The NHL and Showtime are "finalizing an all-access show on teams in the conference final and the Stanley Cup Final" during the '16 Stanley Cup Playoffs, according to a source cited by Josh Cooper of YAHOO SPORTS. The series is "expected to run weekly during the last two rounds of the playoffs, and will have a similar format to HBO’s 24/7 series and EPIX’s 'Road to the NHL Winter Classic' and 'Road to the NHL Stadium Series.'" Showtime "should help increase the NHL’s visibility amongst premium channel subscribers" in the U.S. This "isn’t supposed to close the door with EPIX, and instead is designed to give the league another avenue to promote content on subscription networks" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/10).
BORDER WAR: The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Etan Vlessing wrote the lack of Canadian teams in this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs "promises NBC Sports a ratings bonanza that Canada's Sportsnet cable network can only dream of." Data from an Angus Reid poll showed that 16 American teams competing this year "means most Canadians could be tuning out." The survey showed 54% of regular Canadian NHL playoff watchers said that they will "view fewer games, or not watch at all, as no local team battles to represent Canada in the Stanley Cup playoffs." Only 30% said that they would "watch as much as in past years," like '15 when five Canadian teams made the post-season and two made it to the second round. Rogers is "now getting creative to promote this year's Stanley Cup playoff rounds without Canadian teams." Rogers President of Sportsnet & NHL Properties Scott Moore said, "We will focus on the stars and the stories of the playoffs." He emphasized "compelling playoff storylines, both on and off the ice, from American teams" like the Penguins, Blackhawks, Red Wings, Capitals and Kings (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 4/10).
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Several changes headlined by MLBAM have been rolled out since the fall
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STUDIO TIME: NHL Network last night debuted its new 1,200-square-foot studio space, which will serve as the home to “NHL Tonight” throughout the '16 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Coined “The Rink,” the dedicated hockey space features 14-foot walls etched with the names of the last 10 Stanley Cup Champions. It also has a 20-foot wide LED display on the back wall that can feature footage, stats or graphics and an 11-foot desk. An 84-inch monitor hangs within a 7x7-foot goal lined with lights along the crossbar. The net’s production and operations were moved to Secaucus, N.J., in September following the NHL signing a digital rights partnership with MLBAM the previous month. NHL Network began its postseason coverage last night with a preview of the Western Conference matchups (Ian Thomas, Staff Writer). USA TODAY's Kristen Shilton writes several changes headlined by MLBAM "have been rolled out since the fall, most notably changes to NHL.com and NHL.tv, but there hasn't been a lot of major differences on the TV side." The NHL said that it wanted to be in business with MLBAM "because of the organization's 'world-class technology' and it wanted to tap into the research and resources the group had to offer." It appears MLBAM has "lived up to the hype" with the new studio. The Rink "looks a lot like an old-school hockey arena, complete with 30-foot wooden arches lining the ceiling." It was clear when the NHL joined up with MLBAM that it was "looking to up its game and increase the experience fans had interacting with the brand." While some of the changes have "been difficult to get behind, this new studio has a lot of potential to make the connection between the audience and the game that much better" (USA TODAY, 4/12).
