By Jay Skurski
BUFFALO — National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman has seen NBC’s playoff ratings. He’s heard popular opinion among national experts that a series between Edmonton and either Buffalo or Carolina would be ratings poison in the United States.
Funny thing is, Bettman doesn’t seem to care.
Speaking with a swarm of reporters during the first intermission of Wednesday’s game, the commissioner said he’s only concerned with the quality of play, not the size of the market the team calls home.
“This is about how entertaining the product is on the ice,” Bettman said. “We couldn’t really ask for anything more, We don’t really care what markets are involved.”
According to a story in Wednesday’s edition of The New York Times, NBC is averaging a 1.1 rating, down from the 1.5 ABC had two years ago, when it still had big draws like Detroit and Philadelphia past the first round.
The Outdoor Life Network, which like NBC is in its first year of broadcasting the NHL, is averaging a 0.4 rating, below the 0.7 ESPN had at the same time in 2004.
ESPN and ESPN2 are available in about 20 million more homes nationwide than OLN, another factor that may hurt ratings.
Bettman, however, thinks the “new” NHL — with the enforcement of rules designed to open the game up for skill players — will eventually win over those who have yet to find the game.
“I think this is the playoffs our fans wanted in terms of the excitement in the play,” he said.
The ‘Canes and Sabres have had success this year at least in part due to an ability to adjust to the new rules, according to the commissioner.
Bettman, however, stopped short of saying that Carolina and Buffalo were model franchises for the NHL, instead saying all 30 teams have the opportunity to succeed, regardless of market size, if they’re run properly.
Bettman also cited the agreement between the league and player’s association that implemented a salary cap (and brought the game back after a damaging lockout) as a reason for the improved product.
“I think the notion of small market versus big market is going to disappear,” he said.
If the success stories in Carolina and Buffalo are indication, he may already be right.
Contact Jay Skurski at (716) 693-1000, Ext. 117.
