Toronto isn't a hockey town!

Punjabi_Link · May 24th, 2007, 09:54 AM

Chris Zelkovich
Sports Media Columnist

A long series combined with Toronto-area fans jumping on the Ottawa bandwagon might be the only way the CBC can avoid low ratings in the Stanley Cup final.

Ratings for the third round of the playoffs are down 6 per cent from last year and the reality of an Ottawa-Anaheim final has both CBC and NBC officials worried.

"We hope that red fever catches on," CBC Sports executive director Scott Moore said. "The only thing that has held back the ratings is Toronto-area fans not necessarily jumping on the Ottawa bandwagon."

There's little doubt about that. BBM Nielsen figures show that no playoff game cracked the top 25 in the Toronto area during the week of May 7-13.

The Ottawa-Buffalo series was beaten out by the likes of Gilmore Girls and the CTV national news. Nationally, the series placed 14th.

Moore is mystified by Torontonians' lack of interest in watching their rival.

"I was in Edmonton last year and Calgary fans got behind the Oilers," he said. "I don't know why that's not happening here."

The Ottawa-Buffalo series averaged 1.7 million viewers, meaning more than 1 million will have to jump on board if CBC is to match last year's final average of 3 million.

That total wasn't helped by Saturday afternoon's broadcast, which Moore estimated would have drawn 500,000 more viewers at night.

Moore admitted that his network's focus on the Maple Leafs might not have helped Ottawa appeal to a national audience.

"If we have a choice on a Saturday night of putting on the Leafs or Senators, we'll almost always go with the Leafs because they're going to get a bigger audience," he said. "That might be a small factor."

South of the border, NBC is facing the kind of low ratings it got for the Calgary-Carolina series last year.

"It's not a match-up made in television heaven as far as U.S. networks are concerned," said Neal Pilson, former head of CBS Sports. "With one team from Canada ... and the other team from a large market but with not a major following in the Los Angeles area, it's going to be challenge in terms of generating ratings.

"When you have teams that don't have strong national following, you hope the game quality is good and you get to Game 6 or 7."

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/217231

-----------------------------

This just proves that Toronto is just Leafs town.

chicano_desi · May 24th, 2007, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Punjabi_Link

This just proves that Toronto is just Leafs town.

i just hate ottawa too much.
i'm just watching hoping to see them lose.

**jafferman** · May 24th, 2007, 01:08 PM

ya pretty much everyone in toronto hates ottawa with a passion

chicano_desi · May 24th, 2007, 01:10 PM

btw, why would you even want to be a bandwagon fan.
leaf fans who aren't supporting ottawa are showing loyalty to leaf nation.

Punjabi_Link · May 24th, 2007, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicano_desi

btw, why would you even want to be a bandwagon fan.
leaf fans who aren't supporting ottawa are showing loyalty to leaf nation.

If you are a hockey fan, then you will watch the playoffs no matter what. You don't have to root for the sens.

keyzersoze · May 24th, 2007, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Punjabi_Link

If you are a hockey fan, then you will watch the playoffs no matter what. You don't have to root for the sens.

Damn Straight Linky.

WildWolfdog · May 24th, 2007, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicano_desi

btw, why would you even want to be a bandwagon fan.
leaf fans who aren't supporting ottawa are showing loyalty to leaf nation.

Hellz yeah.

And the whole "you should watch if you're a hockey fan" mentality can only be sustained for so long. I watched the Buffalo v Sens series, I watched the Sens v Pittsburgh series and even a few of the Sabres V Islanders and Lightning V Devils series.

But asking to watch a team you hate and want to lose (I wouldn't say it's undeserved if the Sens win btw, they certainly beat the best to get here) and a team with no fan base like the Ducks is asking too much. I'll still probably watch a few periods early on and watch more if it's fun and exciting.

It's like asking basketball fans to watch another spurs v pistons final, to show you're fans.

keyzersoze · May 24th, 2007, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildWolfdog

Hellz yeah.

And the whole "you should watch if you're a hockey fan" mentality can only be sustained for so long. I watched the Buffalo v Sens series, I watched the Sens v Pittsburgh series and even a few of the Sabres V Islanders and Lightning V Devils series.

But asking to watch a team you hate and want to lose (I wouldn't say it's undeserved if the Sens win btw, they certainly beat the best to get here) and a team with no fan base like the Ducks is asking too much. I'll still probably watch a few periods early on and watch more if it's fun and exciting.

It's like asking basketball fans to watch another spurs v pistons final, to show you're fans.

Hey wolfy I just noticed we both joined on the exact date one year apart. Thats some weird shit.

WildWolfdog · May 24th, 2007, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keyzersoze

Hey wolfy I just noticed we both joined on the exact date one year apart. Thats some weird shit.

Lol shit, that is weird

But then again, I did join earlier than the date suggests, cept I don't know when exactly, because rd crashed a couple of times and all the posts/history was erased.

Punjabi_Link · May 25th, 2007, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildWolfdog

Hellz yeah.

And the whole "you should watch if you're a hockey fan" mentality can only be sustained for so long. I watched the Buffalo v Sens series, I watched the Sens v Pittsburgh series and even a few of the Sabres V Islanders and Lightning V Devils series.

But asking to watch a team you hate and want to lose (I wouldn't say it's undeserved if the Sens win btw, they certainly beat the best to get here) and a team with no fan base like the Ducks is asking too much. I'll still probably watch a few periods early on and watch more if it's fun and exciting.

It's like asking basketball fans to watch another spurs v pistons final, to show you're fans.

I can't wait to watch that series

beram_khan · May 25th, 2007, 06:31 AM

fuck the sens...the nhl ended when the leafs didn't make it end of story...and also we this ain't some shitty little town we got other things to preoccupy ourselves with...like baseball and now the recent football (soccer) sensation.

and if I have to watch the final...then GO DUCKS GO!

May 24th, 2007, 09:54 AM	#1
Punjabi_Link Should I Consider Retiring??? Join Date: Mar 2 2005 Posts: 7,530 Reputation: 339947216 --> Rep Power: 33994770 Casino cash: $98023	Toronto isn't a hockey town! Chris Zelkovich Sports Media Columnist A long series combined with Toronto-area fans jumping on the Ottawa bandwagon might be the only way the CBC can avoid low ratings in the Stanley Cup final. Ratings for the third round of the playoffs are down 6 per cent from last year and the reality of an Ottawa-Anaheim final has both CBC and NBC officials worried. "We hope that red fever catches on," CBC Sports executive director Scott Moore said. "The only thing that has held back the ratings is Toronto-area fans not necessarily jumping on the Ottawa bandwagon." There's little doubt about that. BBM Nielsen figures show that no playoff game cracked the top 25 in the Toronto area during the week of May 7-13. The Ottawa-Buffalo series was beaten out by the likes of Gilmore Girls and the CTV national news. Nationally, the series placed 14th. Moore is mystified by Torontonians' lack of interest in watching their rival. "I was in Edmonton last year and Calgary fans got behind the Oilers," he said. "I don't know why that's not happening here." The Ottawa-Buffalo series averaged 1.7 million viewers, meaning more than 1 million will have to jump on board if CBC is to match last year's final average of 3 million. That total wasn't helped by Saturday afternoon's broadcast, which Moore estimated would have drawn 500,000 more viewers at night. Moore admitted that his network's focus on the Maple Leafs might not have helped Ottawa appeal to a national audience. "If we have a choice on a Saturday night of putting on the Leafs or Senators, we'll almost always go with the Leafs because they're going to get a bigger audience," he said. "That might be a small factor." South of the border, NBC is facing the kind of low ratings it got for the Calgary-Carolina series last year. "It's not a match-up made in television heaven as far as U.S. networks are concerned," said Neal Pilson, former head of CBS Sports. "With one team from Canada ... and the other team from a large market but with not a major following in the Los Angeles area, it's going to be challenge in terms of generating ratings. "When you have teams that don't have strong national following, you hope the game quality is good and you get to Game 6 or 7." http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/217231 ----------------------------- This just proves that Toronto is just Leafs town.

May 24th, 2007, 01:08 PM	#3
jafferman VIP Member Join Date: Aug 1 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 8,711 Reputation: 3553 --> Rep Power: 410 Casino cash: $2888	ya pretty much everyone in toronto hates ottawa with a passion __________________

May 24th, 2007, 01:10 PM	#4
chicano_desi Banned Join Date: Nov 13 2005 Location: Toronto Is The City - City That I Come From Posts: 21,511 Reputation: 8873 --> Rep Power: 0 Casino cash: $11543	btw, why would you even want to be a bandwagon fan. leaf fans who aren't supporting ottawa are showing loyalty to leaf nation.

May 25th, 2007, 06:31 AM	#11
beram_khan Lame Join Date: Feb 4 2006 Location: Peshawar, Pakistan Posts: 1,107 Reputation: 10 --> Rep Power: 0 Casino cash: $1000	fuck the sens...the nhl ended when the leafs didn't make it end of story...and also we this ain't some shitty little town we got other things to preoccupy ourselves with...like baseball and now the recent football (soccer) sensation. and if I have to watch the final...then GO DUCKS GO!

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