Bally Sports Update Amid Changing Landscape of Sports Broadcasting

[@PiYodTong]

"Gary Bettman says he has a back up plan... I imagine it's just an empty envelope with the words "Back Up Plan" scribbled on it." - The Hockey Guy

[@cowboyd5673]

“The Hockey Guy and the Entertainment guy have been hired to cover all 32 teams live broadcast and analysis. The Hockey Guy will be covering the 16 western conference teams and the entertainment guy will be covering the 16 eastern conference teams. With Evaughn providing color commentary.” Gary Bettman’s back up plan.

[@adamyounis93]

LOOOOOOOOOL. I love Shannon, man

[@joestrunk9663]

thanks for posing really funny

[@DiceGlider]

I totally agree with you . I can’t watch every NHL game so I go to the hockey guy. He keeps me informed all year long .

[@robnevitt7593]

Serves Bally right for having the scores and news updates on the bottom of the screen blocking the hockey action

[@CapsBrotha]

They forgot to make the transition for the score graphic display from baseball to hockey. It makes perfect sense for it to be on the bottom for baseball but completely foolish for hockey lol

[@Vvranaa]

Yeah all I ask is for the full view of the game with the score somewhere at the top

[@JarradBruessel32]

I didn't have any issue at all with it lol. And it usually blocks more being in the top than it does the bottom. On the bottom what are you missing? The boards that's pretty much it

[@adamjohnson6715]

Was I the only one who didn’t mind having the scores on the bottom of the screen? I liked to look over to see what the scores around the league were or who was playing later that night.

[@JarradBruessel32]

@@CapsBrotha why is it foolish? It doesn't block anything lol

[@timsmith428]

I remember the 1978 World Series..Yankees-Dodgers. Understand, there were no sports networks at all then. NBC carried the series, so you could get it "over the air", or on basic cable. Huge difference...

[@closethockeyfan5284]

There were also far fewer channels, no internet, barely at-home video and video games, etc.

[@redred222]

each league should just have there own streaming site that you pay for each month and can watch whatever game you want, no tv blackouts and just get a bunch of advertisers to put adds on the site

[@269productions]

No local ads then, just Geico, Enterprise, and Sports betting. Yeah, that's the answer 😂

[@reverend_wintondupree]

@@269productions Local ads can still be applied using the viewer's IP address. It's just up to the network or distributor to sell that ad space to "local" markets.

[@269productions]

@@reverend_wintondupree How many small businesses are going to waste money on that small of an audience, get real probably some car dealerships, but that's it

[@AV57]

@@269productions Why would only small businesses run ads on regional sports coverage? And even if you're correct, is that a bad thing?

[@dancer4pcda]

I hope ESPN/NHL start having the games online with no blackouts. I pay for the streaming service; I should be able to watch the local games live.

[@BrentRushton]

If the NHL had their own streaming service I’d pay for it. It’s really a shame that the best viewing experience for the NHL is a pirated video stream.

[@KrisVic91]

NHL tv 🤔?

[@BrentRushton]

@@KrisVic91 can’t get it in Canada I don’t think anymore

[@KrisVic91]

@@BrentRushton Sportsnet? TSN?

[@PJPremiere]

@@KrisVic91 doesn't exist ever since the new tv deal with ESPN. I used to have it prior to the new deal and they canceled/removed it. I'm in the United States.

[@KrisVic91]

@@PJPremiere how do you watch hockey now?

[@jackmcaninch4270]

That’s how you get an avs fan to twitch. We stopped caring and just stream it “legally”

[@bartsanders1553]

I am also an average "legal" streaming enjoyer.

[@saturnotaku]

There are so many streaming services that it would be hilarious to see it boomerang back around to cable being the more cost-effective option. If companies like Comcast were smart, they would take advantage of this, but they're not so here we are.

[@reverend_wintondupree]

You might be surprised to know out that many smaller cable operators in the US no longer offer tv distribution instead offering streaming ser ice bundles (e.g. Hulu, Sling, etc.)bundled with their internet/phone packages.

[@deanm375]

If NHL center ice would remove the restrictions of blacking out your own home market I would by it every year. But Since I can't watch Ducks or Kings games (I'm in SoCal) I won't buy it.

[@MartinFWhite]

I'm moving this year, so I can actually watch the Kings and Ducks now! But beforehand....just like you.

[@deanm375]

@@MartinFWhite Hope you are moving someplace cooler... and safer. SoCal has become a hell hole. If I had the opportunity to move out of state I would.

[@gablefisk-govphost817]

This right here is why I am deeply skeptical of the alleged giant cap increase next Summer

[@Nathanielhiggerson66]

@@JuliaHammelsas long as leagues are making more and more every year, the players will. And sports are always in demand

[@Jalreal]

Absolutely been preaching that since Bally declared bankruptcy. The NHL needs regional sports networks and without them they are screwed in the short term.

[@JarradBruessel32]

​@@Jalrealnobody really needs them especially when all of the games are blacked out anyways if they are playing on a different network like espn even if you have the regional broadcast. Yes it is dumb.

[@EskimowSC]

While we're talking about the death of cable and the rise of Streaming Services, NHL really needs to get their programming together and increase the resolution from 720p. Broadcast at MINIMUM in 1080, if not 1440, and develop a strong streaming platform. We're in 2023 and they're still treating sports broadcasting like it's two decades ago.

[@TheMikeyb86]

I hear you. With the development of x265, the bandwidth for 1080p is negligible for so many people. Most people aren't ready yet for 4k steaming due to bandwidth but tons are.

[@samuelfrick3475]

Let’s just hope the drama from baseball doesn’t translate to hockey. The truth is Bally Sports needs to just go away. I don’t want to be hearing Bally deciding to choose who to pay or not to pay and alienate their fans even further. Make it easier to find games, not harder.

[@269productions]

Komets suck

[@samuelfrick3475]

@@269productions you’re welcome! 😂

[@269productions]

Only time you win a championship is when no one else plays 😂

[@samuelfrick3475]

@@269productions Is that the best you can do?! we’ve won 10 championships in our 71 year history! Do your homework before saying that hot take on the THG channel 🤣

[@269productions]

@@samuelfrick3475 can you even see the ice under all those ads 😂

[@dmwd96]

Power’s called hydro in BC cause the Power is primarily generated thru hydro-electric dams. If anyone cares

[@mercywilliams2698]

Excellent analysis!! Thank you! 🌟🌟🌟✅

[@keithjordan7805]

Shannon, ask the musical artists if Spotify is the answer to streaming music.

[@BoyNamedSue4]

I was that poor kid growing up that’s family didn’t have cable. Turns out we weren’t poor, we were trend setters 😎

[@patbromwell8701]

If you're as old as me growing up in a very rural area the viewing choices were ABC nbc CBS and PBS

[@quag311]

I am excited about Ion picking up VGK games next year. Those should show up on Google TV, LG TV, etc for no extra charge.

[@JDAWG2111]

Are there any sources that indicate VGK games would be available on Google TV/LG TV? And would this only be for Vegas TV territories or would it also apply to out-of-market viewers? Asking as a VGK fan from the Midwest

[@samuelfrick3475]

@@JDAWG2111out of market fans will remain with ESPN+ This is only for in market VGK fans

[@Mr.Quinlan888]

The way that ESPN, and Disney, its parent company that is struggling with money, they could eventually go away. After last year's hockey coverage by ESPN, I hope they do go away.

[@jefflarson1652]

Disney's net income was $1.271B in the quarter ending March 31st (increase of 170% over the previous year). Their net income for the year ending on the same date was $4.121B (increase of 55% over the previous year). Wish I could struggle like them.

[@dennybarlau8065]

@@jefflarson1652 Disney has lost three billion dollars from there last eight Movie releases there stock has gone down over twenty five percent ESPN has four rounds of layoffs There next for bankruptcy

[@MrTumorHumor]

Either way Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond are gonna be on my TV in the fall/winter

[@aisthefisherman]

I appreciated the is video! I used Ballys to watch the Kings

[@akawiley1]

There were only 3 networks in 1978, no nationwide cable yet.

[@PenguinNote67]

I'll be honest. I used cable for sports, news and maybe some entertainment channels. I also think that some of us as fans were slow to adapt to NHL games on ESPN+

[@JonathanGaeta]

I’m probably gonna have to use ESPN+ since I dropped cable which means in my area I won’t see the LA Kings games or even right now Dodgers and Angels games

[@zdv-b3g]

@@JonathanGaeta ESPN+ is fine until the playoffs roll around... then you have to have a traditional ESPN subscription and TBS/TNT

[@rcl1955ca]

I wonder how this may effect the salary cap going forward and ultimately, player salaries. You have to wonder if the salary cap will go up as much as people think if the TV revenues are flat or decline. Some of the owners that are paying these big salaries (NBA, NFL, MLB) are also either in whole or in part media moguls or owners

[@davids9520]

In the Detroit market. Bally's carries Red Wings, Tigers and Pistons games. If Bally's here bails on sports, somebody is going to jump in take Bally's place in Metro Detroit Local sports coverage has always been a success here.

[@CB-lh4ph]

I think the nhl would have better luck selling subscriptions if they allowed you to subscribe to individual teams, or even pay for individual games/series. Cable has always been about bundling things together so that people have to pay more because theyre getting more, even though they dont care about 80% of whats in the bundle. People just arent willing to pay for a full NHL subscription when they only want to watch a handful of teams/games, and therefore end up paying for none

[@theawayfan6052]

Well said

[@reverend_wintondupree]

In the US atleast NHLtv did offer individual team subscriptions. This has been removed though as part of ESPN+ taking over. Also, the team bundles are not new in fact are something the NBA and MLB have been offering for a few years now on their streaming services. But unlike other leagues the NBA has also had services to buy individual games, even offering packages for the last few minutes of games as well. The challenge for team bundles is your best way to maximize revenue would be to offer these in market. There just aren't that many fans who'd purchase subscriptions to see their team that's not local vs the number of local subscribers who'd want to watch their team via streaming. And under the current contracts because the RSN owns the local rights, thus only can the RSN itself offer these bundles to locals. The pricing as seen offered by the likes of NESN and Ballys is more than if you'd just purchase a cable bundle/or close to it.

[@RobertHarridge]

I’m kind of lucky in Tampa to have the Bally Sports + streaming service available, however I do wish ESPN+ didn’t have local market teams blacked out. The problem for cable and satellite, like Charter Communications, is the lack of competition in most markets. Live streaming services added competition and are undercutting the big players, thus earning a larger market share. It’s more of updating the pricing. I went from $138usd per month for cable to $69usd (nice) for Hulu + Live, which includes Disney+ and ESPN+. On top of that, we got a new fiber network in the area that not only increased my speed from 300/10mbps to 1gb upload and download, but lowered my bill from Spectrum’s $85/mo to $45/mo. I’m saving over $100/mo by leaving Spectrum. Update their prices to be more competitive, and people will stay on cable. I never had a problem with the service, but the pricing is ridiculous. Competition is great for the consumer and for innovation.

[@rockinmel1]

Great video. The landscape is changing, and the scam that was cable sports is a deserving casualty. (ESPN's sweet days of forcing cable companies to pay them based on total subscribers, not just the ones who watch ESPN, are ending, and that's why they're bloodletting.) Streaming is already similar to cable though (Fubo, Sling, KZbin TV, DirecTV). The undeserving casualty of all this is the quality of sports broadcasts. Unless you're the betting-driven NFL or NBA, chances are in the future the broadcasters won't even be at the games, and the days of highly-paid quality "name" commentators is also ending. Look at MLS's Apple TV deal for the template there - you don't even know who your commentators will be prior to a match. In Seattle we've dodged a bullet by having our RSN (M's and Kraken) majority owned by the Mariners themselves, but they're still charging by the subscriber rather than by the sports viewer, so they'll be suffering too soon enough.

[@joshuaalbright1175]

Been watching you for years thanks for all your work man

[@RealNewsMMA]

15:50 I feel like it’s going to be MMA, and yeah, there does seem to be some visionary stuff coming outta there. Stuff is weirding me out lately, I have been very tuned in for over half a decade now on ongoing things and I like to think I’m good at connecting dots, or we’ll I have a lot of spare time. All the best man. I’ve been looking into the numbers not just ufc but pfl bellator one and mma is very competitive lately and I believe it will only go up and I’ve believed this for a long time now. I’m Canadian and grew up on hockey not knowing what mma really was until 2016 and it’s taken over my life despite me not even being around any actual martial arts gyms (Newfoundland prize fighting is still illegal I guess that’s why there’s less gyms and none in my small town)

[@richcerasale8909]

diamond Sports group will probably go belly up by the end of 2023

[@benjaminlynch9958]

Well, they declared bankruptcy last year, and all the court motions are the process of creditors picking apart the dead carcass, so… 🤷🏻

[@11679MRT]

The major networks in the US own Hulu. It would be nice if the big four sport leagues could do something similar- a one stop service for all your sports

[@maxpowr90]

Disney owns Hulu which is why NHL games will appear on it.

[@cheezenub]

@@maxpowr90 Disney owns 67% and Comcast/NBCUniversal owns 33%. It is expected that Comcast/NBCUniversal will sell their stake in Hulu to Disney when their current agreement is set to expire in 2024.

[@kvelr1851]

I'm worried about how new fans get into watching the sport since there are no local team free broadcasts anymore. I remember seeing free MLB games on KZbin, maybe the NHL needs to do this. And to keep the current fans Networks needs to stop charging and arm and a leg for the streaming service. Paying $20/mo and still have the watch ads. If it's ad money they're after than the change less, they'll get more subs and more ad revenue. They're too used to their greedy ways.

[@RunDanMC]

Absolutley love the Cthulhu jersey!! Where did you get that one?

[@thesuneversets]

Completely agree there are way too many streaming services now. It’s hard to know what is on what service. Also agree with more options those viewer numbers will never be what they were in the 70s and 80s

[@jadesprite]

"I'd love to hang around but... no cable!" was the reason we always went over to that one friend's house, and never my place :P

[@glennelliott708]

With less $$$ from sports broadcasts, does that mean productions become smaller. Fewer cameras and replay angles, taking a clean home feed and adding graphics from a local control room ( remember the 80s ). Are the days of 12 camera local games going away unless the team pays for the resources.

[@tallesttreeintheforest]

may the hockey gods protect the greatest color commentator of all time, Mickey Redmond.

[@huhmz]

I'm thinking PPV for regional sports under a larger streaming platform might be something they are looking at. Viaplay in Europe has a streaming service with a base package of commercial TV channels and a movie/TV show library and then you can buy sporting events besides your base package. Then you could have a season ticket for a particular sport and pay for it per season but also individual games if you want to.

[@yasnac7576]

How ironically strange. As I was watching lo and behold a Ballyes (sp?) KZbin add played. Strange egh?? Your the best Shannon!!

[@luke_m_davis]

In the UK, the streaming services are already buying up the football 'soccer' contracts e.g. Amazon prime for premier league. On boxing day they stream all the matches so it doesnt matter who you support (as long as they are in the premier league) you can watch their match. A separate question though that im not sure wher to put is there a jersey countdown this summer?

[@purplebeard1526]

The points I'll make on this as a Canes/Hornets fan in NC are: 1) Cord/cost cutting sound great, but when the revenue from TV goes "drastically " down, those streaming fees will rise to offset it. They're able to do cheaper streams because of the tv side. 2) This seems like a setup for ESPN w'+ to take over with streaming for all with their local broadcast talent in place as Ballys talent. But the games still need a TV channel outlet and who knows how regional ESPN wants to be considering in some markets you could have a local NBA, NHL, and MLB team on at the same time. What ESPN channels get cannibalized for the air window. 3)I've found my local Ballys team for the Canes especially are better and more invested in our game than espn/+ broadcasts, especially when they start hyping up everything else on ESPN versus the game at hand. 4)Turner Sports doesn't really have an online option for sports vewing.

[@Casualwrestlingreactions]

The fact that I have to pay around 70 dollars to watch the jays, Habs and bills in Ontario is ridiculous and is the fact that I have stopped watching sports live

[@spmiller6377]

Would love to see some model like the AHL has except through a bigger distributor like MLS did with Apple TV. Would be great to pay $80 or so for just my team or $150 for the full league

[@David-gd8vl]

With Bally's streaming service at $20/month for just one team (Blues in my area), that is a hard no. The NHL streaming is too fragmented and, as a direct result, too costly. I would HAPPILY pay a reasonable amount for ONE home for all games. As it currently stands, I will only pay for a subset of games.... maybe just walk away and keep caught up with THG. NHL & Mr Bettman - Please consider growing the sport by making it more readily accessible.

[@georgewyatt2924]

NHL plucks all the best talent and everything is done through NHL Network. Lots of channels, a la TSN and SportsNet, to make sure all the games are covered. It's easy to do in a streaming environment. The calling of the game may have more of a "homer" feel - one would have to pick the Toronto stream vs. the Boston stream. Even HNIC has that now. But, at least the games will be available for a price - and not the nonsense of some games available in the USA and not Canada, and vice-versa. The NHL would get to keep all the revenue and share among teams, maybe based on "eyes on" the game. Yes, the rich will get richer - always happens. If they don't do that, so person will be streaming the game from the stands on Facebook ... opps, Meta.

[@LatinxGoyslop1994]

I dont have cable so I use 🏴‍☠️ streams for all sports. Id be willing to pay as long as its affordable & i have to be able to watch any and every game i want.

[@11679MRT]

I love that you watch Redlettermedia - you're a man of distinguished taste.

[@seanragsdale5636]

If they can’t get a deal with Comcast and DirecTv they’re gonna have to cave and put all the non-national TV games on ESPN+ and SNnow without blackouts. But I think even the US deals could be in trouble. NBA rights come up soon and who’s to say ESPN and Turner won’t try to sell those contracts off just to keep basketball? Mind you Turner’s parent in WBD has been trying to clear off debt for a few years.

[@chrisguardiano6143]

I see ESPN selling their NHL rights to keep the NBA & prevent NBC, CBS or even Fox from getting the NBA rights. One of those three networks (most likely NBC or Fox in my view) will then pick up the NHL.

[@Vienna107]

I think between constant channel disputes, and cable companies always seeming to put the channels you do want on the highest cost tiers, it led to people cutting the cord. I only have KZbin TV because of it having national sports broadcast channels (ESPN, FS1, local FOX/ABC/NBC/CBS). The solution just seems so easy. Make sports easier to watch. NFL seems to be headed the other way, with games on Amazon, and now a game exclusively on Peacock this season. Just offer an all inclusive package to sports fans without blackouts and they will most likely buy it. The harder you make it for fans to watch the product, the more money you seem destined to lose.

[@JarradBruessel32]

Can you watch local games without blackouts?

[@Vienna107]

@@JarradBruessel32 Would probably depend on your local area. I get local Philadelphia teams with YTTV but not much else. Used to get Orioles/Nationals for baseball and Pittsburgh teams with cable. Think they would be blacked out if I had NHL/MLB package though.

[@talousse]

I just hope I can continue to watch root sports love those guys

[@montanak833]

Today I was at a Tim Hortons in Niagara Ontario wearing a Sabres tshirt when a guy walks up to me and says “at least you arent a Leafs fan”. We stand there talking about hockey for like 5 minutes and it was pretty cool because this guy was saying he used to go to games in Edmonton and Calgary during the 80s/90s. The conversation took a huge shift at the end however when he proceeds to tell me that he thinks hockey is fully rigged now. He said that it makes sense that Vegas and Florida made the cup finals because of the sports gambling in Vegas and the number of retirees in Florida. I can understand how that opinion develops with all the sports betting shoved down our throat but man did he lose me with Florida, what are the retirees doing? We clinked coffee’s and went our separate ways. Ive been thinking about this interaction all day and I just needed to tell someone so here I am leaving this comment.

[@aaronhoepner3154]

I ended up paying the money for Bally Sports app because I got so fed up with not being able to watch the Red Wings. I would get every single Panthers game through Hulu live and ESPN+ but was blacked out from Bally Sports Detroit. And when the Wings were playing the Panthers, I would get blacked out from even the Panthers broadcast. I really hope they figure this out and soon, it's only hurting hockey.

[@TylerJohnstonGuitar]

They need to get rid of Bally Sports and start Pucky Sports. I’d invest.

[@ChadSimplicio]

Honestly, i wouldn't be surprised to see Spectrum Sportsnet in L.A. expand to replace its Bally Sports counterparts. Its primary channel will still be for the Dodgers & Lakers, then a 2nd channel for the Clippers & Angels, a 3rd channel for the Kings & Reign, and a 4th one for the Ducks, MLS, & college sports.

[@kevinboyle7861]

Bally made it really hard to watch Florida too. Had to get creative for regular season.

[@Shadow12aven]

FYI this first round was the most watched ever in the history of the NHL

[@outsideredge]

I'm interested in what Rogers does when this NHL deal is up because they've had multiple rounds of layoffs during this deal. Suffice it to say attempting to monopolize broadcasting the NHL in Canada in the era of cordcutting hasn't worked out the way they hoped.

[@charlesberry9683]

Late in 2017, I signed up for KZbin TV after not having cable for years. Just because they had NESN included. Two years into it, they just drop it out of the blue. No real reason from KZbin TV why. NESN claims that no discussion on a new contract , just see you later. Now You can get NESN streaming, for $30 bucks a month. Love the Bruins, not paying that...

[@xBLACKSWANx]

Everything on TV and in movies are all the same regurgitated bs

[@gabrielmerino7522]

I have not watched a Texas Rangers game in over a decade..damn Bally Sports

[@roguewavecreative]

anybody that follow cable for years thinks this is one of those duh moments. Basically, ppl didn’t listen. In the states like about oh got up to 15 years ago. There was a senator that was trying to get the cable companies to sell channels like almost a la cart. problem was that nobody really understood cable there’s only a few channels on cable that basically subsidize all the channels because other channels the revenue even from the cable companies basically ESPN HBO probably the news networks in a couple others, but that was it so the problem now is like you said everybody has talked about is that you could get three or four streaming services, and be paying just as much as you would with regular cable. The problem is, is that if you wanted to take all the streaming services and bundle them together they try to because the shows are expensive to do and can’t get enough subscribers. It just doesn’t work it it’s basically broken I think, and I have to realize in the strike right now with the actors and writers is only worse because it is the reality of it deserves streamers and away with murder and now the chickens are coming to roost and it’s a mess. not sure how it is in Canada but US there a streaming service is now where if you’re just patient and can wait like say I don’t know anywhere between like three months and say 18 months you can basically watch any movie you want for free with some commercials who cares I mean KZbin in the states I have movies that I watch all the time and they’re like movies that I really wanna watch it’s not garbage. People don’t want to pay for this stuff cause it’s not cheap like you said it adds up.

[@pierremartin6035]

not a word on potential impact on salary cap!

[@TylerMorganShow]

I buy cds too but KZbin is king for all video/Audio

[@PJPremiere]

I've been using Hulu for my live TV services for a few years now, and when Bally's bailed I refused to pay another $20/month for their app to watch the Red Wings, Pistons, and Tigers. It's just too much cost to keep adding streaming services. That being said, a live TV streaming service that has my local sports might convince me to switch (instead of add).

[@dsc4178]

Leafs have fans everywhere, they'd have more if they cared about the playoffs like we fans do.

[@Romanellochw]

It's gotten so crazy that we are coming full circle and cable is looking like an OK option for anyone who isn't obsessed with the programming these streaming platforms offer. I personally could care less about entertainment shows so its sports and news plus kids programing. All platforms don't offer all the sports networks but cable does......

[@howardfrank6050]

Dear Hockey Guy. This subject has gotten a lot attention. And it's warranted given impact on cap, etc. Two things I've read make sense. First, broadcasts are likely to be skinnied down. Don't be surprised if pre- and post-game shows are shortened or maybe even eliminated. There may not be separate play-by-play and analysis teams--the same duo or trio may do both. On ice coverage behind the booth--could get nixed. Camera work will be limited. This minimalist approach is what I started with in the Seventies and early Eighties as a Flyers fan, when WKBS (a UHF channel) carried the games. The second hot potato is out-of-market broadcasts. Unless people subscribe to league-wide packages (either cable or streamed), you won't get them save for the nationally-broadcast games. I agree NHL TV revenue may be down in coming years.

[@StOscar]

As a baseball fan I've been surprised at just how slow this slow moving disaster has been. I had been hearing about this in March and I mistakenly thought things would be close to settled by now, but it's nowhere near done. One of the real sticking points is that MLB has refused to give Diamond the streaming rights to those teams, and I guess the NBA and NHL now have to decide if they'll follow suit or if they will work with Diamond on the streaming.

[@AlanNadeauIII]

I do think the issue of interest comes from marketing. The leagues do not know how to properly market their stars, at least enough to an extent for it to make a difference

[@jefflarson1652]

The leagues are well aware of how to market their stars. Society is way beyond the days of a limited number of heroes to worship. In the same way that kids now narrow their focus to playing one sport, these generations focus themselves on a few content providers...and there are tens of thousands to choose from.

[@AlanNadeauIII]

@@jefflarson1652 If that was the case, then the media would do a better job of discussing said stars

[@jefflarson1652]

@@AlanNadeauIII The media does. Hockey fans are well aware of who the stars are. The issue is that more young people can name a hundred tiktok or youtube "stars" who get zero media attention. You can't make people like things they don't care about.

[@krisrizakis9989]

Look at how soccer is pretty much on streaming in the US. MLS & Apple TV. UEFA Champions League with Paramount+. A lot of European leagues are pretty much just streaming only in the US. The Premier League was originally on NBC and NBC Sports. When they started putting games on Peacock, a lot of people complained that they had to pay extra for those games. But a few years have gone by and NBC closed up NBC Sports and shifted almost all the games to Peacock with a few matches on USA and NBC. Now people complain when games aren't on Peacock to the point NBC now advertizes the fact that matches on TV are also on Peacock. I wouldn't be surprized to see if Amazon, Google and Apple or someone targeted the NFL, NBA or MLB for all the rights and just shift it all to streaming. Sunday Ticket in the US is on KZbin TV (a streaming service comparable to cable) as of this season. And the NFL has been experimenting with a modified streaming service through the NFL app.

[@yogibearstie]

In Orange County we haven’t had Dodger games on TV for a decade. The Dodgers wanted too much, the cable system said there wasn’t enough interest and said NO. Decade on no Dodgers. Angels Only.

[@biglebowski3961]

And they keep on telling us how new technology will improve our lives. All greed and soon we might be paying 10 bucks for one game ppv style.

[@joemckim1183]

The only reason I have Spectrum right now is to be able to watch Cardinals/Blues games. If they go streaming I would immediately drop Spectrum.

[@KelleyShepherd23]

TnT grabbing the monopoly didn’t help at all in the states… the playoffs up til the finals were all on ESPN+ but I couldn’t get a game to watch for the finals… I listened to it on SiriusXM and sent it to my tv to listen to the game and fell asleep almost instantly

[@TylerMorganShow]

Cord cutting has been effecting wrestling for 10 years

[@plainbagel9192]

the other problem is why would people pay for streaming then get subjugated by the same adds they see on cable , the whole point of streaming is guaranteed money to the provider. Second, a streaming add and non add tier can't work because sports is something that needs to be watched live and not later like any given tv show.

[@joestrunk9663]

I still have cable because we watch and DVR the Jackets . we have switched service ,just because of this reason so we are a little upset because we dont know for sure if bally is still going to be here . we stream espn+ and we like to have TNT for games because i follow to many teams .would someone tell Gary to make a deal preseason is starting soon and we need to have time to switch service if we have to . Thanks for addressing this Shannon

[@soulknife20]

I need that Miskatonic Jersey.

[@AnyoxB.D.]

Even if you pay for espn+ you can’t watch your local team. So dumb

[@tastethejace]

You're going to Nevada in August?

[@dustinfields2055]

I just hope the ridiculous blackout rules are changed.

[@mattwilliams7454]

What happened to the open ice package? Is that not viewable online or is that gone. The NBA has league pass and it's viewable online

[@arcadeshift5071]

Re: Stanley Cup Final ratings in the States Turner (TNT) and ESPN (ABC) switch broadcasting the Final each year. TNT is cable/streaming TV only, while Disney owns ESPN & ABC (over-the-air free tv), and broadcasts 4 of the 7 SCF games on broadcast tv. TNT's broadcasts are so much better, but ratings are going to be down automatically every other year (regardless of which teams are playing) in the US because the games won't be seen on free tv. This seems at odds with "growing the game", but Turner Sports probably threw the NHL too much money to care either way.

[@CaleisonMakar]

I do think this will happen. But I can’t help but think that the NHL would have an easy time obtaining 32 new broadcasting teams/ enough money to respectfully pay the announcers.

[@drivethru6155]

I also can't find a streaming service that is worth subscribing to because they cost way too much for the amount of sports I watch... so I just watch them for free or listen to the radio broadcast

[@yogibearstie]

I can subscribe to MLS through Apple TV and I would imagine the NHL will cut out the now not needed networks and provide their own service. You could do all sorts of pricing beyond your home team. Buy a single game, a discount for every team you buy for the season after one. Switch at will to stay with the best teams. Many will add the Oilers to get McDavid. Maybe you have three teams and adding a fourth is really cheap so you get Zegras.

[@c71score]

BACKUP PLAN! Gary needs braces. BACKUP PLAN! Gary needs braces

[@DJFlozone]

For those who are confused about why we call electricity Hydro; the electrical grid in BC is powered by Hydroelectric dams and the company that sends us our bills is called BC Hydro.

[@aaronb2686]

Vegas left Sportsnet for local OTA broadcast starting this hopping to increase viewership of cord cutters. I don’t know if there’s a way to stream the scripts channel

[@Rich-ey7jv]

The Bally's coverage of the Lightning is pretty good, but the guys they have between periods are dinosaurs(and I'm 61)! Can't see anyone under 40 watching it.

[@hockeyinalabama]

Bettman's backup plan: what would Michael Scott do?

[@269productions]

Once they kill these networks they will all be on Hulu and they will be able to black you out whenever/wherever you or your team travels 😅

[@robertalenrichter]

Because I don't live in Canada, nor follow the news from there, I don't understand how the Rogers takeover of, or merger with, Shaw would affect their broadcasting division. If the deal engendered a mountain of debt, whittling a few salaries in a sports network wouldn't make a dent, would it?

[@gordm3527]

I’d watch regional hockey on Netflix!

[@chrisbear7012]

As long as I can listen to mickey Redmond and Ken Daniels commentate the Wings game I dont mind what channel or streaming service it's on.

[@philtorrez4198]

Bally Sports dying can’t happen fast enough.

[@TheMe9595]

Bally is way more expensive than basically every other streaming service. For me it would be like $20 a month. I would rather get something like KZbin tv or hulu live for 60 and actually have a reason to use it other than just sports.

[@run2fire]

ESPN for hockey is not good. TNT with Biz does a nice job though. NBC did a better job

[@chrisguardiano6143]

I could definitely see Apple approaching the NHL in the next few months & offering the same deal that they offered MLS where nearly every single game apart from nationally televised games on TNT & ESPN is on Apple TV with no blackouts. This would be in the form of a "Season Pass" where people would pay $99 a season or $12 a month (or less if you are an existing Apple TV subscriber). As a supporter of an MLS club (Sounders FC) in addition to the Kraken, the MLS Season Pass is great for cord cutters. However it also means that apart from a small number of games on Fox/FS1 in the US & TSN in Canada, MLS has no TV presence in either country because 95% of the games are behind a paywall (heck until very recently, Apple wouldn't even allow ESPN to show MLS highlights on SportsCenter) though that might be changing thanks to Messi joining Inter Miami & TV networks in the US wanting a piece of that. Apple is keen on adding more sports to Apple TV in addition to MLS & MLB Friday Night Baseball & will likely take advantage of the situation with Bally Sports to try to get the NHL/NBA along with doing a deal with the dying Pac 12 for college football & basketball rights.

[@JarradBruessel32]

Why would they go with apple when you can't get apple tv on android or google phones? I don't think that's a smart idea at all.