ESPN has decided not to match the offer from OLN to broadcast NHL games for the next couple of years (and up to the next 5 years). This is a great thing. ESPN was no longer actually interested in the NHL. They would do anything they could to bore or turn off their viewers. The entire broadcast was poor right from the start, starting with the choice of games to cover. The camera work was below par. The commentary was lacking. Why they were never able to watch a TSN or, even better, a Hockey Night In Canada show, is simply beyond me. Hockey Night In Canada is the best and I would just about watch any teams play on HNIC. The game becomes a REAL EVENT on HNIC, where on ESPN it seemed like it was filler. Gary Thorne was always trying to worship any "superstar" player in a particular game. Hopefully he will be staying with ESPN to do baseball games. OLN does not need him.
The only concern I may have will be getting games in HD. HDNet has not announced a deal to carry NHL games this season. There is a significant chance that any HD games on OLN will not be seen anywhere except on Comcast cable systems, which won't help me with my DirecTV service. Even our local Comcast cable does not yet have an HD package, so we would be out in the cold there as well. Nevermind that the system does not yet offer the NHL Center Ice package as well.
Still, turning their back on ESPN is a great move. ESPN has become more about style over substance. They even thought the NBA deal was going to be a big winner for them, but they have seen their NBA ratings continually come in lower than TNT's NBA ratings. ESPN needs to learn that viewers will go to the competition if they do not put on a good show. The only time ESPN wins is when they have paid their way into a monopoly...and even then it does not always work.
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