November 26, 2007
CSTV Slashing Hockey Coverage
by Adam Wodon/Managing Editor
Something was noticeably absent from Saturday's sold-out, nationally-televised college hockey game at Madison Square Garden.
The national television crew.
CSTV, which began in 2003 with the prospects of a perfect marriage with college hockey, has drastically reduced its hockey package in the last couple of years. Last season, CSTV canceled some games here and there. This season, what had once been a once-a-week package (at least), has been slashed, in some cases in mid-stream.
In particular, the game Saturday was televised, but was done so using the in-house MSG video feed. The regular broadcasters, Matt McConnell and Dave Starman, were not at the event, but rather called the game off video monitors from CSTV's studios about a half-mile away from the Garden.
Clearly, budgetary concerns are at play. Advertising revenue has not been there for CSTV. And when CBS bought the network almost two years ago, it was unwilling to continue absorbing those losses. As a result, hockey has gone from the network's signature sport, to a somewhat lesser role.
CSTV executives had not returned phone calls seeking comment as of this writing.
Not using their own crew at MSG, CSTV saved tens of thousands of dollars. Other games have been cut outright. At least here, CSTV had the option of using MSG's in-house feed. But doing so, using announcers calling a game off a monitor from the studio, left CSTV open to criticism in the eyes of some.
"It's really a travesty," said one NHL scout, and former college hockey assistant coach, in attendance Saturday. "Look at how big a deal this is. CSTV's not here? That looks Mickey Mouse. They should've let someone else broadcast the game right."
But CSTV has found out what other's have found out — that college hockey, while hugely popular in large swaths of the country, cannot sustain a national broadcast.
CSTV was founded on the principle of giving a home to the second-tier sports that are fairly popular in some area, but that aren't quite popular enough for the major networks. Hockey was to be its signature sport.
That marriage is on shakier ground now, though for the time, there at least still is a package of games to be broadcast.
Other players, like ESPN-U and the Big Ten Network, and expanded packages from FOX affiliates, are now at play, too.
Not surprised. College hockey fans are rabid and loyal. Loyal to their respective "home" team first, the sport as a whole comes second.
If your "home" team plays on Friday night you attend,watch or listen to that game before you will tune in a game from another league etc. Match ups on CSTV have been great. But not great enough for me to want to stay home and watch when my own team is playing and I might have a ticket or local TV is broadcasting.
On the other side though, now living in the southeast after transplanting from New England, sometimes my only "fix" of college hockey is CSTV no matter who is playing.
Nov 27 2007, 2:08 am by Dennis Wallace - Longs, SC
It seems that only during the NHL lockout did College Hockey truly work for CSTV. Being a college hockey fan I gladly upgraded my Cable package to include CSTV, but now it seems that with the coverage of BU on CN8, the NESN Hockey East package, and the various regional Fox Sports Coverage (WCHA, CCHA) there will be no need to keep CSTV at all.
Nov 27 2007, 8:19 am by V. Crusco, Bristol, CT
It's funny. I was at the game. And when I left I saw an acquantance who works for MSG's tv operation. He said there were two multi-million dollar tv trucks parked on the street hooked up from the afternoon's Knicks/Bulls matchup. He said CSTV did not want to pay for the truck rental, the full crew needed and so on ... so they hired a smaller crew that used older, relatively unused facilities within MSG to send the show back to CSTV. CSTV, the insider said, was even balking on those costs, and the need to have certain union personnel beside the crew [Directors Guild DIrectors and Stage Managers] do the telecast.
In TV you truly get what you pay for. It could have been so much better.
Nov 27 2007, 8:49 am by Robert, New York
I bought the upgrade package on Dish specifically for the CSTV and ESPNU college hockey coverage. If CSTV continues to cut back I won't need the upgrade. I would never watch anything other than hockey on CSTV. I'm sure the fog at Conte has not helped CSTV much either....
Nov 27 2007, 4:01 pm by
I love college hockey and I CSTV for college hockey. If they cut the games out then I will cancel CSTV because I will have no use for that station anymore.
Dec 4 2007, 5:14 am by Mike Schaffer-Suak Rapids MN
As a die hard Sioux fan living in Orlando, FL, I depend on CSTV and ESPNU to deliver my college hockey fix. My local cable company doesn't offer any of the Fox Sports Net channels so CSTV and ESPNU are all I have when it comes to college hockey. Thank God they do offer the NHL Center Ice package down here or else I'd have no hockey at all!
Dec 5 2007, 12:19 pm by Slim Orlando, FL
I am very disappointed.. I loved the CSTV broadcasts of College Hockey.. its all about money... and more money. Same thing with Comcast Cable, last year I could watch the first and second round of the NCAA tourneyon ESPNU.. not this year ?? why ?? Money !! Comcast bought Adelphia and ESPNU disappeared... huge bummer !! Give me back Adelphia !! biggest college weekend of the year and NO GAMES ON COMCAST !!! Comcast sucks and so does CSTV now !!!
Mar 28 2008, 7:25 pm by Robert..Essex VT.
Comment on this Article
