NHL & ABC-ESPN Team On “Appointment Viewing” Strategy

The NHL and ABC-ESPN "are taking another shot at drawing viewers, retooling the TV lineup for next season so fans know when to find hockey," according to the AP's Howard Fendrich. The '01-02 NHL schedule released yesterday includes "one major change and some minor ones designed to boost ratings that sagged" 5% on ESPN, 14% on ESPN2 and 15% on ABC during the regular-season from '99-00. Next season, ESPN will televise 25 of its 27 games on Wednesday nights, "rather than scattering them around the week." Last season, ESPN's games were on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. NHL COO Jon Litner: "For the first time, there will consistently be a national hockey night for this coming season. In the past, ESPN was not able to establish a consistent night due to programming conflicts." Fendrich adds ABC's five regular-season telecasts will all be on Saturdays. Also, "in an attempt to try to take advantage of NHL players participating" in the '02 Winter Olympics in February, ABC will air two NHL games in January and three in March. Last season, all of ABC's broadcasts came after February's All-Star Game (AP, 7/12). ABC begins its coverage January 5 with three regional games (SportsTicker, 7/11). ESPN's Wednesday games are being tagged "Hockey Night in the U.S.A." ESPN Senior VP Mark Quenzel: "The Wednesday schedule will provide our audience with a new opportunity for season-long appointment viewing" (NEWSDAY, 7/12).

THE ONCE MIGHTY CANADIENS: In Montreal, Pat Hickey writes the Canadiens have been "reduced to little more than a footnote" for CBC, as the team will be featured in a team record low seven games on the net's "Hockey Night in Canada" this coming season (Montreal GAZETTE, 7/12).

Print This Article