[Rumour] Ron Maclean to replace George Stromboulopoulos on HNIC

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Strombo was not a hockey guy, but McLean is definitely an Oilers guy.
Therefore this move is disappointing.

The host doesn't have to be a hockey guy. But it seems like Canadian audiences need him to be.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Buck Murdock

Gary Bettman is fuming somewhere....Strombo wasn't the best but i welcome some new blood. Going back to Maclean seems like a desperate overreaction. Could they not steal James Duthie away from TSN?

Why would Bettman be fuming? The NHL is getting paid regardless. Sportsnet's internal issues aren't really his concern for another decade. Also, bringing MacLean back into the hosting role will allow him to resume his annual tradition of ragdolling MacLean in their All-Star Game interview.

And no, Sportsnet can't lure Duthie away. TSN chopped them off at the knees by signing Duthie, McKenzie, et al to lucrative, long-term contracts.

[Resolute 14]

And silly as the Strombo fashion sub-discussion is, I think it is bang on. Strombo's purpose on HNIC mirrors that of the bikini model at a car show. His only purpose there is to try to look stylish and hip. That won't sell with older demographics. It hasn't sold with younger demographics - not sure why Rogers thought a Canadian C-list "celebrity" would - and most importantly, it hasn't sold with hockey fans.

[bigtmac19]

I always thought Strombo's wardrobe was fantastic. Loved it

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

And silly as the Strombo fashion sub-discussion is, I think it is bang on. Strombo's purpose on HNIC mirrors that of the bikini model at a car show. His only purpose there is to try to look stylish and hip. That won't sell with older demographics. It hasn't sold with younger demographics - not sure why Rogers thought a Canadian C-list "celebrity" would - and most importantly, it hasn't sold with hockey fans.

It sold just fine. Honestly do you really think that Strombo and MacLean (in his own mind maybe) is bigger than the actual product? The fact is the low ratings had nothing to do with the host and everything to do with the fact that Canadian teams are all currently terrible and saturation of the product. Rogers bought high on a product that peaked as professional sports have all hit their peak as even the NFL has flatlined. I'm sure if the Leafs were to have a turnaround season the ratings would start to climb but that has noting to do with MacLean.

[Poe969]

Strombo seemed to be the guy hired to try and get non hockey fans to watch hockey. This entire thing seemed to be a crap shoot and was just poorly organized, I think they just tried to make everything too big too fast. Getting Ron back and just bringing things back to basics will probably make things slowly but they have a lot of work to do to fix things.

[Zarley]

Thank Allah. Getting rid of MacLean was a "change for the sake of change" move that didn't make sense in the first place.

[GirlySports]

The product was so bad people were watching in Punjabi. Changes need to be made.

[habernac]

Meh, I still think it's Sportsnet scapegoating Strombo. Rating are down because every Canadian team missed the playoffs. I don't know anyone who doesn't watch the game because of Strombo. They treat it like I treat Coach's Corner and hit the mute button.

[Resolute 14]

^That's part of the problem, really. Sportsnet's pre-game and intermission panels are so awful that people are likely changing the channel and forgetting to come back. Rogers really needs to replace the entire panel, but at least pushing Strombo out for MacLean gives them one personality people generally like.

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It sold just fine. Honestly do you really think that Strombo and MacLean (in his own mind maybe) is bigger than the actual product? The fact is the low ratings had nothing to do with the host and everything to do with the fact that Canadian teams are all currently terrible and saturation of the product. Rogers bought high on a product that peaked as professional sports have all hit their peak as even the NFL has flatlined. I'm sure if the Leafs were to have a turnaround season the ratings would start to climb but that has noting to do with MacLean.

Check the poll at the end of the story. 82% - out of over 60,000 votes - saying Rogers never should have replaced MacLean. Only 6% saying to keep Strombo. So no, he didn't sell. At all.

And while the problem of all seven Canadian teams sucking at once is clearly what has driven ratings down more than all other factors combined, that is also clearly beyond Rogers' ability to fix. But, as small of a problem as the issue of the host with the bad suits is, it is something Rogers can remedy.

[jlh2640]

Great news

[habernac]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

^That's part of the problem, really. Sportsnet's pre-game and intermission panels are so awful that people are likely changing the channel and forgetting to come back. Rogers really needs to replace the entire panel, but at least pushing Strombo out for MacLean gives them one personality people generally like.



Check the poll at the end of the story. 82% - out of over 60,000 votes - saying Rogers never should have replaced MacLean. Only 6% saying to keep Strombo. So no, he didn't sell. At all.

And while the problem of all seven Canadian teams sucking at once is clearly what has driven ratings down more than all other factors combined, that is also clearly beyond Rogers' ability to fix. But, as small of a problem as the issue of the host with the bad suits is, it is something Rogers can remedy.

Too bad they don't have a poll asking viewers what they think of Cox and Healey

[Looch City]

What they should have done is replace Strombo with scandalously clad women.

Then watch ratings soar to new height.

[Alberta_Beef]

I hope they keep Strombo on doing interviews, he's done some fantastic ones since he took over that gig.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by habernac

Too bad they don't have a poll asking viewers what they thing of Cox and Healey

That would be about as revealing as a poll asking Flames fans if they would trade the #6 for Eberle. We already know the answer, and the answer would be unanimous.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by habernac

Too bad they don't have a poll asking viewers what they thing of Cox and Healey

I think you have to have people like Cox and Healy on the broadcast to represent absurdities within the fan base. There have always been—and will always be—panel participants that we can't stand, that we love to hate, and who we relish in reviling. It helps to drive discussion.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I think you have to have people like Cox and Healy on the broadcast to represent absurdities within the fan base. There have always been—and will always be—panel participants that we can't stand, that we love to hate, and who we relish in reviling. It helps to drive discussion.

Francis would be better, i think more reporters should rotate onto the panel (depending on what stories there are)

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I think you have to have people like Cox and Healy on the broadcast to represent absurdities within the fan base. There have always been—and will always be—panel participants that we can't stand, that we love to hate, and who we relish in reviling. It helps to drive discussion.

Agreed. However, there is a difference between having a village idiot on the panel and having a panel made up entirely of village idiots. Cox, Healy and Kypreos are redundant.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Agreed. However, there is a difference between having a village idiot on the panel and having a panel made up entirely of village idiots. Cox, Healy and Kypreos are redundant.

same on the American side with Milbury and Roenick

[dustygoon]

So what does a HNIC team look like?

You can't just stop at Strombo. There is more to fix.

Add more of....

Maclean
Friedman
Kypreos
John Shannon
Scott Oake
Marek

Have less...
Cheery

Subtract outright.....
Cox - this has to stop
Healy

New faces....

1) Find the next Kypreos...a hockey player that is a good commentator. Ryan Whitney?

2) Females. They have to fix this. Kathryn Tappen is taken by NBC and will probably become a key sportscaster for them, but she is superb. Petrillo?

3) GM or coach? Hartley would probably be a good personalty for TV.