Wings will not host Joe Vision tomorrow

by Christy on Jun 8, 2009 3:23 PM CDT Comment 12 comments

News came out today courtesy of Bill Shea at Crain's Detroit Business that the Wings will be unable to host a Joe Vision tomorrow night when the Wings have a chance to win their second straight Stanley Cup.

A source familiar with the negotiations, who agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity, said the National Hockey League refused to let the team air with the NBC or CBC broadcast of the game at the arena.

Last year’s Game 6 used the CBC feed, which the NHL didn’t reject.

A near-sellout of Joe Louis could shave a ratings point off the local television ratings measurement, and such ratings are used to establish advertising rates.

Each ratings point represents 19,270 households in the Detroit market.

The refusal to allow the team to either the game was likely a joint decision by the league and networks, the source said.

There will still be Cafe Vision -- a party at Hockeytown Cafe where fans can watch the game inside or outside on the patio. The Wings hosted Joe Vision last year for Game 6 in Pittsburgh and the event has been known to draw up to 15,000 fans over the years.

The party outside Mellon Arena was also called off for Games 1, 2, 5, and 7. Pittsburgh fans were able to watch the game on the big screen outside the rink for Games 3 and 4 because those games were shown on Versus.

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embarrassing

Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jun 8, 2009 3:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

very embarrassing. they’d let pittsburgh do it.

by Whoabot on Jun 8, 2009 4:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

NBC is wrong for the NHL. Not allowing Joe Vision and feeds outside Mellon Arena is not how you are going to go and make fans happy. If your ratings are so precious… then take roll call at Joe Vision and Mellon Arena.

by dewman8810 on Jun 8, 2009 5:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Lame…I still recall going to the Joe for the close-out of the 98 Cup, by the end of the game, the noise was approaching levels similar to what it would have been had the game actually been in Detroit.

I understand the almighty TV imperative…but it’s not as if all those fans who would have gone to the Joe will go home and watch the game individually. It only takes a couple of Nielsen ratings box owning fans to go hit up a bar to experience the social thrill of watching your team win the Cup with a delirious crowd to screw up the NHL’s brilliant plan, though…

by ahtrap on Jun 8, 2009 5:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

EVERYBODY REMEMBER WHAT NBC IS DOING

I want everyone in Detroit to remember what NBC is doing as far as not allowing the game to be shown at the Joe. Same thing with the NHL. After the playoffs, we should pick a week and NOONE watches NBC or any of its offspring, like MSLSD (MSNBC). That will get their attention

by the mongoose on Jun 8, 2009 8:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Even better

I hope all the Michigan businesses that advertise on NBC keep it in mind! Pull your money!

by wtpclc on Jun 10, 2009 2:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

contact info for NBC executives

So you can respectfully express your disapproval:

NBC comment line 212-664-2333
NBC: 1-818-840-4444

Jeff Zucker 212-664-4444
jeff.zucker@nbcuni.com
President NBC Entertainment
c/o NBC-TV
3000 West Alameda Ave.
Burbank., CA 91523

Dick Ebersol
212-664-2014
dick.ebersol@nbcuni.com

Ken Schanzer
212-664-2014
ken.schanzer@nbcuni.com

Brian Walker, Senior Director at NBC Sports can be reached at brian.walker@nbcuni.com

Adam Freifeld, Director of Communications at NBC Sports can be reached at adam.freifeld@nbcuni.com

Mike McCarley, VP Communications and Marketing at NBC Universal Sports & Olympics can be reached at Mike.McCarley@nbcuni.com

Lyndsay Iorio, Communications Coordinator at NBC Sports can be reached at Lyndsay.iorio@nbcuni.com

Kathy Connors, Manager, Sports Communications at NBC Sports can be reached at kathy.connors@nbcuni.com

by Jenny D on Jun 8, 2009 10:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

NHL, not NBC

the National Hockey League refused to let the team air with the NBC or CBC broadcast of the game at the arena.

That means to me just what it says, that NHL, not NBC or CBC, doesn’t want Joevision. Incredibly stupid, if you ask me, but then I’d say the same about a lot of NHL’s decisions in the past several years.

by bleep bloop on Jun 8, 2009 11:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m betting that NHL has to get permission from NBC> If they could do it when the game is on Vs, the it’s all NBC greed.

by wtpclc on Jun 10, 2009 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is really stupid

Just when it seems like things are getting better after the passing of Bill Wirtz, the NHL goes and does this. Very short sighted.

by NKLHD on Jun 9, 2009 7:37 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The dinosaurs...

All we get from the once major networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) anymore is garbage reality tv and poorly covered sporting events. Hockey fans in Detroit will tune in on CBC rather than watch the game on NBC (though the delayed game is sometimes worth a quick flip of channels to catch a play the second time around). Why detract from the playoff atmosphere by trying to force the fans to watch the game at home on NBC – it won’t happen…

This also reminds me of the poor network coverage of the Tour de France, the Olympics,…! Go Versus and CBC!

Glad to live in Detroit where at least we have options!

by who watches nbc? on Jun 9, 2009 2:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

When will TV stop running sports?

I am so tired of every major sport having to bow down to TV. I remember when the game times were actually picked by home teams. I know, I’m dreaming. it won’t happen until money stops ruling our world, but I am so tired of TV controlling everything. Detroit needs this. Think of all teh revenue those people would have brought to downtown, not to mention the fun. You can’t tell me that NBC needs to line their pockets more than Detroit needs it to stay afloat.

by wtpclc on Jun 10, 2009 3:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs