Too Early to Say OLN is a Failure?

[See You Next Wednesday]

I had no reason to think the move to OLN would be a success and I know it is early but it is obvious to me that: a) They barely no what they are doing and b) it is not getting anywhere near the exposure it would have gotten on ESPN. I know some folks thought that OLN wouldbe able to make the NHL the top priority, but honestly being the 8th priority on ESPN is still better than the top priority on OLN. 'Cept I don't see it, OLN has hockey games on Monday Night? Who's bright idea is that?

Hopefully it will get better, but the NHL has relegated itself to a niche network.

[Hapday]

Hopefully it will get better, but the NHL has relegated itself to a niche network.

The NHL in the U.S. is a niche sport and will never grow any bigger. Well, not without some serious re-thinking about its marketing strategies in the U.S. first.

[Donovan]

Earlier this month the Dish Network pulled OLN because they raised their price to pay for the NHL deal. That couldn't have helped.

[Cross Traffic]

Monday night hockey was a horrible idea, plus the matchups on OLN aren't usually the best ones that night, and they are more interested in the Detroit, Pittsburgh, Philly, NYC circle jerk than showing the entire league.

[AcidQueen]

Monday night hockey was a horrible idea, plus the matchups on OLN aren't usually the best ones that night, and they are more interested in the Detroit, Pittsburgh, Philly, NYC circle jerk than showing the entire league.

No more calls, we have a winner.

OLN is picking up right where ESPN left off--except that they're not going All Crosby All The Time like ESPN would have.

[Funkywhiteboy]

OLN is owned by Comcast, and acquiring the NHL rights is part of an attempt
to grow the network into a rival for ESPN.
Whether or not that works in the long run is the big question, as yet unanswered.
The early returns are not promising. :P

[Screw_Michigan]

problem first and foremost with OLN is that, i for one, never watch OLN, so i never know when the fuck their NHL broadcast is on. when the league was on espn, because i happen to watch espn from time to time, i would see promos and be reminded when the next game is on. since i never watch OLN's shit programming, i never know when to tune in next.

media broadcasting 101, i guess.

[stealth]

NHL has enough problems with marketing and gaining new viewers without lame ass providers like OLN dropping the ball:

Another mix-up by OLN

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BY NEIL BEST
STAFF WRITER

Published November 1 2005


Just when you were ready to treat yourself to a Rangers game on OLN, Cablevision last night played a holiday trick on its subscribers - it missed the first period of the Rangers-Canadiens game altogether, then failed to provide audio for the last two periods.

Cablevision spokesman Jim Maiella said there were "technical problems in getting the signal up" that caused the game not to be shown during the first period. Alternate programming was on initially; then the screen went blank.

The picture came on in the second period, but without sound. Closed captioning was available, but much of the excitement was lost in the translation.

It was a cruel twist for Cablevision customers, who had been shut out of nationally televised OLN games until an agreement between OLN and Cablevision Friday. That was supposed to make the games available to Cablevision's digital customers, a bit over half of its three million overall subscribers.

Last night's glitch was reminiscent of opening night on Oct. 5, when DirecTV customers were inadvertently deprived of Islanders and Devils games. DirecTV customers were unaffected by last night's problem.

[JD]

Are viewers that stupid in the US that they have to be told what to watch?

I mean, if you like hockey and want to watch it, does it really matter what channel it's on? You'll actively search for it and watch it, right?

The NHL was never going to build interest by having non-hockey fans stumble upon games on ESPN. Besides, it's not like ESPN did a good job of broadcasting the NHL. The constant Colorado-Detroit-Philadelphia circle-jerk combined with commentators that talk down to their viewers had to be a turn-off for the majority of non-hockey fans.

[BSmack]

Are viewers that stupid in the US that they have to be told what to watch?

I mean, if you like hockey and want to watch it, does it really matter what channel it's on? You'll actively search for it and watch it, right?

The NHL was never going to build interest by having non-hockey fans stumble upon games on ESPN. Besides, it's not like ESPN did a good job of broadcasting the NHL. The constant Colorado-Detroit-Philadelphia circle-jerk combined with commentators that talk down to their viewers had to be a turn-off for the majority of non-hockey fans.

Go to any gym in America and any bar in America and you will see ESPN on the in house screens. Now try to do the same with OLN.

I have yet to see a hockey game on TV this year that I did not actively seek out. Before the lockout, there were plenty of games I watched on ESPN just because that was what was on the TV at the bar or at the gym.

Long story short, OLN will never have the same level of market saturation as ESPN or even ESPN2.

[JD]

Go to any gym in America and any bar in America and you will see ESPN on the in house screens. Now try to do the same with OLN.

Good point, I didn't think of that.

Fortunately for me I live in Canada where all the bars put hockey on their screens no matter what channel it's on.

[Shoalzie]

Long story short, OLN will never have the same level of market saturation as ESPN or even ESPN2.

Anyone thinking they will is dillusional. OLN had a limited viewership to begin with because of it's low level of exposure and for its choice in programming. ESPN is able to pawn off billiards, bowling, rodeo and poker because they have the established stronghold in the sports programming game.

OLN has unappealing programming and then picks up the least popular of the major sports to make as its centerpiece. For hockey fans with cable, it'll work fine but to expand the audience for hockey, you might pick up a few of the people already watching OLN that weren't hockey fans before. They aren't going to get people to leave ESPN to watch their channel on a regular basis until they expand their overall programming. Hockey might be the beginning of that but it wouldn't have the same impact that if they took over the MLB or NBA's cable rights.

Right now, I watch OLN just for hockey and then I avoid the channel like the plague for the rest of their programming. I have no interest in watching hunting shows, cycling or a Ted Nugent reality show. With hockey on OLN, you're limiting the audience down to either hardcore hockey fans and outdoorsmen. NBA fans aren't going to watch OLN on a casual basis. They could use a SportsCenter like show and I'd love for them to have an NHL2Night program to give us hockey highlights every night. Just to show hockey two days a week won't keep me as a viewer. I'll watch the game and the postgame highlights and then change the channel and not return until the next game is on.

The quality of the broadcasts haven't blown me away but for just to have hockey back, I'm not too picky. I would rather watch a more entertaining NHL with bad broadcasting than to have a flashy broadcast for a boring product on the ice. The NHL right now is more watchable than it was two years ago. Bettman is succeeding in making the game better to watch but OLN needs to work on it's presentation so the hockey snobs don't complain that they're ruining the game. We were told that OLN would show the game in a new way but so far, they aren't blowing me away with their broadcasts. I'm pleased with announcing teams but to me, the presentation is no better than what ESPN did before. I'm curious to see what NBC does with their weekend games and the playoffs. Will we get Stanley Cup Finals games on in primetime on a week night?

[Cross Traffic]

Games 3-7 of the Cup Final are on NBC in primetime. Has to draw better than some of the crap they put out there.

[stealth]

It really dosen't matter of how much TV exposure the NHL gets, the game simply does not translate well to the new fan. It's too fast and hard to follow due to the zoom in of the camera. Now take that same "New Fan" and put him live at the game and my bet he's hooked...

The regular fan will search out games, it really doesn't matter what channel it's on. That is of course if you're subjected to the Neale and Bob show...someone please make them retire or at least make them look at a team media guide other that TO's...

[Hapday]

That is of course if you're subjected to the Neale and Bob show...

I would take Neale and Bob over Brown and Pillson any day of the week. There is a reason neither of them ever landed a fulltime gig on a major network.