Inside the Glass Coming to the Olympics

The great Richard Sandomir of the NY Times, a building I’ve been in before, has this story:

NBC’s production of Olympic hockey next February in Vancouver will include its “Inside the Glass” feature, with Pierre McGuire analyzing games from between the teams’ benches. It has been a part of the network’s N.H.L. coverage since 2006.

“Pierre makes it work at a level above anyone else,” said David Neal, the executive vice president of NBC Olympics. “He has a vast knowledge of the sport, so he can read and interpret the snippets of conversations that he hears between coaches and players, and their body language. It’s not a reporter’s position, but a third voice in the game. Our viewers have come to expect it.”

Neal said that the addition of the camera position at General Motors Place, the primary Olympic hockey facility, was approved “without a ripple” a while ago by the International Ice Hockey Federation; the Vancouver Organizing Committee and Olympic Broadcasting Services, a part of the International Olympic Committee. Both NBC and CTV, in Canada, will use the camera position.

All the United States men’s and women’s games will be carried live, mostly on MSNBC, with the rest on USA.

Pierre McGuire will work for CTV if it comes into conflict with say, a USA-Canada game.

NBC Hypes Game 5 Coverage

NEW YORK – June 4, 2009 – NBC Sports will broadcast Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins, Saturday, 8 p.m. ET from the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. In the first Stanley Cup Final rematch in 25 years, the defending champion Detroit Red Wings lead the series 2-1 with Game 4 in Pittsburgh tonight. NBC Sports, the network home of the National Hockey League, is broadcasting up to five games in the series, all in primetime (see schedule below). 

Mike “Doc” Emrick (play-by-play), Eddie Olczyk (analyst) and Pierre McGuire (inside-the-glass analyst) call the action. McGuire will pull double duty in the on-location studio show alongside Mike Milbury and former NHL netminder Darren Pang. NBC Sports’ coverage is produced by Sam Flood, the architect of the “Inside the Glass” analyst position. 

The matchup features some of the NHL’s greats, including Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal against Detroit’s Marian Hossa, Henrik Zetterberg, and Nicklas Lidstrom. Hossa skated for Pittsburgh against Detroit last year. Detroit has won 11 Stanley Cup championships in their long history as an NHL “Original Six” franchise and the Penguins, two (1991 & 92). Twenty-one current Red Wings players (total of 40 times) have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup compared with just five for the Penguins. 

MCGUIRE ON THE SERIES: “If the Penguins win tonight, I think it becomes a home ice series and goes the duration.” 

MCGUIRE ON THE PENGUINS: “They are much more mature both mentally and athletically than last year. They have better chemistry. But the X-factor is Jordan Staal. He has to be better.” 

MCGUIRE ON THE RED WINGS: “The problem for Pittsburgh is that Detroit is so poised, so professional, that Pittsburgh has to play an almost perfect game, particularly in goal, to beat them.” 

STANLEY CUP FINAL ON NBC SPORTS DELIVERS HIGHEST VIEWERSHIP IN 7 YEARS: The Stanley Cup Final on NBC Sports is off to the best network start to the event in seven years in both viewership and in household ratings according to Nielsen Media Research. Games 1 and 2 on NBC Sports (Saturday and Sunday night) averaged 4.87 million viewers, the best since 2002 (Detroit-Carolina, 5.35 million, Games 3 & 4) and 21 percent ahead of last year (4.04 million, Games 3 & 4, Wednesday and Saturday night). The two-game 2.8 average rating and 5 share was up 17 percent over NBC’s first two games in 2008 (2.4/4), and was again the best network start for the Stanley Cup since 2002 (3.4/7). NBC Sports’ Game 2 coverage of the Stanley Cup Final ranked No. 6 (tied) among all primetime telecasts last week in Adults 18-49. 

REMAINING STANLEY CUP FINAL BROADCAST SCHEDULE 
Game 4 Thursday, June 4 Detroit at Pittsburgh Versus 8 p.m. ET 
Game 5 Saturday, June 6 Pittsburgh at Detroit NBC 8 p.m. ET 
Game 6 * Tuesday, June 9 Detroit at Pittsburgh NBC 8 p.m. ET 
Game 7 * Friday, June 12 Pittsburgh at Detroit NBC 8 p.m. ET 

Puck the Media Interview: Daryl Reaugh on Finding New Words, Sid vs. Alex and The Tragically Hip

It is no secret around these parts that we think Daryl Reaugh is the NHL’s most engrossing analyst.  Never one to be cliche, always willing to be forthright and honest, and a never-ending laundry list of synonyms for the words we puckheads are way too tired of hearing again and again.  We traded paint with the man they call “Razor” and we hope you enjoy it.

Hey, Maybe Bruce Dowbiggin and Chris Botta Have the Same Source!

Bruce Dowbiggin has done a solid job picking up where William Houston left off at The Globe & Mail.  He has more on the coming NHL/NBC extension:

Now, NBC and the NHL are set to announce an extension to their relationship for another two years, past the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and Stanley Cup playoffs.

It will likely be a continuation of the no-money-down/split-revenues-after-costs arrangement that has existed since the two sides fell into each other’s arms after the NHL lockout in 2004-05.

At that time, NBC got an inexpensive property to fill out its sports schedule, while the NHL got the perfume of network respectability after locking out its players and fans for a complete season.

We’ll see if there’s an announcement today.  So far all we’ve got coming up is an NBC hype post.

Your TV Guide and Open Thread For Game 4. By the Way, Big Interview Coming Tomorrow

8:00 PM ET, Detroit vs. Pittsburgh, Game 4 (DET Leads 2-1)

National TV (US): VERSUS (HD)
Play by Play: Mike Emrick
Color: Eddie Olczyk
Reporters: Chris Simpson and Bob Harwood

(Note: Hockey Central will in fact air after the game directly tonight)

National TV (CANADA): CBC
Play by Play: Jim Hughson
Color: Craig Simpson
Reporters: Scott Oake and Elliotte Friedman

Take This For What It’s Worth, But We Usually Trust Chris Botta: NHL and NBC to Re-Up For Two Years?

This comes from his Twitter feed:

NHL and NBC finalizing new two-year agreement.

There was no further info backing it up, and it is on a Twitter post, but we tend to trust what Chris Botta usually says.  However, the league and NBC have never agreed to two-years since the initial agreement in 2004, so we shall see.  The NHL is currently in it’s fourth season on NBC.

Botta has a little more on NYI Point Blank:

A broadcast industry source told me the NHL and NBC are finalizing a new two-year deal and could have an announcement soon.

Not really much more, but you know where he’s coming from here.

gunnar stahl is my personal jesus.

For those that know me, even in a vague and bare sense, get that I am composed almost entirely of pop culture. Sure there’s blood and organs. But then there is Heathers and True Life marathons. Quoting Empire Records in everyday conversation and knowing such bits of information like “Johnny Depp plays slide guitar on the Oasis track ‘Fade-In Out.’” Like so many in my age bracket, there is a bit of an obsession with the Might Ducks trilogy. Specifically, the man and the legend; Gunnar Stahl. The Staal Bros. had to change the spelling of their name as not to infringe upon the greatness of Gunnar. Just look at this majestic mane of hair that Kris Letang tries to replicate;

I must confess I am THAT person who at hockey, during a lull, will yell FLYING V or KNUCKLEPUCK. These statements are only appreciated by a small percentage of those attending the game. I’ve snapped at goalies “get back in the pipes!” threatening to tie them to the posts like Greg Goldberg. I think the word “cake eater” needs to be part of the lexicon. The feminist in me loves the fact that the franchise had some rad chicks who relied on talent and not batting their eyelashes to get the job done.

Oh look. A grown up Gunnar Stahl. Real talk time; how many of you would still hit it?

The world needs another hockey movie. And one where alcoholism isn’t a major plot point. My dream day hockey movie would have a script written by super team of awesomeness; Tina Fey, Mindy Kaling, Kevin Smith, Joss Whedon and Seth Rogen. The cast would have any of the following peeps (get ready to IMDB); Tina and Mindy, Jenna Fischer, Jim Krasinski, Rose McGowan, Lindsay Lohan, Paul Rudd, Kat Dennings, Henry Rollins, Emma Stone, Monica Keena, Ethan Embry, Aisha Tyler and maybe if he is available and done being lame; John Cusack. Essentially, it needs to be a crew of hilariousness with the ability to improv, deliver one liners and provide hours of dvd extras.

Also, no one from the Twilight franchise is allowed to be involved. But the hotties from the new Star Trek are welcome to audition.

Seth Rogen is a package deal because he can come with Judd Apatow, Jay Baruchel, Jason Segel, Jonah Hill, Romany Malco, Jane Lynch etc.  The writers, well Smith at least gets hockey, and the ladies wouldn’t let it all melt into a boys club. Picking a director is picky. See this hockey movie in my head is a mostly light hearted comedy, so perhaps the dude who directed Juno, home skillet. And then Quentin Tarantino can come in and direct one scene or something. But the best fit is Jay Chandrasenkar. Final answer.

This is what I do during the day. I cast non existent movies. And sometimes, when I am extra crazy, I plan out a soundtrack too.

Early VERSUS College Football Schedule

This is the perfect topic for late night posting.  Here’s their early schedule of Mountain West and Big 12 games, more will be added later:

Sept. 12 - Texas vs. Wyoming, 2:30 PM ET
Sept. 19 – Duke vs. Kansas, 12:00 PM ET
Sept. 19 – Florida St. vs. BYU, 7:00 PM ET
Sept. 26 – Cornell vs. Yale, 12:00 PM ET 
Sept. 26 – TBD Pac-10 Game, 7:30 PM ET
Oct. 3 – TBD Pac-10 Game, 7:00 PM ET
Oct. 10 – TBD Big 12 Game
Oct. 17 – Princeton vs. Brown, 12:30 PM ET
Oct. 17 – Colorado St. vs. TCU, 4:00 PM ET
Oct. 17 – TBD Pac-10 Game, 7:30 PM ET 
Oct. 24 – Air Force vs. Utah, 4:00 PM ET
Oct. 24 – TCU vs. BYU, 7:30 PM ET
Oct. 31 – UNLV vs. TCU, 4:00 PM ET
Nov. 7 – TCU vs. San Diego St., 4:00 PM ET
Nov. 14 – TBD Pac-10 Game, 7:00 PM ET 
Nov. 21 – Harvard vs. Yale, 12:00 PM ET 
Nov. 21 – San Diego St. vs. Utah, 4:00 PM ET
Nov. 21 – TBD Pac-10 Game, 7:30 PM ET or 10:00 PM ET 

VERSUS will add 3 more Big 12, and 2 Ivy League games to the mix, as well as some possible Division II games.  VERSUS College Football coverage became quite legit last season, so we’ll see how they build on that.  It’d be big if they could land a bowl game.

Sorry We’re Late on This: VERSUS Scores Highest Rated and Most-Watched Telecast Ever. Ever.

NEW YORK, N.Y. (June 3, 2009)-VERSUS, the exclusive cable television home of the National Hockey League (NHL), garnered a 2.6 national HH rating and averaged 2,955,348 viewers for its Game 3 telecast of the 2009 Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday, June 2, with the Pittsburgh Penguin’s 4-2 defeat over the Detroit Red Wings at Mellon Arena.  The game, which peaked at a 3.5 HH rating between 10:15 and 10:30 p.m., was the highest-rated and most-watched Stanley Cup Final game on cable since 2002.  VERSUS, for the 8:00-10:45 p.m. time period, was the most-viewed cable network in the country and the top-rated network overall (broadcast and cable) among all key male demos.                      

The 2.6 national HH rating is the best rating ever in the history of the network, beating both Lance Armstrong’s final ride (7/24/05) and Game 5 between Detroit/Chicago in the Conference Finals (5/27/09) which both earned a 2.1 HH rating.  Among average viewers, the Game 3 telecast topped the network’s previous high set during Game 2 of the 2008 Stanley Cup Final (2,608,371).  VERSUS’ Game 3 telecast showed a 37-percent increase in HH rating (2.6 vs 1.9) and 19-percent growth (2,955,348 vs 2,479,977) in average viewership over the average of Games 1 and 2 of the 2008 Stanley Cup Final between the Red Wings and Penguins.               

Locally, VERSUS garnered a 15.1 HH rating in Detroit and a 26.1 HH rating in Pittsburgh, making VERSUS the top-rated network (broadcast and cable) for the time period in both markets.  VERSUS was also a top 5 cable network for the time period in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Washington, DC and Philadelphia, among others.                 

VERSUS entered the 2009 Stanley Cup Final with tremendous momentum based on ratings and viewership gains in the regular season and through each round of the playoffs.  The network’s coverage of the 2009 Conference Final round was the highest-rated third round on cable since 1998 with HH ratings up 25 percent and average viewership up 30 percent from 2008.  The third-round growth came on the heels of VERSUS airing the highest-rated Conference Semifinals on cable since 1997 and seeing 32-percent viewership growth in that round, 22-percent viewership growth in the Conference Quarterfinals and a 21-percent increase in viewership during the regular season. 

Look, We Just Can’t Muster Up Your Anger

 

Sports Soup Host Matt Iseman

Look, we feel a little responsible for not telling you about the fact that VERSUS aired Sports Soup after Game 3 of the Penguins-Red Wings (By the way, Eddie Olczyk would like you to know THERE WERE SIX PLAYERS ON THE ICE FOR THE PENGUINS!), then Hockey Central at 11.  Because we totally knew, and just kinda’ dropped the ball on it.  We figured you guys would find out anyway and then all would be well.  Maybe a few complaints, but in the end, nothing crazy.

Well I was wrong.  Turns out you are mostly really annoyed about this.  Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times-Union leads the angry parade:

As if hockey fans didn’t have enough reasons to hate Versus, the network with the corny name gave them another tonight.

After the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 4-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals, the Versus crew told viewers that they would be back in a half hour with “Hockey Central,” its postgame show.

A half hour? Why? Apparently the network savors its “Sports Soup” program so much that it’s willing to lose its hockey audience to air this week’s episode. Hockey fans were left looking for the NHL Network, which did provide postgame coverage.

You can read all 11 (mostly pissed) comments here.  But after the jump, we’ll tell you why this isn’t the massive deal that you think it is.  Cause don’t you all love being told you’re wrong?