Hank Balling: Let’s Talk About the NHL’s Ratings Problem

Get woke, go broke

More travel is more environmental damage. Stretch out the schedule so teams can ride electric buses. Switch to floor hockey so they don't need giant buildings maintaining ice while comfortable for people in tshirts and hoodies. Quit telling fans they "have to" have their already WAY overpriced beverage poured into a disposable cup because...uh...reasons...

But yeah, free pirate sites over cable any and every day. Not enough ads on every available surface that they expect me to pay to see the ads?

I'm all about it, but Pittsburgh can stay in The Southeast with Washington and Philadelphia.

If the Dallas Cowboys can be East not South, and the Steelers in the North with the Bills in the East, then you can switch Pittsburgh and Carolina just because.

I like it. Still doubt they break up the Penn teams, but it would make more sense.

Instead of division realignment, reduce the games with opposite conference from 32 to 16. Play each opposite conference teams once a year, 8 home and 8 away. The next season flip the home and away games.

Keep the 3 games against foes of your conference's other division (24 total). 42 games left so play each division opponent 6 times instead of 3 or 4.

Instead of division realignment, reduce the games with opposite conference from 32 to 16. Play each opposite conference teams once a year, 8 home and 8 away. The next season flip the home and away games.

Keep the 3 games against foes of your conference's other division (24 total). 42 games left so play each division opponent 6 times instead of 3 or 4.
- boilermaker100

I get the reasoning, but relocated fans would get royally fooked.

Good blog. The NHL is really bad at a lot of things they do. They need to get rid of Bettman and bring someone in with fresh ideas,like this. The regional blackouts needed to go years ago. Even the ESPN deal has its issues. Putting games on TNT and whatever else randomly is stupid.

buncha peckers

I don't think division rivalries have anything to do with ratings. I think division rivalry means more to the in person crowd. Maybe in the playoffs I'd say a divison rival could bring in people, but, honestly, the people that really matters to (all of us) are already watching. I have never heard someone who wasn't already a hockey nut talk about a divional matchup.

The reason the NHL has zero national appeal in the U.S. anymore is because it is no longer a violent sport. The American audience has always and will always want vicious hits and fights. The NHL is firmly entrenched as a regional U.S. sport and a national Canadian sport. They should focus there.

Edit: Also, when over 50% of the league makes the playoffs every season, and you have marketed your playoffs as special for decades, why would anyone but the most avid hockey fans care about any games before March?
The NBA has this problem in their own right.

I don't think division rivalries have anything to do with ratings. I think division rivalry means more to the in person crowd. Maybe in the playoffs I'd say a divison rival could bring in people, but, honestly, the people that really matters to (all of us) are already watching. I have never heard someone who wasn't already a hockey nut talk about a divional matchup.

The reason the NHL has zero national appeal in the U.S. anymore is because it is no longer a violent sport. The American audience has always and will always want vicious hits and fights. The NHL is firmly entrenched as a regional U.S. sport and a national Canadian sport. They should focus there.

Edit: Also, when over 50% of the league makes the playoffs every season, and you have marketed your playoffs as special for decades, why would anyone but the most avid hockey fans care about any games before March?
The NBA has this problem in their own right.
- lacaprup

the nhl is also not a big betting sport at all.

NHL marketing department blows.

I have a feeling we have seen the last of the Apple. I hear he got a new computer and doesn’t remember his password anymore and doesn’t know what email address is tied to his account.

RIP 🍎

I'm all about it, but Pittsburgh can stay in The Southeast with Washington and Philadelphia.

If the Dallas Cowboys can be East not South, and the Steelers in the North with the Bills in the East, then you can switch Pittsburgh and Carolina just because.
- jmatchett383

That was by far the toughest decision in the league. It's either split those two up, or take a wild card like you said

Get woke, go broke
- Newgod77

I don’t think any of these theme nights have done anything positive for the league. The only publicity it has gotten was mostly perceived as bad. If someone has a differing opinion just let it be. Not everyone needs to believe in what you believe

I don't think division rivalries have anything to do with ratings. I think division rivalry means more to the in person crowd. Maybe in the playoffs I'd say a divison rival could bring in people, but, honestly, the people that really matters to (all of us) are already watching. I have never heard someone who wasn't already a hockey nut talk about a divional matchup.

The reason the NHL has zero national appeal in the U.S. anymore is because it is no longer a violent sport. The American audience has always and will always want vicious hits and fights. The NHL is firmly entrenched as a regional U.S. sport and a national Canadian sport. They should focus there.

Edit: Also, when over 50% of the league makes the playoffs every season, and you have marketed your playoffs as special for decades, why would anyone but the most avid hockey fans care about any games before March?
The NBA has this problem in their own right.
- lacaprup

I dont think violence is necessarily the driver, it's intensity. Soccer and basketball aren't inherently violent and they've seen a good bit of growth in the past 10 years.

Rivalries create intensity and animosity. Playing familiar teams would create that

buncha peckers
- TheSabresTaco

Always chirpin’

I don’t think any of these theme nights have done anything positive for the league. The only publicity it has gotten was mostly perceived as bad. If someone has a differing opinion just let it be. Not everyone needs to believe in what you believe
- IndianaSabresFan

The NFL and NBA have instituted similar initiatives without a 22% drop in viewership.

Last night's "Choose Love" anti-racism night isn't moving the needle in terms of pushing people away imo. These are foundational problems.

Also, I can't imagine having a problem with last night's theme given what this city experienced last year

I dont think violence is necessarily the driver, it's intensity. Soccer and basketball aren't inherently violent and they've seen a good bit of growth in the past 10 years.

Rivalries create intensity and animosity. Playing familiar teams would create that
- Hank Balling

Bring back 6 games against divisional teams... Why the fvck do we only play Toronto 3 times and only once at home. League is brain dead.

We dont need to be playing the Islanders, Philly, Pittsburgh etc. the same amount of games as our divisional foes.

Bring back 6 games against divisional teams... Why the fvck do we only play Toronto 3 times and only once at home. League is brain dead
- DirtyDan

That was the basis for my format

6 games against 7 teams in division
4 games against 8 teams in NWD
1 game against 8 crossover division opponents

Keeps an 82-game schedule while increasing rivalries

The NFL and NBA have instituted similar initiatives without a 22% drop in viewership.

Last night's "Choose Love" anti-racism night isn't moving the needle in terms of pushing people away imo. These are foundational problems.

Also, I can't imagine having a problem with last night's theme given what this city experienced last year
- Hank Balling

I don’t think they are really helping or hurting. And I had no problem with last nights theme. Kind of liked the poem reading at the beginning. But I did turn the game off because Buffalo didn’t show up.

22% drop in viewership. Is that directly tied to the new tv deals they have?

Hank you must not have heard

Everyone gets a trophy

Everyone is marginalized

Everyone is racist

Everyone is oppressed

Everyone is a hooker

Hank you must not have heard

Everyone gets a trophy

Everyone is marginalized

Everyone is racist

Everyone is oppressed

Everyone is a hooker
- BeadyEyedDouche

Everyone gets a line of Blow.

I don’t think they are really helping or hurting. And I had no problem with last nights theme. Kind of liked the poem reading at the beginning. But I did turn the game off because Buffalo didn’t show up.

22% drop in viewership. Is that directly tied to the new tv deals they have?
- IndianaSabresFan

Lot of speculation with no real answers. Anecdotally, it sure seems like a lot of people here stream games rather than pay for cable.

I think a lot of people in the 20-40 range would pay to watch their home team if they could do so without paying for cable.

$12/m for a Sabre pass vs $60/m for cable that you don't watch

No need to make it that complicated, the divisions themselves are fine.

Play each team outside the division once: 24 games

Play each team in your division 8 times, plus play one “rival” team in your division 10 times: 58 games

Playoffs: top 4 in each division qualify, 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3; winners play each other for division title, each division can have its own little trophy. Finally, the 4 division playoff winners would be ranked by reg season record with 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3 in the SC semis. The last 2 standing play in the SCF

This would significantly increase rivalries while also reducing travel costs. Easy, peasy.

Lot of speculation with no real answers. Anecdotally, it sure seems like a lot of people here stream games rather than pay for cable.

I think a lot of people in the 20-40 range would pay to watch their home team if they could do so without paying for cable.

$12/m for a Sabre pass vs $60/m for cable that you don't watch
- Hank Balling

I paid directv’s stupid price for the nhl package from 2005 till about 2015 or 2016. The suck finally set in and I cancelled it. Now I will put a Sabres game on if it’s on a channel I already pay for but I’m not get the nhl package ever again. Even if they do light it up again.