JACKSONVILLE, Fla – You just know that there are people sitting in the NBC offices in New York City going over the potential match-ups for the Stanley Cup Finals, hoping for some and putting the pins in the voodoo dolls of others. However, the way things are going these days for them, they might actually catch a break.
Let’s face it, there is only one league championship that is really immune from the beast that is ratings, the Super Bowl. People are going to watch the Super Bowl these days no matter who is in it. Hockey, baseball and basketball aren’t so lucky. A lot of their rating success depends on who ends up in the finals, simple fact for a US-based network. Ratings for a city like Phoenix in the finals are going to be higher than a Calgary. Ratings for a city like Los Angeles are going to be higher than a city like Phoenix.
Purely the nature of the best.
Which is why NBC is in pretty good shape right now. All three teams left in the East are in major TV markets and pretty much guarantee a nice rating for the network. Two New York area teams and Washington (as of this writing). Good ratings are pretty much guaranteed. Of course, NBC would love to have the Rangers/Washington winner in the finals but I am pretty sure that they will be satisfied with a team from Newark. Still in the area of the major northeastern media markets.
NBC is just hoping to luck out in the west. I’m sure they won’t admit it but you know that they (along with the league) would love to see the Los Angeles Kings in the finals. Simple fact like before, major media market. They might actually get hurt a little bit if the Lakers and/or Clippers keep going in the NBA playoffs but those teams share the same building and seem to, at least to this viewer from far away, work well together. One will likely support the other.
This isn’t meant to slight the Phoenix Coyotes. Far from it. In fact, they would make for some great stories, because most people, from what I have read, haven’t thought much of their chances all year. In fact, the best thing the NHL could have done right now is announce a possible buyer of the club. Hate to say it but it wouldn’t have looked good to have an NHL owned club playing for the Stanley Cup Finals. Phoenix could end up being a good human interest story. Ratings story….not so much.
Let’s just hope it is a fun finals. The worst thing that could happen is a series sweep.
Contact Kenneth.Holdren@prohockeynews.com
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