How I Feel the NHL's Obsession with Money Now Costs Them Money Later

[@wadeschmidt]

The nhl has ruined the tv product with the digital ads. This is the single largest contact the league with its fans.

[@acanadianineurope814]

meh. they had the same argument with board ads years before eventually you will tune them out.. or you will turn it off.

[@wadeschmidt]

@@acanadianineurope814 Have you watched an north american nhl tv broadcast this season? I've tried too but they are in my opinion unwatchable.

[@f.n04]

@@acanadianineurope814 only difference is those original board ads didn't eat up the players and didn't play mini videos during the game

[@acanadianineurope814]

@@wadeschmidt yes I have, not nice but I also can remember version 1.0 of boards ads, which was not nice either. Try watching some euro hockey sometime... this is your future.

[@dixonhill1108]

@@acanadianineurope814 Turning it off is becoming the popular trend. If my jets weren't doing well I wouldn't even watch hockey this year. If the Jets go on a rebuild I won't be watching.

[@JamesCrosby87]

As someone who does sports betting himself, I think the NHL has gone too far in terms of advertising gambling websites and pushing it on people who have no interest in betting or have had a gambling addiction in the past...it's making the product unwatchable

[@gumbojones3133]

As someone who never gambles I certainly agree. Definitely hurts true passion for the sport

[@mh13mini]

the gambling adds every 4 seconds are becoming intolerable

[@mchammer1809]

In business we call this over-earning. Yes, you can screw your customers now and make a fortune - but it will cost you long term.

[@RandomGuyCDN]

Welcome to how all the corps think now unless their owner isnt a complete tool. Everything is about short term business decisions and not long term. Gotta make more money every year because making the same amount of profit is somehow a failure

[@shawklan27]

@@RandomGuyCDN dystopian nightmare we're living in folks

[@empchampion40k]

It’s been a long time since my college Econ course, but the one lesson I can’t forget the lesson of a profit curve: there is only so much you can charge customers for a product/service before you start losing them and your overall revenue takes a loss.

[@dixonhill1108]

@@RandomGuyCDN Except that's not true at all, most tech companies build everything on the principle that eventually they can turn a profit. What's important is building up the value of the brand, not cashing in on the brands value. Infact what you're describing is something that more or less is a truism with publicly traded companies. The league is privately owned and is all about long term franchise values as the primary reason for justifying extreme expansion fees.

[@michaelkeller5927]

Late stage capitalism, folks

[@joelpilgert4373]

I'm old enough to remember thinking that a 0 - 0 tie was a great game. A defensive goalie duel can be just as good as a fire wagon score fest

[@1chound1]

Many thousands of us hockey fans are now on fixed incomes. We have to decide if we need to pay a lot of money for hockey channels on TV, or go to the doctor, put gas in the car, get groceries, plus pay a regular cable bill(obnoxiously priced as is) a to see hardly any hockey. More fans will tune in to watch if we get to see it easily. Even if the team I root for is not on, we still like to watch the game. Thanks for all THG videos, I watch probably 99% of them, and you tell it like it is, too little of this in the world today.

[@deadlves]

why are blackouts still a thing? if a leafs game or a habs game or whatever is blacked out for me i can’t watch it on tv, i can’t stream it (legally) and i can’t go to the game because i live in saskatchewan. which leaves me no choice but to watch a pirated stream or not watch at all, making the nhl no money either way.

[@Earthboundmike]

Pretty much why I don't get the nhl package online. I don't have cable, but would like to watch hockey. But getting blacked out of games is, weird. Especially since so far as I know I paid for them - I'm not going to know what games are going to be blacked out before hand I can't be fucked to keep track of each and every thing for that.

[@romaliop]

The problem with the NHL is not necessarily that they actively seek new revenue sources, but that they always seem to go just that extra mile to piss off everyone. Like the digital ads could have been done in a reasonable way with no animations and some conditions for the advertisers on the use of colors so that the players don't disappear into them. You could have gotten 90% of the money without basically any backlash.

[@sydisticsandman]

Hard agree on this

[@Chimeratech8]

Couldn't agree with this more. They're like addicts, always craving the next short lived high, not realizing the damage they're doing to themselves long term. 2020 is the biggest example of this, but as you explained with the Versus deal, there is a consistent history of this.

[@mdd47]

@@geoff3103 Bettman is the commissioner, he works for the owners. If you don't like the way the NHL is going, blame the owners first and foremost, and Bettman a distant 33rd.

[@ThomB1031]

@@mdd47 their point stands. If fans had any self discipline... things would change.

[@mdd47]

@@geoff3103 "obviously know nothing" why be so rude and insult people? If you think I'm wrong, OK, but there's no need to be a jerk about it.

[@mdd47]

@@geoff3103 “preposterous, foolish” again if you think I’m wrong, cool, but you could at least try not to be a rude jerk about it.

[@mdd47]

@@geoff3103 May you reap what you sow

[@georgeblair3894]

When the NHL loses viewership, advertisers will take notice and offer less. So the NHL makes less money, BUT, those viewers? There's no guarantee they'll return.

[@aaronyoung5667]

I really wish that Bettman and the owners would watch this video and understand that Shannon is right about every point made. Die hard fan since 94. Only missed games if I had to. The local blackouts and poor television coverage has made it impossible for me to watch games, and I'm not missing it. The few games that I have seen were unwatchable. At least I can get my daily news and scores here! If it wasn't for THG I think that I would have given up completely.

[@razvanzamfir1545]

Stop making sense!

[@CalSkywalker]

This guy is a real hockey fan. The passion he has for the game. You love to see it

[@GoodMenstruationAttitude]

You're the hero we need and deserve, Shannon!

[@edwardofgreene]

Saturday night I attended a VERY exciting AHL game, and missed the All Star Game as a result. Correction: I didn't miss the All Star Game one bit. I made the right call, and it wasn't close.

[@mozzartV]

The best part of the All Star Game was Fall Out Boy lol

[@davidfox9947]

I think all star games in pro sports are past time.

[@pdubcentral]

Not sure if this last week felt ridiculously long because there was barely any hockey or because there was no Shannon lol. Genuinely missed him while he was gone. Glad you got a vacation! But man is this channel a big part of my day!

[@eirikrdberg1161]

Same here. Boring week. No hockey, no drugs.

[@kenyadakashai95]

I felt this so much. 😂

[@tyraelhermosa]

There was no Shannon? He released so many videos this last week! Also, he has a 2nd channel called "The Entertainment Guy" if you miss him. He posted a bunch of stuff there during his vacations.

[@kukxiv7070]

The NHL is making its product harder to watch with the constant advertising and the jersey ads (I primarily watch the Wild who have giant ads). Ive found myself watching and caring more about football and college hockey rather than the NHL

[@chickenfkeryay]

It sucks that soms teams have taken the jersey ad route but im proud that theres a large number of teams who havent

[@Railblade]

With the change to NIL I do worry how long College Football is going to last before it gets corroded by the chase for moooore money.

[@dixiewinxeqandmore356]

I've started caring about baseball again.

[@steamr0ll]

I have been watching this channel for a few years and this might be my favorite video Shannon has made. Thanks for the real talk THG!

[@dukem991]

Agreed one of his best on the money !

[@dukem991]

Agreed one of his best on the money !

[@closethockeyfan5284]

Absolutely agreed, with one quibble: the oversimplification of the ESPN-OLN quandary in 2004. -Reporting at the time indicated ESPN was also offering significantly reduced percentages of ad revenue. OLN was offering better ad rates than any of its other content. (Yes, big fish in a small pond, but it's also a pride thing.) -Reporting at the time also indicated ESPN wasn't even guaranteeing games on ESPN2 and up--that some number would be pushed to 360/ESPN+. Nowadays with streaming's evolution? Not as big a deal. Even five years ago, though--let alone 19? Absolute deal-breaker. OLN not only guaranteed multiple primetime slots a week, but also heavily promoted second-half games of the week on NBC. I get the argument of even ESPN2 vs. OLN, but people forget there was a chance even the FINAL wasn't going to reach ESPN or ABC. That is humiliating, and ESPN did everything it could to absolutely bury NHL on all its programs. -ESPN also had no interest in giving any attractive time slots to the NHL, which I can understand given their push of NFL at the time with NBA as the flagship. OLN made NHL the flagship overnight and did a great job despite its reach. The evolutions along the way (marked with milestones of the name switches from OLN to VERSUS and then VERSUS to NBCSN) were incredible. They drew well despite the limited reach of OLN especially. I can understand the opinion that it was still the wrong choice, but I think especially in hindsight it turned out great.

[@neighborhoodpranksters6214]

I was just about to say this, I have never even thought to have this discussion, let alone anyone else talking about this issue

[@Ruprect44]

Yah, put me in the alienated category. The constant gambling ads were the final straw. I'll watch highlights online but won't sit down and watch a full game again.

[@islesofmets]

I actually started disliking the flashing changing ads, I really miss the actual local ads on the boards because I usually memorize the ads in October/November so I don’t have to think much about where the game is being played. In addition, the local ads are actually of a help because I would likely shop at their stores when visiting. The more nationalized feel of the game is just making it too overly corporate. I even thought the Islanders were playing at home when they digitally overlayed Northwell Health (a local Health Network and Key Sponsor of the Islanders) onto the Ice of a different arena multiple times. It just doesn’t work.

[@theniskycap8612]

Don't worry... our fearless leader Gary Bettman said that his poll we never saw any data for indicated that fans like the digital ads!

[@n00RBERGx]

This is so true. Imagine the NHL asking the fans what they want before doing things or the NHL talking to you Shannon because you are the most passionate fan that i know of. You truly live, breath and think hockey and we can see it. I wish that the NHL could see it

[@ChipMunkGuerrilla]

This rant about the league was awesome! Hat’s off to the hockey guy 🏒!

[@Steve-xf4uv]

Long time hockey fan, NHL fan, season seat holder; that said, I hate the board advertising, it is a definite distraction and it should disappear. I also would never buy a hockey jersey with advertising on it and I have a dozen or more. And the gambling sites on tv now - when do we bring back cigarette ads ? It's got to stop and I congratulate you on your stand on this issue. You speak for the fans, unfortunatley the NHL has forgotten us.

[@MrWumbologist]

I remember stumbling upon this channel and thinking "This guy calls himself The Hockey Guy? That's quite a boast!" And yet you definitely live up to that name, Shannon. In a world of bombastic editing, clickbait and react videos, your substantive videos that are what they say on the tin are a breath of fresh air, and I can see that your channel follows the ethos you're espousing in this video.

[@almVancouver]

I don't like the current playoff format. A better playoff format would have 1st in conference play 8th in conference, or 1st in league play 16th in league. The benefit in both these scenarios is the best regular season finisher playing the worst finisher.

[@darthvader3742]

They really need to go back to the 1 vs 8 format. This current format has long run it's course.

[@AdamCatalyst]

Shannon, this is the best video you have ever done. Every word is spot on. The NHL Board of Governors needs to watch this. Thank-you for taking what so much of us have thought and felt, and putting it so plainly and clearly.

[@matthewmidigi4903]

The gambling ads is truly the biggest issue. It's like a pandemic. As a high school teacher, I can't even begin to tell you how often I hear students talk about their gambling losses from online betting sites. They're 15 years old.

[@coolbeansjr]

Wow. Sad

[@jasonmazurkiewicz6960]

He is right about the ads. It's designed to get your attention and the fact that fans are admitting that it's distracting that's what the advertisers want. They want you to look at the digital board ad.

[@fantasticvoyage262]

Then viewers reach a breaking point. And stop watching. Just like I have.

[@coolbeansjr]

@@fantasticvoyage262 me too. Won't watch with it

[@fantasticvoyage262]

@@coolbeansjr I wouldn't be surprised if despicable ads are engraved into the Stanley Cup for a few extra dollars.

[@ShannonFerguson]

I agree. NHL needs more eyes on it. I remember being in Pennsylvania in the early 2000s. I thought I would be able to watch Pens, Devils, or Flyers games on TV. Couldn't find one game all week! Sports channels were replaying old basketball games instead.

[@ianhall6614]

You are the man Shannon. You are absolutely right when most people would still respect you and find no fault in you achieving as much money as possible. But I believe more people respect and admire you for being genuinely you, even when it comes at personal financial cost. No one does it better than you!

[@cameronmccormick89]

Gambling needs to go back underground. The amount of gambling ads is disgusting considering that most of the industry is based on preying on addicts.

[@gabew7480]

Give it another 5 years and it’ll be normal the same way people don’t complain about beer commercials being at ever commercial break in nfl games

[@Chimeratech8]

23:16 really hammered home something in my mind. THG and Dangle are the two hockey personalities I listen to the most, more than any TV or radio people. But the paths each have taken recently could not be more different. Unfortunately, Steve has given in to a lot of the things THG has resisted. The SDP podcast not only has gambling ads, but actual sponsored segments where they chat with a gambling company employee about what bets to make. It's gotten really out of hand and I know a chunk of his fanbase have called Steve/Adam/Jesse out for this, but they have consistently refused to even acknowledge any criticism.

[@j.b.7133]

lol Dangle is pure cringe

[@thawk1435]

@@j.b.7133 the only good video Dangle has ever made was about some no name zamboni driver.....🙃🙃

[@TheLvBret]

Last weeks dang it’s was filled with ads..for the first time since I discovered dang it’s I did not watch the whole video…if it’s the same this week I’ll probably unsubscribe

[@modernthinker300]

Steve Dangle is possible one of the world's most annoying personalities. I could not watch him no matter how his content was augmented/not augmented.

[@jejsemin33]

Dangle is an absolute hack lmao

[@pennalty9]

it feels like eventually there will be so much stuff on the screen that it will just feel like playing a video game

[@jkliao6486]

One thing I noticed with the digital ads is that the top of the goalie water bottle keeps flickering because of poor technology. So you would have this dark small object that is roughly the same size as a puck keep flickering at the back of the net, as if someone has scored a goal, and it's really distracting under certain circumstances.

[@stephenphillips6245]

Those lockouts really reduced my interest in the NHL product and that clown show, of an all star, weekend didn't help...LoL

[@bikesarebest]

Don't forget about the trapezoid ads too. They don't bother me by themselves but it's gets obnoxious with the digital ads behind the net and on the boards

[@posty3613]

Huge issue was Leah hextall and I appears ESPN realized it because she’s been banished to intermission interviews. No business doing play by play if you don’t know the rules

[@chickenfkeryay]

She still does pbp in some games

[@Dhemize]

Nepotism at it's finest. She is Ron Hextall's cousin

[@geckoman1011]

That's about all espn has gotten right. But at least they fixed it. Her voice is impossible to listen to for any length of time.

[@Dhemize]

@MZ This is such a lazy incorrect narrative. There are amazing women in the hockey world that deserve to be on the biggest national stage we have, yet we get Cassie Campbell-Pasqual and Leah Hextall? I mean come on. Hextall specifically is arguably making it worse for women with how piss poor of a job she constantly is doing. She makes all women look bad when it's actually just a handful of people bad at their jobs no different than men

[@pomerlain8924]

@@Dhemize Couldn't agree more. I also don't dislike Hextall because she's a woman. I dislike her because her pitch and delivery are terrible. And this was noticeable when she was doing college hockey games for ESPN. At some points she's too low, and when a goal is scored, she's way too high. Pitch and delivery are key to being a good PBP person. I remember when Kate Scott did the PBP for the all-woman's telecast on NBC right before the pandemic. She had never done an NHL game before, and she sounded like a natural. Great pitch and delivery. And now she's killing it as the lead PBP for the Sixers. There are great female broadcasters out there. Hextall just isn't one of them.

[@chrisstopher2277]

What's funny is Comcast owners in Colorado still don't have access to altitude sports and can't watch the Avs or Nuggets. Also the Stanley Cup champs practice facilitiy is in a Family event center. They practice where laser tag is next door. We're also talking about Stan Kroenke the Dude who owns the Rams, Nuggets, Avs and Arsenal name a few. The 2nd richest NHL owner.

[@prochrgedLT1]

Same. I had to add Hulu with ESPN+ to get Altitude.

[@tomfilipiak3511]

The NHL has turned into a circus!

[@magicseadog8674]

HERE IN AUSTRALIA WE CANT EVEN LEGALY PAY TO WATCH THE NHL. It's the odd game on Kayo or illegal streams only

[@Satarnoch]

Welcome to Europe where if you don't know the team, you sometimes don't know which picture is the logo on the jersey because of the ads.

[@chicknbrutalsoup6322]

Unfortunately not all broadcasts are created equal. I hear a lot of complaints about blackouts and ads. As a Devils fan living in the Dallas market, I gotta say I feel very lucky. I pay like $20 for ESPN+ (Hulu and Disney included) and like $40 for sling which gives me all the national broadcasts. Being able to choose which teams broadcast I watch has been a game changer. MSG is fantastic. The ads aren't intrusive and there's no tickers at the bottom of the screen or anything. It's hard for me to see what everyone is complaining about until I remember that I don't live in a big hockey market and somehow that gives me more options on how I view the game. So in a way I kind of feel like the NHL has accomplished its job out attracting smaller markets. But at the cost of angering the bigger markets. Anyway love the content.

[@dixonhill1108]

Yeah broadcast quality is a huge thing. It's wild how different the broadcast quality is from city to city. It's like watching 2 completely different leagues. Junior hockey and Canadian hockey have more in common than Canadian NHL teams and certain sunbelt broadcasts.

[@mikelandi9141]

Right on Shannon. One of your best posts. My contrarian take. "Less is sometimes more". Back to basics and a 60 game regular season!

[@matthewaxford655]

You are correct 💯. I have already this year turned off games entirely because of all this nonsense. I hate the ads on the helmets and the jerseys! I think all the different jerseys are becoming too much!

[@scotthoneycutt6967]

90s ESPN hockey was the best. The move to OLN was so weird and I've never watched as much since. Olympic hockey is beautiful with such clean ice and boards. Also speaking as a graphic designer, yes, the ads are designed to be eye-catching, and they are sold with the sponsor knowing they will be seen. Letting a sponsor hear that people aren't looking at them is bizarre.

[@lazyluci4803]

I started watching and playing hockey in the late 1950's. Objectively speaking, the game is played better today, but I don't watch it anymore. The simplicity and the soul are on life support. You're the man, Shannon; a Canadian who knows and loves hockey.

[@daledemanchuk7920]

exactly! well thought out and said guy. one of the main reasons i quit watching NASCAR over 15 years ago...unfortunately professional hockey it seems going down the same route...😪

[@Slvrbuu]

I started actively watching last year, mainly because I wanted to watch it with my father, and I can tell you, I'm not enjoying it nearly as much this year. I'll lose track of the puck because of flicking ads (and I have poor eyes as it is), and the frustration builds. Then we get 100 mid-roll ads when they are going back to face off, and all those ads are gambling, and the frustration builds. Then they are having even more inconsistent calls, and the frustration builds. It's to the point where unless the game is bound to be an exciting game with two great teams, I'm not watching. And once my subscription ends, I'm not renewing. So that's kind of my point of view as a relatively new viewer, but a long time follower of the sport.

[@jeffanderson3962]

This is why they need to bring back the glow puck. That will solve everything.

[@kiroolioneaver8532]

A big thing is also the culture that prphibts the game from marketing its stars and that's totally on the junior hockey coaches and management coming up. Connor Bedard was recently featured on CBC's "The National" and he said "You never know what the future holds, whether I'm back here (meaning Regina/WHL) next year or not. I'm not thinking about that. I don't want to have the menality this is the last little bit (in junior hockey)." That answer reeks of years of media training and being taught if you say anything remotely interesting or off-script, the media will use it against you. Although that's true, it would allow him to display some personality. Instead, hockey culture beats the personalities out of the kids and makes them boring robots/clones. A better answer (that would still allow him to display some of that humilty) would be to say, "If everything goes according to plan this will be my last year in Regina and so I'm trying to savour it as much as possible. Right now, I've got four goals: win the WHL championship, win a Memorial Cup, go number one overall in the draft, and be playing NHL hockey come next October." This false humility thing where all these stars endlessly compliment each other (like McDavid constantly saying Crosby is the best player in the world) doesn't sell tickets. Like WWE, the NFL, and the NBA, this is the entertainment business. We need heroes, villians, players you hate to love/love to hate, guys you root for, guys you boo. Players like Brad Marchant, PK Subban, and Sean Avery have/had it right. That's what sells tickets and brings in causuals and causes you to watch out-of-market games on a midweek night between two teams you don't root for because there's a compelling storyline.

[@kiroolioneaver8532]

@@geoff3103 While I do think most sports fans could probably name Crosby, Ovechkin, McDavid they may even mispronounce the names (or not know the first names) and not know anything beyond that. Certainly your Nate MacKinnons and Makar's are virtual unknowns lol But yeah, in terms of being relevant in the day-to-day sports culture (especially in America) those guys are bascially non-existant

[@lavalp]

The digital board ads were the last straw for me (on top of the ads on the ice, the glass. the helmets...). And many of us have ALREADY PAID for subscriptions for the privilege of being showered with even more advertising that actually now ruins the viewing experience! I literally cannot watch NHL hockey anymore because of the the ads. I am disgusted with the NHL for being so greedy and caring little for the game or its fans.

[@nolananderson4782]

Thank you, it's so rare to hear someone say they like a low scoring game. The more goals there are, the less important each goal is.

[@dustylover100]

I like a well-played game offensively and defensively. Anclose, well-played game, even at a low score, is far more fun to watch than a high-scoring blowout.

[@callumloader8713]

Two of the best baseball games I’ve ever seen that I can cite follow this principle too. Cleveland beating Tampa bay 1-0 after 15 innings with a walkoff home run in the wild card last year was unreal after phenomenally good pitching performances from many. While World Series game 5 from 2017 that finished 13-12 in 10 innings is another highlight. The tension and flow of the game matters more then the score, and both games are phenomenal memories to me.

[@mikedrndarski2707]

It's getting to the point I can hardly watch the TNT broadcast on Wednesdays. The between periods is damn near impossible to watch. The damn betting commercials and seeing the same 12 ads through the games is nuts.

[@Vertigo11]

Shannon For Commissioner!

[@Tpelf]

The fact that we have blackouts in 2023 is insane to me. I'm a Devils fan living in Flyers country. I bought ESPN+ to watch every Devils game because 1) its cheaper than cable and 2) they're not even on TV despite me still being in Jersey. But the 3 or 4 times a year we play the Flyers I can't watch and have to find a stream through reddit (which yes Gary it's totally legit) because it's blacked out. If you want to grow the game and bring in new fans putting restrictions on local teams is the wrong way to do it

[@timadams2042]

I agree 100% Shannon! Thank you for saying for me much better than I could say it myself. The digital boards are so distracting! Especially when a puck or a wheel rolls by. I find myself trying to concentrate on not looking at them at all but it takes away the ability to just enjoy the game for what it is. Digital ads on the glass are just as bad, I want to look into the crowd and see the crowd like I am actually at the game. I am close to giving up on the whole game which as a Canadian I am so proud of. How much of this crap are we we supposed to take?

[@IcyVegeta]

Much love THG.

[@J_Aaron_L]

Welcome home. Glad you had a safe and fun trip

[@Christian_Martel]

Last night I watched the AHL All-Star organized by the Laval Rocket, farm team of the Montreal Canadiens. You know what? It was 10 times more entertaining and competitive game than the NHL gimmick over the weekend. Players seemed to enjoy the format and we saw the intensity increased towards the end of the game. Fans were cranked up, as it is usually the case for Rocket games. It was the perfect mix of tradition and modernity last night. Kudos for the AHL and the Rocket. They, at least, get it.

[@treygray2817]

Of course it's more competitive. AHL all-stars want to prove themselves; NHL all-stars have it made and have to reason to compete.

[@faulknavy]

Thank goodness the KINGS have no jersey ads or helmet ads... yet.

[@leftcoaster67]

ESPN and no blackouts (Even in Canada too). Growth is as important as $$$$$$$$. Well said Shannon. Thank you!

[@TheAcgtrs]

I listen to the game, more than watch it, now. Great announcers make the game come to life…

[@christhornycroft3686]

I wasn’t allowed to watch a lot of games in the early 90s, so I got into hockey listening on the radio. You’re right. I think we’re losing the great announcers though. They’re all retiring and the new people aren’t as good.

[@pjpredhomme7699]

who is the great announcer you are referring to ? I find a lot of these games the announcers are so bad it is unlistenable . There are no Danny Gallivan's, Dan Kelly, Gary Thornes out there - I have always liked Cuthbert but most are absolutely awful .

[@stevewhite1377]

Biggest turn off for me has been the gambling ads and espn commenters, I really like the home/away play by play teams around the league. But the espn team reminds me of the last couple of nhl games on Xbox no passion, I hate gambling the ads are generally obnoxious. I’m sure there are plenty of businesses that could fill the void of betting

[@johnfeeley7094]

I haven't given the nhl a nickel in almost 7yrs. Once you/the fan realize that your money isn't influencing the product, the league is influencing you to buy a crappy product then it's a no brainer. Thank you Shannon for doing this video, it's nice to hear you will not sell your soul for something you clearly love and also for giving us quality over quantity. Also, the Bally Sports potential bankruptcy is a story that is kinda being kept quiet but old Gar says he's watching it closely. A lurker?🎰

[@pjpredhomme7699]

Bally sports collapse is not Bettmans fault. USA is filled with greediest business people - that was such a highly leveraged transaction - the creation of Bally sports - Sinclair is a very low rent group

[@johnfeeley7094]

@@pjpredhomme7699 Oh ok, thank you for info. I just thought Shannon could mention it.

[@azaz911c]

The NHL's heavy promotion of sports betting is going to hurt them. As a parent, it changes my perception of the NHL for the worse, and makes me question if I want my kids watching the broadcasts when they are being bombarded with betting ads. There was a time when HNIC could be relied upon as clean entertainment on a cold Saturday night - a shared Canadian experience for any one with a TV with rabbit ear antennas. I don't feel the same way about it anymore.

[@tylerbliss9851]

I’ll never forget for my birthday going to a blue jackets game for my first time. Was really excited to get a gaudreau jersey until I saw the ads… I just couldn’t at that point, it’s an eye sore and it’s something I can’t support

[@fantasticvoyage262]

Same for me. I was looking at bidding on a game used jersey. Until I saw the disgusting ad on the front that has nothing to do with hockey. Forget it. Someone else can have it.

[@wernerreiser9381]

I agree with your comments. Time to get back to what is on the ice and not be distracted with ads. Great content. Thanks.

[@DantesTyphoon]

More Money is a good goal to have but the focus should be about gaining more fans who will spend money and not how to get more money out of the current fans. The NHL is not available to new fans. Accessibility makes more money. "Free games" make more money than other games, McDonald's makes more money because of Accessibility and not because of profit margin, the NHL makes $5billion annually the NFL makes about $4billion in merchandise alone because it's easy and accessable to watch and be a fan.

[@Mike-ge7pe]

This is 100% right. Back when the NHL was accessible, I’d go to move games annually than I even watch on TV now. Business is still mostly about “location, location, location.”

[@jtsparky876]

The digital board ads are a disgrace .I felt like my loyalty was being taken advantage of so I barely watch the NHL now . Have now found other ways to spend my free time and i doubt i ever have the same interest in the NHL again even if changes are made .

[@southsidesky]

I agree that the integrity of the game is immensely important but I have never found the games more difficult to watch and for the sole reason that the announcers are so bad. Announcers should be hockey announcers first and homers next. The over the top arena announcers are an embarrassment to the sport. And in a similar way to the points you are making, I have no idea how to rectify this..............

[@elosogonzalez8739]

What's really sad is some owners DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE FANS! THAT..... Needs to change!! Great video Shannon. Thanks!

[@Smokewadwinslow]

As someone who loves the sport and follows a team that has been our family team for years, I find It sad. The advertising that’s on the uniforms, the defensive game being turned down in order to get more points like the NBA, the money etc. it’s all just saddening and not what I originally wanted from the league

[@ihnchaser10]

I never understood the blackout concept, but it sucked when I went to college in Hawaii in 2018 and was paying for the nhl subscription and the ducks and knights games were blacked out. I’m back in California now and I can’t even watch the ducks without paying to go to a game. Last year I paid for ESPN+ and the games were still blacked out so I spent money for no reason which I guess is my fault for not looking into like it. I just want to turn on the tv and watch a damn game haha.

[@Skyrimdude1PSN]

Nice work

[@davidmollenhauer7580]

I share your concerns about the creeping advertising that is about to envelop ‘all available surfaces’ the cameras project. You’re right, short term greed creates long-term need. There are also lots of examples where living in the short term costs a team in the long term. Look at the Vancouver Canucks, who mortgaged their future in 2011 to try to win the Cup that year, and still paid for players like Luongo until a couple of years ago. In your meet ups with Americans in California and Las Vegas, did any of them comment about the comet tail that some television companies apply to the hockey puck?

[@adamchastan2703]

Agree about hockey is better when it's basic, the nice thing about espn+ is I can catch PHF and college games which I have been spending more of my weekend watching than the NHL games as of late.

[@JaysonBryant]

Hell, in the Southern Hemisphere we’ve been absolutely reamed by the tv rights deal with espn. We used to be able to subscribe to the nhl through their app. Now we have to subscribe to espn and another provider, to see less games for a higher price. I’ve not watched a game through espn since. Oh, and if they start putting advertising on jerseys, that’s me out. I’ve been watching the nhl since ‘87, and feel like the direction of managing this beautiful game is way off course. It all stated with the changing of home and away colours. Then the two line pass was removed, the division and conference name changes. Now the product is dreadful, but the players incredible.

[@Aza13]

Realy sucks for us down here, used to watch multiple games each day and be lucky to watch one game a week now

[@tomfilipiak3511]

ESPN SUCKS!

[@dominiontributeandmore902]

So so true. I really hope this gets viewed and take into consideration by the NHL board of directors. Thank you for speaking on our behalf.

[@richarddespres8011]

I agree with you here. The NHL is sacrificing their financial future for a quick buck today. My son is obsessed with the game, but he's turned off by all of the gambling advertisements and not one of us in our house like the board ads because they're so distracting from the game. When they were testing them last year with one or two boards per side, I thought they were interesting, but the whole surface is obnoxious and makes me want to do something else. I find myself reading or looking at my phone and listening to the broadcast instead of watching because I find it easier on my senses, and I can follow the game better. The pure game is much more entertaining. I feel I get a better product watching WHL or even my kid's games in the arena than I get out of NHL hockey today. In fact, the league was only about one more poor season (ten plus years of futility was too much) from my team away from losing me as a fan altogether after the labour disputes and the pandemic.

[@tjcorso4]

I 100% agree with all the advertising nonsense. I’m particularly bothered by the jersey ads because that seems like a slippery slope. I would like to have an expanded playoff though.

[@lunalouhoo]

Even in our local hockey broadcasts in their pregame and post game shows...they always spend a whole segment talking about betting odds for something...if you bet $10 bucks for this you would get $16. I hate that. What a waste. I want to hear real hockey talk about the players, game analysis or the stats of the actual game...not that crap.

[@goaliecoachmike]

I lost some respect for Gretzky when he was on Bet MGM commercials. Pisses me off and I’m disgusted with all of the sanctioned betting.

[@Furens]

Talking about advertising, I bought TSN's streaming service for a month for World Juniors. So I paid whatever it was, call it $20 for the month. Of course, within the broadcasts there are commercials, that's a given. But before any channel would being streaming I would have to watch an additional ad, like on KZbin. There's never enough for these idiots, product be damned.

[@Dhemize]

I hate the NHL's current gung-ho kart before the horse obsession with making the most money possible lately. Obviously every organization has to make money but since 2020 the corporate greed has gotten out of hand

[@paules0099]

I became a fan of the NHL back in the 70's as a teen. What made me fall in love with the sport was Peter Puck, the animated character explaining the rules of hockey. Plus, Wheaties cereal put the NHL team logos on the back of box, which I took scissors and cut out and was my 1st collection! NHL is my favorite sport but, must say, they are losing me with their playoff format (should never have changed 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, etc), and now the digital ads! It's freaking annoying!

[@jbvol3]

Thank you for this video, and I hope someone within the NHL sees this. The break in 2020 was a kickstarter to ALL the ideas the NHL had made in regards to money. And people were so desperate for product during Quarantine that they allowed a lot to slide. "Oh no fans in the building means we need to get ad revenue through this, this and this..." But now? Fans are back in droves. Hockey is on prime television with stars, like you said, that are more marketable than maybe ever. Every sports league lost revenue during the lockdown. Only the NHL is pushing such aggressive ways to make a dollar. (Imagine if the NFL decided to put digital ads on the field at either side of the 50 yard line, changing every time they panned by.) It's time for them to realize this, see the numbers and figure it out. Stop chasing the advertisement so much so that you'll continue to have fans to advertise to.

[@adriansims1596]

I agree the board advertisements are distracting.

[@taylorbost7683]

I had a shot for every time he said money 😵‍💫

[@razvanzamfir1545]

RIP Taylor bost

[@brianjones7660]

@@razvanzamfir1545 under the affluence of incohol i see....🙃

[@christophercolby2202]

Shannon you are THG!!! Again, My opinion great perspective from the hockey fans! I have had conversations with fellow fans and we as a group feel the same. We see the $$$$ grab. Keep up the great tireless work!

[@backupgoalieangus5403]

100% agree. Time for the league to make sure it gets the basics right. Thanks for being a voice for the fans!

[@thomascapellini1306]

Don’t think I’ve ever bought a product because it was on a board advertisement

[@ryans413]

Vegas was not allowed to call themselves the Vegas Aces because of gambling but then the NHL shove a bunch of gambling adds at you non stop. Bunch of hypocrites.

[@Drainbamege]

To me local blackouts is by far the biggest blocker. I don’t mind paying money to watch my team play (when I’m already a half season ticket holder)But don’t make me pay a subscription to then just blackout the game.

[@alexjordan9370]

Couldn't agree more with your assessment Shannon! Keep it simple. Hockey as it is, at its core, is an amazing game. Don't need to tinker with it to the point it becomes a circus.

[@heddysteve7078]

Was just becoming a fan before the lockout. So many classic games with Gary thorn commentary. The Detroit Colorado rivalry alone made me a lifelong fan.

[@artystaar]

I listen to the RADIO broadcasts instead of watching TV for all the reasons you listed!!!

[@fantasticvoyage262]

The radio broadcasts are better quality than watching on TV.

[@catmelvin997]

Nike is the "official outfitter" of Major League Baseball, but Fanatics has made MLB's Nike-branded uniforms for all 30 teams since 2017, when it acquired Majestic. Fanatics also makes authentic NFL jerseys that also carry a Nike logo, which are sold online and in retail stores.

[@daddyo6416]

I wanted to cry during the skills competition, how did we get here.

[@grantwilson9161]

You just expressed everything that has made this 60 year NHL hockey fanatic who watched games (often multiple games) almost daily to now be an occasional, borderline indifferent, viewer. You're absolutely correct when you say, "They've taken the soul out of the game". Never thought that would happen... sad.

[@SaintCyrX]

They should have pre season exhibition games in random small town venues every season with tickets raffled off at local schools. You want to grow interest, create buzz and new fans. And give us one streaming service again (no blackouts).

[@romanwasilewski5446]

I watched both NHL and AHL skills and games. Whereas with the NHL I was saying ' lets get a move on ', the AHL was one skill to another. As for the games, the AHL was MUCH more wide open. More fun to watch. NHL was a big production and AHL was ' Let's do this'.

[@Jerbsinator]

With all the advertisements and then referees being absolutely horrendous and still being allowed to keep their jobs it's no wonder that I don't watch Hockey anymore.

[@little_buster4289]

They could have at least made the digital ads static. The animation is whats making them incredibly distracting.

[@RJKYEG]

There are so many common sense and business platitudes that warn against what the NHL is doing, for example: "A bird in hand is worth two in the bush." "It costs more to attract a new customer than to keep an existing one." "Don't shit where you eat."