We have just learned some disturbing news for Commissioner Gary Bettman
It's not often we get this kind of update, but Gary Bettman just received some disturbing news about his recent television contract.
Check out what reporter Mark J. Burns just revealed:
"U.S. national TV viewership for the NHL is down 22 percent this season, according to Austin Karp results.
Regular NHL games to date have averaged 373,000 viewers on ESPN / TNT in this 2nd season of the league's 7-year deal with Disney & Turner.
The NHL averaged 478,000 viewers at this point last season."
Regular NHL games to date have averaged 373,000 viewers on ESPN / TNT in this 2nd season of the league's 7-year deal with Disney & Turner.
The NHL averaged 478,000 viewers at this point last season."
This is really a major and worrisome drop for Bettman and the NHL.
Bad news.
In summary, as my colleague Vincent Fournier mentions, the ratings are really not good in the U.S. right now, and the NHL's popularity is in free fall.
Bettman is only in the 2nd year of a 7 year contract with Disney & Turner, and they will obviously have to right the ship, because they can't afford such declines in ratings every year.
This already bodes ill for the much valued TV contract Bettman signed.
How do you explain this phenomenon?
Remember that in a recent press conference in Montreal, Gary Bettman said that everything was going well on this side.
| POLL | ||
Do you think Gary Bettman is putting too much effort for nothing in the USA? | ||
| Yes | 208 | 90.8 % |
| No | 21 | 9.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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