NLL inks Television deal with OLN/Vs
There has been a bit of bad blood between fans of lacrosse and the National Lacrosse League in regards to the television coverage of the game. Bad blood may be a bit strong but I know there were many fans — including myself — that put that in our top five things to change for next year when one of the owners asked what should be improved.
For the last three years the TV contract has been handled by The Score. When they wanted out of the deal Rogers Sportsnet stepped up for all lacrosse TV coverage in Canada. Lacrosse always seemed to get treated like Sportsnets red-headed step child — getting the short end of the stick would be putting it nicely.
My first beef with Sportsnets coverage was that they only covered Canadian teams. Ok, not so much of a beef because the Calgary Roughnecks are obviously Canadian, my beef was that it was a crap shoot as to which team they would cover. One weekend it would be the Roughnecks. Another weekend it would be Edmonton playing Toronto.
More importantly, the amount of TV coverage the National Lacrosse League actually received was very, very poor. I can’t remember exactly but I think Sportsnet only covered four games all year. The season is 16 games long. Multiply that by three Canadian teams and that is a whole lot more than four.
Bring on OLN/Versus
The 2007 lacrosse season will see the OLN/Versus network handling the coverage — at least in the US for now. They have promised to broadcast a game every Saturday during prime time for the 16 week 2007 season. The actual time has been mentioned as starting at 10:00pm Eastern Standard time — which would be 7pm our time.
It’s been said that more and more clips will be sent to other sports networks in an effort to get additional spots on the weekly highlight reels. Both of these decisions are a great start to promoting the National Lacrosse League to new markets and a larger audience.
Canada shafted again
At the time of this writing it still seems that Canada is getting the shaft as far as TV coverage of the NLL goes. OLN/Versus in the US only shares a name with the Canadian OLN TV station. Apparently they are not affiliated and there has been no mention by the Canadian OLN as to them covering any lacrosse games next year.
Hopefully between now and the beginning of the 2007 season we’ll hear some good news. Which network can step up to the plate? TSN is a hockey network. Since hockey is in full swing by the time lacrosse starts there’s no real chance of TSN stepping up. Sportsnet dropped the ball big time and I wouldn’t want to even hear of them being mentioned in the same sentence as “NLL” and “TV contract”.
Who does that leave? A lot but I have no idea who is willing to actually go for it. All I do know is that I don’t want to be spending another $9.95/month to get Lacrosse TV — whose coverage was only marginally better than Sportsnet due to technical difficulties — or paying $6US/game to watch on the b2 network — which only works if you have Windows, which I don’t.
Maybe we should all just get satellite. Then we can get OLN/Versus right?
I know this is only a dream and it won’t solve the problem this year but if the peoples network (the C.B&C) loses the nhl telecasts to private interests, perhaps,just maybe, a dream devoutly to be wished, they could be convinced to carry lacrosse. With their excellent record at sports coverage in general, I for one would think I had died and gone to heaven. Rogers, Sportsnet, Cogeco, TSN and any ov the rest of those losers could rub salt you know where.
Written by Dave Hutt on September 17th, 2006
Dave, even though that is a dream it is an awesome dream. If CBC dedicated themselves to cover all three Canadian teams even partly as well as the cover the NHL it would be the best coverage of lacrosse in North America! Now you’ve got me all excited.
Keep us posted on what’s going on with the ol’ CBC and let us know if we can all start fainting ;^)
Written by Mike on September 18th, 2006
I agree. I saw maybe 3 games last year. I enjoyed them but hey there has to be more. I’m a WLA fan and need my winter fix (NLL). I attended the Lumberjax and the swarm pre season game here in Victoria and enjoyed it as well. I really need to see NLL on TV this year. Come-on someone has to step up…, Isn’t this OUR national game?
Dave
Written by Dave Donovan on January 2nd, 2007
Yes it is our national game Dave, that’s why I’m so confused about it as well. Then again, the league is based out of the US ;^)
I’d even settle for the arena’s putting their coverage out on the interwebs for download — or pay per download but for less than $6.
The die hard fans only need the arena announcer and fan reaction anyway, it makes us all feel at home when we can’t be there.
Written by Mike on January 3rd, 2007
This is INSANE! The amount of coverage on tv in NO WAY reflects the fan base. It’s insulting that we can’t see a game on tv unless it’s on local cable in the city it’s being played in (in which case, we would likely just be at the arena instead). Darts, bowling, fishing, and a ton of CRAP on tv, and NO coverage of the most intense, action-packed, and time-tested sports in North America!!??
We need to ORGANIZE… WRITE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR of ever local newspaper and ask them to justify their ignorance; same with TV, PVR/cable providers. This is just stupid!!
Written by Charlie on January 7th, 2009
Yeah, it is stupid Charlie. Looks like this year could be a little better because the NLL has partnered with Modulus and will be showing games on NLL.com. I’m curious how this will go and if there will be archives.
Written by Mike on January 11th, 2009
I fell in love with lacrosse watching replays of the BC peewee tournament during March Break on CBC almost 40 years ago. Over the years I have seen about 20 games on TV. I love the game and look to find it but if I have been able to see one game every 2 years how can the sport expect to build a base of fans and broadcast ratings with exposure like that.
Lover of the fastest game on two feet.
Written by Hugh on March 19th, 2009