What happens to the ratings if the NHL is the only pro league this fall?

[nymetsfan1226]

Poll

Comments

[dzuunmod]

I voted for no increase, because I know that during the NHL's lost season my first impulse wasn't to just turn to the NBA.

[radi0radi0]

The numbers will go up--for the same reason the poker boom happened. ESPN needed to fill the void so they stuck on something they had for years, but no one paid attention to; people watched because of the lockout.

[bumbletbw]

I doubt the lockouts will create any more American hockey fans, but it won't hurt for them to be the only pro game in town aside from the UFL. Only Comcast (NBC and VS.) has the broadcast rights to the NHL in the US. ESPN and the networks will likely fill the void with more college football and basketball games. With 120 teams in major college football and 345 in basketball, there will be plenty of game hours to broadcast as a stopgap.

All of the talk will be moot though when the work stoppage is over.

[imjudyb]

As long as the broadcasts are on Versus, I doubt the TV ratings will increase. If both lockouts continue, however, there's maybe a chance that attendance at games could improve in some markets.

[jenny_zzz]

I think it might go up, but not dramatically.