Thanks for the article. I think that one of my personal challenges is that on Sunday hometown hockey, the games are blamed for the poor ratings; poor timing, teams that are playing, other sports conflicting etc. MacLean is the host. But when it comes to Saturday nights, poor ratings come from teams not playing well but it is the host and not the actual games that are the problem. So which is it?
One thing that bothered me is this assumption that people tune in to watch the host, when in fact they tune in to watch the game. It isn't hockey between the hosts. As big bobby clobber used to say, "sports between the beer commercials" isn't what we are after here.
On David Amber, I'm changing my views. awkward stuff whenever I see him on Olympic coverage or other stuff. His chemistry with andi petrillo wasn't very good. I'm changing though. I thought he was really good for 90% of his time on air last night. I was surprised and pleased for him because I thought he looked like he is much more natural doing hockey. I look forward to seeing him develop because obvies he has the skills, perhaps just needs the time? In any event, if David Amber continues as he did last night, I think he will be poised to step in.
2 thumbs up for Natasha from TSN or Kara waglund from TSN.
I think it's a combination of both. The Canadian teams will eventually get better and ratings will increase.
I hated the change in 2014, not so much for losing Ron, but bringing in Strombo. It was that part that I think bothered people including me. He was the wrong guy. He is not a hockey guy. A guy like Jeff Marek would have been a good choice.
However, last night was good. No useless puck wall, no dumb "what's happening on Twitter" segment.
It was much better.
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I think it's a combination of both. The Canadian teams will eventually get better and ratings will increase.
I hated the change in 2014, not so much for losing Ron, but bringing in Strombo. It was that part that I think bothered people including me. He was the wrong guy. He is not a hockey guy. A guy like Jeff Marek would have been a good choice.
However, last night was good. No useless puck wall, no dumb "what's happening on Twitter" segment.
It was much better.
No chance. Marek comes across as a huge know it all who takes his job too seriously (no smiling seems like a broomstick is stuck way up). Bringing in Amber was one of the best moves they've recently done. I like MacLean, and his traditional style, but these endless TV ads featuring him talking about Canadiana and hockey is really annoying now. It was a spot that should've been on for a week before hockey but it's played every second on so many networks. After awhile it gets tiring. I actually like a lot of the panel now (Kypreos, Friedman, Hrudey) and hope they bring in some more minorities into the picture over the next few years. Not minorities for the sake of doing so, but people who've worked in the industry and know the game. The demographic of the sport is changing and the CBC should acknowledge this.
TV execs like to think they are the smartest person in the room (though they are usually people who couldn't cut it as broadcasters) - efforts to reinvent the wheel invariably fail. NBA on TNT is widely regarded as the best in the business, and it definitely didn't get there overnight, but rather a gradual evolution.
That said, if one wanted to try a revolution to appeal to a younger audience, an interesting idea would be Jay & Dan (if and when FS1 stops making it rain for them). More people would hate it than Strombo's suits, but it would have a tiny chance of catching lightning in a bottle.
TV execs like to think they are the smartest person in the room (though they are usually people who couldn't cut it as broadcasters) - efforts to reinvent the wheel invariably fail. NBA on TNT is widely regarded as the best in the business, and it definitely didn't get there overnight, but rather a gradual evolution.
That said, if one wanted to try a revolution to appeal to a younger audience, an interesting idea would be Jay & Dan (if and when FS1 stops making it rain for them). More people would hate it than Strombo's suits, but it would have a tiny chance of catching lightning in a bottle.
Jay and Dan would be awesome
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I think it's a combination of both. The Canadian teams will eventually get better and ratings will increase.
I hated the change in 2014, not so much for losing Ron, but bringing in Strombo. It was that part that I think bothered people including me. He was the wrong guy. He is not a hockey guy. A guy like Jeff Marek would have been a good choice.
However, last night was good. No useless puck wall, no dumb "what's happening on Twitter" segment.
It was much better.
Jeff Marek is just a Ron Maclean wannabe. I don't want to watch some robot on TV who knows a lot about hockey with zero charisma.
Get someone who knows a lot about hockey but realizes it is just a game. Not some freaking religion. Have a little fun with it.
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Hell I would tune into the early game (usually don't because I've had a lifetime's fill of the Leafs) if only to watch Jay and Dan. I feel that their brand of humor may not be a home run with the elder crowd to which RSN seems to be catering to with their recent moves. Would be fantastic if they truly wanted to gain a better following from younger viewers.
I feel like Jay and Dan would need to start fresh with a different product, like a Wednesday night game of the week (or Sunday, if they canned HTH). They would need complete freedom and the patience to build something. It could eventually migrate to HNIC once it becomes tried and true.
