CHICAGO, Ill – Look for the AHL to greatly increase brand awareness for their live game, pay per view website streaming coverage provided by NeuLion. The hope for increased game coverage via the NHL TV Network never materialized.
The NHL TV Network has greatly increased its distribution, as well as quality and amount of NHL-related programming.
One wonders if the AHL streaming of live games will eventually be provided for free. Central Hockey League games were streamed for free on NiFTy. B2 streams archived ECHL, IHL, USHL and NAHL games at no cost. Penn Atlantic’s boss, Jack Pennington tells me that they get as many as 25,000 viewers for live streaming of their games per weekend.
Minor hockey leagues are all hoping for some type of network TV game coverage. The advent of digital TV will increase the addition of “sub-channels”. Sub-channels have the same broadcast transmission power of regular broadcast TV stations. Additional broadcast channels will increase the need for content.
Unfortunately, current economic conditions have put a damper on most plans.
As of this date, the NiFTy / Central Hockey League broadband coverage contract has expired. Look for a big push by NiFTy to renew the deal. If they lose CHL hockey, NiFTy’s only remaining major client will be Arena Football2.
Live broadband coverage of sports is big. Advertising Age states that over 150 million will watch video on the Internet by 2010. One wonders why broadband networks don’t provide pre and post game hockey shows. The added exposure would help promote their brand and provide additional revenue opportunities.
At least one benefit exists when teams change ownership or move to another city. New owners sometimes hire new sportscasters. AHL-ready sportscasters include Jack Michaels (ECHL Aces), Josh Fisher (ECHL Wranglers), Dan Weiss (formerly ECHL Roadrunners) and Josh Bogorad (CHL Rayz).
Congrats to Josh Bogorad for being named CHL Sportscaster of the Year for the second year in a row.
Who does a better job of providing NHL TV coverage…The NHL TV Network or Versus? I’d welcome your thoughts.
Contact Tom.miller@prohockeynews.com
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