NBC averaged a 1.8 overnight rating yesterday from 3:00-5:45pm ET for its Game 2 telecast of Blackhawks-Wild Western Conference Semifinal Series, down slightly from a 1.9 overnight for the comparable Bruins-Rangers game in '13. Last year's conference semifinal round was played two weeks later due to the NHL lockout. Meanwhile, NBC's Game 2 coverage Saturday of Bruins-Canadiens drew a 1.4 rating from 12:30-3:30pm, flat compared to Blackhawks-Red Wings in '13 (Karp & Carpenter, THE DAILY)
NEW CANADIAN ORDER: In Boston, Fluto Shinzawa noted the CBC in past seasons "called the shots on the playoff schedule." The net "had first dibs on its preferred series, especially those featuring Canadian teams who could play in Saturday’s Hockey Night in Canada sweet spot." But that deference has "gone missing as the transition begins from CBC to Rogers Communications, which will be Canada’s national carrier" starting in '14-15 (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/4).
I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW: SPORTS ON EARTH's Aaron Gordon writes HD broadcasts have "so fundamentally transformed hockey that, if I didn't know any better, I would think the NHL had a hand in inventing" the technology. This was "no minor consideration" for the NHL. Very few people "think of hockey as a great sport to watch on TV," partially because "hockey isn't all that popular" in general. But another factor is that, "historically, hockey hasn't been any fun to watch on television." Now that people are "beginning to pay attention to the sport again, they might be noticing it's a more enjoyable viewing experience than ever." HD "reveals what hockey fans have known all along: structurally, the game is very conducive to a great TV experience." Its pacing is "largely encouraging of modern viewing habits." Combine this with "great commentators who are rarely forced to fill dead time, and you have a viewing experience tailor-made for the modern sporting landscape." The worst thing going for hockey is that "it is, in every respect, the NBA's direct competitor" (SPORTSONEARTH.com, 5/5).
