With the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs deliveries already at a record high, the league now has a rare chance to own the sports media landscape for the next five nights.
Click here to read the story at sportico.com.
Discussion Questions:
- What are ratings?
- Why are ratings important to the NHL?
- Why are they important to TNT?
- Why are they important to advertisers?
- According to this story, what are three examples of brands spending a lot on advertising during the Stanley Cup playoff game broadcasts?
- Why might those brands want to advertise during NHL broadcasts?
- According to information from this news story, what type of viewership has the NHL seen for this year’s NHL Stanley Cup playoffs?
- What is competition for the entertainment dollar?
- Why might the absence of NBA Playoff games for five straight days provide an opportunity for the NHL?
- Without NBA games, what other sports on television will provide competition for the NHL?
- Do you think non-live sports programming also represents competition to the NHL? Why or why not?
- What is a RSN?
- According to this story, RSNs pose the biggest threat to nationally televised sporting events this time of year. What does that mean?
- How might that impact the NHL and its broadcast partners during the playoffs?
- What factors might influence ratings?
- Do you think the NHL is benefiting from the presence of a New York team in this year’s playoffs? Why or why not?