national broadcasters.

As a Flames fan, that heightened the experience immeasurably, and some of the other Snet hiccups can long be forgotten to have those quality professional broadcasters do that many Flames games.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by nik-

I think what pissed me off the most this year is sticking one of two remaining Canadian teams in the playoffs with ####ing Romanuk and Johnson.

Garbage. I'd much rather have our regional guys.

I don't mind Johnson but Romanuk really had a tough year. He messed up names on a regular basis.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I don't mind Johnson but Romanuk really had a tough year. He messed up names on a regular basis.

And couldn't keep up with the play at times.

[SuperMatt18]

Yeah the playoff announcers were no good.

But for the regular season Ball and Hrudey were two of the best in the business IMO.

If they just get some better production trucks all will be fine.

[LouCypher]

Almost like saying the Oilers are the best NHL team inside Edmonton's city limits....provided they aren't playing another NHL team that night at home.