Bill Barnett

The Problem

I understand that the local NBC affiliate WLWT had no choice in the matter but this must be the third time in four years that the NHL play-offs broadcast was interrupted by severe weather. From the 11:17 mark of the first period until 8:37 to go in the third, WLWT showed the game in a split screen with the local weathermen John Bateman and Derek Beasley tag-teaming “all the latest developments”. There was no audio from the game and the frame containing the game feed was so small that I could not read the score as I fast-forwarded through my TiVo-ed recording of it.

The Blame

Frankly, I blame the NHL. The league has done such a poor job marketing professional hockey, that the best contract they could ink for its championship series places the first two games on a media dinosaur like NBC. No wonder hockey is a fourth class citizen of the professional sports community in the United States.

A Couple Thoughts

With things as bad as they appear for local affiliates of the “big” three networks, with infomercials comprising an increasing percentage of their scheduling, I have got to believe that WLWT management can come up with a better way to leverage an opportunity to air unique content like the Stanley Cup Play-offs rather than waste it by presenting the exact same coverage that the other two local affiliates are airing but I suppose their hands are tied by FCC regulations and their responsibility to protect their community such as they can. This of course only underscores the argument that network TV is the last place you would want to air such programming.

If the league had a clue, it would broadcast all the games of the Finals on Versus and then immediately make them available on Hulu. Yes, I know NBC is a part owner of Hulu. Ironic, isn’t it? I can’t think of a better way to attract traditional fans and new ones who are already riding the “on demand content” wave while providing NBC with a much needed shot in the, eh…, arm.

A Parting Shot

Local network affiliates will continue to wither on the vine, remnants of a by-gone era, much like newspapers. Kudos for their efforts to seek new means of interacting with their viewers but this incident is only the most recent example of the state of things to go.

Update – Sunday, May 31, 2009

Apparently, local viewers really let WLWT have it over this whole sad affair. During the 6 o’clock news WLWT’s sports reporter, George Vogel reported on (in order) the Red’s being swept by the Brewers this weekend, the Cleveland Indians’ 9th inning win against the Yankees, Xavier University’s baseball team’s elimination for the NCAA tournament, the results of NASCAR’s Autism Speaks 400 race, and the Cleveland Cavalier’s elimination from the NBA championship before turning to last night’s game between the Penguins and Red Wings, showing replays never before seen by local viewers unless you had a magnifying glass handy last night.

Vogel wrapped up the “coverage” asking WLWT’s weatherman, John Bateman, who was off camera and apparently not mic-ed or with his mic turned off, “No storms tonight, right? Mr. Bateman, no storms? So we’ll have full screen hockey tonight.” After a quick mention of the Elder versus Moeller clash for the Division 1 state high school volleyball championship and Rafael Nadal’s exit from the French Open the camera returned to a smirking news anchor Courtis Fuller sitting next to Vogel upon which the following exchange occurred:

FULLER: “I’m glad you mentioned about the… NHL.”
VOGEL: “Yes.”
FULLER: “I… I… I’m certain Mr. Dy…” (Presumably WLWT’s General Manager, Richard Dyer)
VOGEL: “You want some more phone calls tonight?”
FULLER: “No, I don’t! I… I… I bet you the inbox is… is full…”
(Unintelligible chuckling and muttering)
VOGEL: “You know it will be.”
FULLER: “Well, eh… you’ll see it all tonight.”

After the final commercial break of the broadcast, Bateman added this remark, “Well, and it is going to be a nice evening. So full screen hockey tonight as you were saying.” Finally, Fuller ended the broadcast with a joking, “And by the way, John’s number is… Nah, no I won’t say it. We’ll see you after the hockey game tonight.”

I doubt it.