I watch a lot of MLB Network. Its about 90% of the TV I actually watch. For some reason Time Warner Cable, in their infinite wisdom has decided to give me MLB Network, Fox Soccer Net, Big Ten Network, and about every worthless ESPN station. However, if I want the NHL Network I have to pay $10 more per month.
As I thought about how lame this situation is, I decided it really isn't. As much as I love hockey, the NHL Network is awful. Its a joke. All summer all they have been playing games from the 2011 Playoffs, that's it. What a joke. Not an old game from the 70s or 80s that can be replayed. Maybe find a day when its a Hall of Famer's birthday and show some of their best games, or run a special.
Not having original programming during the off-season is one thing, but essentially only having one show during the season is a joke. MLB Network has shows with former players (Intentional Talk with Kevin Millar) and instructional shows (Diamonds Demos) with former players like Andre Dawson and Cal Ripken Jr. and even current ones like Tommy Hanson and Aubrey Huff.
NHL has three people I have never heard of sitting in a poorly constructed studio talking dryly about the nights games...then they replay it all the next day until the other games start. If they ever want to grow that network they have to do something. Here is what the NHL Network has to do to right the ship:
-Get Jeremy Roenick his own show!! The guy is a loose cannon. You never know what he is going to say or do. He can do comedy. He might start crying. He might attack a fellow broadcaster, not physically, but you never know. Get him an hour a week with some dude who has been buried at CBC or TSN. I didn't even like the guy when he played, but ever since I never change the channel when Roenick is on, you never know what he will say or do.
-Replay games people want to see. I understand that replaying the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs is topical, but all day everyday is just lazy. There are hundreds of games that fans want to see. Too many to list, but here's a few I would like to see: Gretzky's five goal game, the five OT game between the Flyers and Penguins, and the entire series between the Canucks and Flames in 1994, which brings me to another idea.
-Play entire seven game series every night during the off-season. Start Monday and every night play the games in order. Great way to bring people in. Also in this day of DVR's and Tivo's people could record all seven and watch them in one or two days. I would definitely watch that.
-Pick up specials that teams run on their respective networks or websites. Canucks TV is one of the best, if not the best, source of info that is team specific. Play a special from Canucks TV on how they are remembering Rick Rypien, followed by a Fox Sports Detroit special on Pavel Datsyuk, followed by something from the Lightning on their turn around season last year. This is low cost, and variety.
-Start buying the rights to hockey movies. Miracle, The Mighty Ducks, Youngblood, and of course the greatest hockey movie of all-time Slap Shot. Weekend afternoons are perfect times to play these movies. Even put them on unedited after midnight. After a night out at the bar with some buddies, you bet your ass I am watching some Slap Shot.
These ideas won't sky-rocket the NHL Network into a ratings juggernaut. But if they started doing things like this, I would pony up the extra $10 a month to get it. As of right now there is no reason to pay extra money for something I can get online for free.
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