Your Announcers and Open Thread for Wings-Preds

Detroit vs. Nashville, 7PM, VERSUS
Play by Play: John Forslund
Color: Darren Eliot
Reporter: Charissa Thompson

NOTE: Darren McCarty will be on Hockey Central.

NHL Continues Ratings Lead in Philadelphia, Falls Behind in Washington, Continues Losing in Bay Area

Our pal Paulsen at Sports Media Watch has a great report on Comcast’s local sports network ratings through mid-November.  Here are some highlights:

In the NHL, the Flyers lead the way with a 2.3 rating for their games on CSN Philadelphia, up 19% from last year.

Behind the Flyers are the Blackhawks on CSN Chicago (1.7, up 67%) and Capitals on CSN Mid-Atlantic (1.1, down 3%). The Sharks round out the NHL presence with a 1.0 on CSN California, up 5% from last season.

Head-to-head, the Flyers are more than doubling the 76ers in television ratings, while the Wizards and Bulls are trouncing the Capitals and Blackhawks, respectively. Somewhat surprisingly, the Kings and Warriors — both recent cellar dwellers — are outdrawing the Sharks, who sit atop the NHL standings.

It does surprise me that the Warriors and Kings do beat out the Sharks, but San Jose has never quite shown it self as much as far as TV viewers as it has in the arena attendance dep’t.  Also, for all the promotion it does, you’d think the Blackhawks would be closing the gap on the Bulls a bit further.

This is Going to Be Legen… Wait For It…

TSN and Anthem Entertainment Group have confirmed that Neil Peart, renowned drummer of legendary rock band Rush, will record a special rendition of The Hockey Theme, the iconic theme song originally written by Delores Claman in 1968.

Peart is widely regarded as the world’s most accomplished and most-respected drummer/percussionist. As the drummer and primary lyricist for the trio, Peart has recorded 18 studio albums with Rush which have sold over 40 million units worldwide. Along with his band mates, Peart has been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.

In addition to assembling a team of top recording engineers and musicians to assist on the recording, Peart has commissioned DW Drums to create a special hockey-themed drum kit specifically for his unique version of the song.

Peart’s version of the theme song will be used during NHL broadcasts on both TSN and RDS throughout the remainder of the NHL season. Details on when the song will debut will be announced at a later date.

As Peart explains, “having started out as a Canadian kid who skated on his ankles, and never made a hockey team, it is particularly sweet to be invited to be a part of this national institution – if not on skates, then on drums, performing Canada’s ‘second national anthem.’ At last I’ve made the Big Leagues!”

“To have a music legend and a member of Canada’s rock royalty like Neil Peart record his version of The Hockey Theme speaks volumes about the song’s place in psyche of hockey fans across the country and around the world,” said Mark Milliere, Vice-President, Production, TSN.  “It is an honour to have Neil put his rock spin on this iconic tune and we’re extremely excited to add his interpretation to our NHL ON TSN broadcasts.”

Monty Python Mondays

End of the Week, Hockey Night in Canada Open Thread and Announcers

7PM, Washington vs. Toronto, CBC Full Network, NHL Net
Play by Play: Jim Hughson
Color: Craig Simpson
Inside the Glass: Glenn Healy
Reporter: Elliotte Friedman

7PM, Detroit vs. Montreal, CBC Quebec
Play by Play: Bob Cole
Color: Greg Millen and Guy Carbonneau
Reporter: Cassie Campbell

7PM, Buffalo vs. Ottawa, CBC Ottawa
Play by Play: Dean Brown
Color: Gary Galley

10PM, Chicago vs. Edmonton, CBC Full Network
Play by Play: Mark Lee
Color: Kevin Weekes
Reporter: Scott Oake

NHL Network Featured Schedule Next Week

Monday, Nov. 23
12:00 NHL Live
4:00 NHL Power Play
6:30 Off the Ice: Rick Nash, Tim Thomas, Victor Hedman
8:00 NHL On the Fly

Tuesday, Nov. 24
12:00 NHL Live
4:00 NHL Power Play
8:00 NHL On the Fly

Wednesday, Nov. 25
12:00 NHL Live
4:00 NHL Power Play
8:00 NHL On the Fly

Thursday, Nov. 26
12:00 NHL.com Viewer’s Choice Game
2:00 NHL.com Viewer’s Choice Game
4:00 NHL Power Play
6:00 NHL.com Viewer’s Choice Game
8:00 NHL On the Fly

Friday, Nov. 27
4:00 NHL Power Play
8:00 NHL On the Fly
9:30 NCAA Hockey: St. Cloud State vs. Denver
12:00 NHL On the Fly

Saturday, Nov. 28
6:30 Hockey Night Pregame
7:00 LIVE: Washington vs. Montreal
9:30 Hockey Night Postgame
10:00 NHL On the Fly

Sunday, Nov. 29
6:00 Vintage Games: Los Angeles vs. NY Rangers Outdoors in Las Vegas
7:30 Ivy and Ice: All-Access at the 2009 Winter Classic
8:00 NHL On the Fly

VERSUS-DirecTV Fight Could See End in RSN Battles

John Ourand of SportsBusinessJournal Reports:

Comcast and DirecTV are engaged in a series of RSN carriage battles that potentially could help the Comcast-owned Versus secure a deal with the satellite operator within the next several months.

DirecTV is carrying four of Comcast’s RSNs out of contract. Meanwhile, Comcast’s deals with three Liberty Media RSNs expire at the end of the year, about the same time DirecTV is expected to take control of Liberty’s regional networks.

Given the way cable operators and programmers typically conduct business, it’s not a stretch to believe that Comcast will agree to renew Liberty’s RSNs if DirecTV agrees to carry Versus. But DirecTV can only make a deal like this when it gets control of Liberty’s RSNs, which is expected to happen in the next 30-60 days.

“Any time companies of that size with so many varied parts of business get into discussions, those discussions carry a wide range of issues,” said media consultant Neal Pilson. “Given the degree of skill, experience and expertise executives at Comcast and DirecTV have, I’d be astonished if Versus carriage did not find its way onto the agenda.”

Hoedown Friday!

Strachan Unhappy with Firing

William Houston Reports:

Al Strachan, who was fired from Hockey Night In Canada a few weeks ago, has sent a lawyer’s letter to the CBC stating that he was unfairly dismissed.

Strachan was removed from his spot on the Hotstove panel after the CBC learned that his new book, Why The Leafs Suck, identified him on the cover as “from Hockey Night In Canada.” Permission had not been given to the publisher, Harper Collins, to use the show’s name. Hockey Night markets its own publications and did not want its brand appearing on a competitor’s book. Strachan’s letter states that he was an innocent third party in a dispute between the CBC and Harper Collins.

Canadian readers: Do you think Strachan deserved it?

Well, I Guess We Know What the NHL Network Thinks Is An Exciting Game

As you’ll discover tomorrow, the NHL Network is playing a “Best of 09-10 So Far” marathon on Thanksgiving.  Here are the choices, according to NHL.com:

 

#1: Oct 6 – PHI 6, WSH 5 (OT)

#2: Oct 8 – PIT 5, PHI 4

#3: Oct 10 – BOS 4, NYI 3 (SO)

#4: Oct 12 – CHI 6, CGY 5 (OT)

#5: Oct 22 – NSH 6, OTT 5 (OT)

#6: Oct 24 – MTL 5, NYR 4 (OT)

#7: Oct 27 – DET 5, VAN 4

Anybody else notice a pattern?  We’re there no exciting 1-0 or even 2-1 games this season?  The fact is, the lowest scoring total of any of these is 7.  At least I can remember most of these as being tolerable.