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NBC Gives NHL Little Love

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted May 30, 2009 1:57 PM CDT

(Newser) – NBC is putting the NHL in the penalty box. Unwilling to sacrifice its weeknight programming, particularly Conan’s Tonight Show debut, the network has dictated that games 1 and 2 will be tonight and tomorrow, the first time games have been back-to-back since 1954. Then, it’ll kick games 3 and 4 over to little-watched Versus on cable. The network is treating the league like a "second-class citizen," writes Michael Zuidema in the Grand Rapids Press.

"Granted, hockey hasn't consistently pulled the strongest ratings numbers throughout the years, but it doesn't deserve to be treated like ... an afterthought," he says. "Not when you have a matchup pitting Hockeytown against hockey's poster boy, Sidney Crosby." Can you imagine this happening to the World Series or the Super Bowl? Let's give Lord Stanley a little more respect.

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby skates during NHL hockey practice at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh Thursday, May 28, 2009.
Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby skates during NHL hockey practice at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh Thursday, May 28, 2009.   (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Chicago Blackhawks center Colin Fraser, right, checks Detroit Red Wings defenseman Brian Rafalski in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Western Conference finals, May 27, 2009.
Chicago Blackhawks center Colin Fraser, right, checks Detroit Red Wings defenseman Brian Rafalski in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Western Conference finals, May 27, 2009.   (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Pittsburgh Penguins' Craig Adams celebrates his goal during Game 4 of the NHL Eastern Conference finals against the Carolina Hurricanes, May 26, 2009.
Pittsburgh Penguins' Craig Adams celebrates his goal during Game 4 of the NHL Eastern Conference finals against the Carolina Hurricanes, May 26, 2009.   (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
JayJay
Jun 1, 2009 12:16 PM CDT
nhl is way bigger than nbc... but its nbc who gives the cash... and its alot of cash just to air these games... so whtever, it happened... but dont expect the same thing to happen next year...
wwwonderer
Jun 1, 2009 5:01 AM CDT
Wow that sux. Let's make all previous rounds in HD and the Finals in SD. Ouch!!!
Derni
May 31, 2009 3:07 AM CDT
money controls the sport as does TV exposure-they want to be part of a business that's the price they pay

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