Could this possibly be a case of too little, too late? NBC announced that they would be putting the NHL All-Star Game on the network channel rather than NBCSN. This will be the first time the game has been on network TV since 2004. Why make this decision now? Is NBC finally going to utilize the NHL properly?
[link_box id=”22277″ site_id=”17″ layout=”link-box-third” alignment=”alignright”]The short answer to this is probably not. Putting most of the games on NBCSN make plenty of sense since they want to continue to grow that brand. The surprising part is the lack of NHL-centered programming on the main station itself. While ESPN dedicates hours and hours of NFL and NBA coverage, NBCSN does an hour pre-game show and that’s about it. NBC’s overall investment into the NHL, while large, isn’t doing much in the way of growth. Trying the same old programming isn’t doing much to help the league and the channel.
NBC to televise 2017 Honda @NHL All Star Game – orig. scheduled for @NBCSN, first time on net TV since '04
Release: https://t.co/NaGrMoK1DA
— NBC Sports PR (@NBCSportsPR) November 28, 2016
This move doesn’t seem like much on the surface but it looks like a renewed dedication to the NHL and what they have to offer. If the league can get more games on NBC and make the relationship stronger, they may finally get some viewership numbers that can begin to compare. Being treated the way that they were, they were stuck in a rut and this is an opportunity to change that.
As a hockey fan, you should be damn excited, this could be a sign of things to come.
