Now, I don't get Versus with my cable package and maybe that's a good thing since it means I don't have to put up with the network's ongoing shenanigans that is its hockey coverage. Instead, I watch all of non-local hockey hockey action from the safety of my own computer. I choose which games I want to watch and change them as I please. The same cannot be said for the folks watching Versus last night, who may be waking up a little hot under the collar Wednesday morning. Versus broadcast part of Game 4 between the Hurricanes and Devils on Tuesday night to many households in the US. The key words there are "part of", as in, the network cut away from the game before the 'Canes' epic goal with .02 seconds left on the clock.
George Richards of the Miami Herald is up in arms over what happened.
Anyone else had enough of Versus' coverage of the NHL postseason?Apparently what happened was that Versus cut away from the closely contested game in Raleigh for a Sharks-Ducks pregame show, which was to be televised on the network after the Hurricanes and Devils. That's right. So more than a few folks watching the Devils and Hurricanes play an exciting third period that came to a thrilling conclusion didn't actually see that conclusion. Instead, they got to hear about the Sharks and Ducks getting ready to take the ice.
How is it that they pull away from a 3-3 game in Carolina to open a game in Anaheim that wasn't going to start for another 30 minutes? How about skipping the exciting finish in Raleigh for yet another viewing of an Esurance commercial we all know by heart?
What was Versus showing? Who cares. It sure wasn't hockey. Heck, they weren't even showing a tied game in St. Louis.
This all would have been somewhat understandable if the 'Canes and Devils ran late and Versus decided to join the West coast matchup when it started, but for pregame? (Cue the Jim Mora voice) Pregame? Are you kidding me? PREGAME?!
To Versus' credit, its product has improved since it first started televising NHL games a few years ago and the network has tried to continue to improve it. But it's gaffes like this that continue to set them back and make hockey fans pine for ESPN.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-22-2009 @ 1:17PM
thetrutheh said...
this only adds fuel to the fire that espn wants the nhl playoffs back.
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4-22-2009 @ 1:24PM
Pasko said...
What is VERSUS?
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4-22-2009 @ 1:45PM
Dr. Moncure said...
Please give the rights back to ESPN. Otherwise the game will die out for good.
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4-22-2009 @ 5:26PM
geoffball said...
@thetrutheh
Poor logic. It's adding fuel to the fire that your want the NHL back on ESPN. ESPN wants whatever will make them the most money. Maybe with the poker frenzy dieing down there might be better ratings for the NHL on ESPN again.
This sounds a lot like NBC's gaffe a couple years ago to switch from an OT game to the Breeder's cup or some such crap.
VS is getting better. Although it was better with Bill Clement in the studio.
The NHL isn't disappearing, in fact the NHL is driving VS into more households. Since, VS had national rights to the Ducks-Sharks games last night, there was no local coverage in NorCal or SoCal. This week Comcast added VS to it's cable offerings in the Bay Area, so that SJ fans could see the game. Normally, local coverage is provided by Comcast Sportsnet Bay Area.
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4-22-2009 @ 5:48PM
jpg30 said...
Real NHL fans have the Center Ice package, which is GREAT in the regular season. Unfortunately, in the Playoffs, the VS channel shows games every night and we don't get to see the local feeds or the CBC or TSN feeds of those games. For whatever reason, the VS production of hockey is awful, from the announcers they choose (except Doc Emerick), the studio show...even that horrible theme song they keep blaring. I wish we could keep the local/Canadian feeds & forget about hockey with a "National" contract forever.
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4-22-2009 @ 10:00PM
George said...
On a side note,they are not the 'Canes. That monikker is reserved for the best college football team of all time,quit disrespecting the "U".
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4-22-2009 @ 11:31PM
ljbdavis said...
If the "U" was the best college football team of all time, they sure as heck wouldn't have joined the ACC. The 'Canes now reside in Raleigh, NC!
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4-23-2009 @ 7:32AM
sg9035 said...
HOW BAD IS VERSUS??? THEY ARE NOT EVEN SHOWING LIVE ANY OF THE RED WINGS GAMES (the champs) THATS HOW BAD THEY ARE !!!!! And furthermore Keith Jackson is an idiot...He picked both San Jose and Washington for the finals ????
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4-23-2009 @ 10:28AM
Mary Ann said...
VS Channel is awfull. Their equipment picks up the crowds noise & I cannot hear the lousy announcers. I mute the volume & turn on the radio to get better announcers!!
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