And They're Off

If you, like me, have been critical of the NHL's shortsighted decision to go with NBC instead of ESPN the past couple of seasons, then your frustration probably reached new levels on Saturday.

Here's the scene. Game 5: Ottawa and Buffalo heading to overtime in what could be a series clinching win for the Senators. While this is great from a hockey fan's perspecitve, NBC execs don't exactly see it that way. That's because they're committed to televising the Preakness, the second leg of Horse Racing's Triple Crown. The two events are now going to overlap.

The decision is simple for the Peacock. We're off to the Preakness. Why? Because it gets better ratings and brings in far more advertising money than the NHL. Fair enough. I can understand the rationale.

What I can't understand is why the problem even exists. Because the ONLY reason that the hockey game was being played at 2pm Eastern time (11am Pacific) is that NBC wanted it that way. And that's why you didn't get your Hockey NIGHT in Canada. NBC wanted an afternoon game, so they got it.

"Well, that makes sense," you respond. "NBC probably pays big money for the TV rights, so they have the right to influence the schedule." That's when I inform you that NBC pays absolutely nothing for the rights. In fact, the only way the NHL gets money from NBC is if the Peacock makes money off of hockey. Then they throw a few coins into the NHL's hat as they pass by a begging Bettman on the corner.

Did we miss the overtime here in Canada? No. We still had CBC.

But here's why you should be pissed off. Because unlike NBC, YOU ARE CURRENTLY PAYING THE NHL MONEY FOR BROADCAST RIGHTS. CBC pays tens-of-millions of dollars every year (soon it will be $100 million/year) for the right to televise Hockey Night in Canada. Guess who funds CBC? You do, Joe Taxpayer. But despite the fact that CBC is lining the NHL's pockets and NBC pays NOTHING, Bettman has allowed our friends south of the border to dictate the schedule.

So let me get this straight. NBC decides to cut to the Preakness because horse racing makes them more money than hockey. So why would the NHL not allow CBC to have the final say on the time of game 5? After all, the Corp is paying the bills so shouldn't they be given the right to make some of those millions back by airing the game at the most lucrative time?

It's an absolute joke. To allow a station to alter your schedule at the most important time of the year and then they don't even air the conclusion of the game... well, quite frankly it's exactly what you saw those beautiful equines drop all over the track at the Preakness on Saturday.