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HISTORY The first complete hockey game carried over the radio was on March 14 , 1923 on CKCK out of Regina, Saskatchewan and reported by Pete Parker . Eight days later Foster Hewitt broadcasted the first Hockey Night In Canada game. The first hockey game televised in Canada was on October 11 , 1952 . As in other sports, television has had a major effect on hockey. The infusion of money has made the major leagues far more professional with vastly higher salaries for players. It has also changed the game as NHL rules now mandate four commercial breaks per period, giving players top time to recuperate and allowing the better players to be on the ice longer. However, it also lengthens and slows the games considerably. Television networks also despise how often games go into Overtime , destroying set schedules. TV executives have long pushed for a faster Shoot Out to resolve games. Games today are also broadcasted over the Internet . The NHL website allows fans to listen to online broadcasts of every NHL game. CANADA In Canada , NHL hockey is broadcasted every Saturday night on CBC's longest running television show, '' Hockey Night In Canada ''. During the week, other games, mostly Toronto Maple Leafs ones, are broadcasted on TSN cable channel. Various local channels carry other games as well. During the NHL playoffs, CBC carries the series involving any Canadian teams. Those not broadcasted are shown on TSN or the OLN . CBC also carries all major hockey tournaments such as the World Juniors , the World Cup Of Hockey , and the Winter Olympics . Major games like those of the 1972 Summit Series or the 2002 Winter Olympics have received some of the highest ratings in Canadian history. Other well-known tournaments, like the Spengler Cup or the Memorial Cup are carried on TSN or Rogers Sportsnet . Several Canadian Hockey League (CHL) and American Hockey League (AHL) games are broadcasted by local channels in Canada as is the occasional university game. Hockey Night in Canada, or HNIC, is by far CBC's most profitable show and supports many of the corporation's other ventures. UNITED STATES In the United States, the NHL rights were owned by Disney ; regular season games were shown on ESPN or ESPN2 while some regular season and a number of playoffs games appeared on ABC . This $600 million contract was signed in 1998, and has not been regarded as a great success. Hockey has never fared well on American television in comparison to the NBA , MLB , or the NFL . Previously, the NHL had been broadcast on FOX and ESPN . FOX had put much effort into trying to stimuate American interests in the game, but had achieved little success. One of their schemes was to make the Hockey Puck more visible by highlighting it on television with a blue comet, using FoxTrax . When a Slapshot over 70 miles per hour was made, the puck would leave a red Comet trail on the television. This idea was met with great derision in Canada, especially to diehard hockey fans and little success in the United States. Before the 2004-05 lockout, the NHL had reached two separate deals with NBC and ESPN. The NBC deal was for no right fee, included six regular season windows, seven postseason and games 3-7 of the Stanley Cup Finals in primetime. The contracts were to commence when the lockout ended. The NBC deal expires after the 2006-07 season, and NBC has an option to renew (Just like the AFL/NBC agreement). The NHL and NBC share in revenues from advertising. ESPN had a two year deal that they opted out of after the lockout, leaving the NHL without a cable partner. In August, 2005 Comcast (who owns the Philadelphia Flyers) paid $70 million a year for three years to put games on OLN. Due to the abbriviated off-season, the 2005-06 schedule did not offer OLN exclusivity, which they will receive in 2006-07. OLN will also cover the playoffs and will exclusivly air Games 1 & 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Levels below the NHL are rarely shown on national television in the United States, but major tournaments are shown there, like the NCAA's Frozen Four . In U.S. areas that are near enough to receive Canadian broadcasting, particularly southeast Michigan , the Canadian broadcasts are generally preferred. See also EUROPE Many NHL games are broadcast on the North American Sports Network in Europe. EXTERNAL LINKS |
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