Бұрынғы американ телесериалы: NHL on NBC

Former American television series

The NHL on NBC is an American presentation of National Hockey League (NHL) games produced by NBC Sports, and televised on NBC properties, including MSNBC, CNBC, Golf Channel, USA Network and NBCSN in the United States. While NBC covered the league at various points in its history, the network's last relationship with the NHL is the result of NBC Sports acquiring the league's broadcast television rights from ABC in 2005. Its most recent contract with the league ran until the end of the 2020–21 NHL season; NHL broadcasting rights onward have been acquired by ABC/ESPN and Turner Sports (now known as TNT Sports). Though the main NBC network no longer airs NHL games, NBC Sports Regional Networks currently airs some games in the form of game telecasts that air on a regional basis, featuring local NHL franchises that each of the regional networks has respective broadcast rights to air in their designated market. From 2008 until the end of the NHL on NBC in 2021, NBC's regular season coverage included the annual NHL Winter Classic, an outdoor game usually played on New Year's Day; one national weekly regular season game each Sunday afternoon after New Year's Day; one week of nationally televised contests in February for Hockey Day in America; and one nationally televised game one day after Thanksgiving. NBCSN's coverage included 90 regular season games that were mostly aired on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings, and later in the season on Sunday nights. Coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs was split between NBC and NBCSN, with CNBC and the USA Network (beginning in 2015) airing selected playoff games during the first two rounds.

From –, NBC not only televised the Stanley Cup Finals (including a couple of games in prime time), but also weekly regular season games on Sunday afternoons. The previous contract with CBS was paying the NHL less than $2 million a year and NBC jumped in with an offer of $5.3 million. NBC also aired one regular season and a couple of playoff games in prime time during the first couple of seasons. Tim Ryan and Ted Lindsay (with Brian McFarlane as the intermission host) served as the commentators for NBC's NHL coverage during this period. Since most NHL teams still did not have players' names displayed on the backs of jerseys, NBC persuaded NHL commissioner Clarence Campbell to make teams put on players' names on NBC telecasts beginning with the season to help viewers identify them. Peter Puck was introduced during NBC's NHL coverage in the 1970s. The animated character, whose cartoon adventures (produced by Hanna Barbera) appeared on both NBC's Hockey Game of the Week and CBC's Hockey Night in Canada, explained hockey rules to the home viewing audience. Besides Peter Puck, the 1970s version of The NHL on NBC had a between periods feature titled Showdown. The concept of Showdown involved 20 of the NHL's greatest players (16 shooters and four goaltenders) going head to head in a taped penalty shot competition. After the NHL left NBC in 1975, Showdown continued to be seen on Hockey Night in Canada and local television broadcasts of U. S. based NHL teams.

DateTeamsDecember 29 (prime time game starting at 8:30 p. m. Eastern)Boston at MinnesotaJanuary 7Boston at ChicagoJanuary 13New York Rangers at St. LouisJanuary 21Minnesota at DetroitJanuary 28Detroit at MontréalFebruary 4Pittsburgh at MinnesotaFebruary 11Montréal at New York RangersFebruary 18Montréal at TorontoFebruary 25St. Louis at DetroitMarch 4Chicago at BostonMarch 11Toronto at New York RangersMarch 16 (prime time game starting at 8:30 p. m. Eastern)Boston at DetroitMarch 18Detroit at ChicagoMarch 25St. Louis at Philadelphia

The December 29 and March 16 games were on Friday nights; all other regular season games were on Sunday afternoons. All start times at 3 p. m. Eastern Standard Time unless noted.

DateTeamsJanuary 4 (prime time game starting at 8:30 p. m. Eastern)Boston at New York RangersJanuary 19New York Rangers at ChicagoJanuary 27Philadelphia at BostonFebruary 3Montréal at DetroitFebruary 10Los Angeles at AtlantaFebruary 17Philadelphia at MontréalFebruary 24Boston at BuffaloMarch 3Chicago at DetroitMarch 10Philadelphia at BostonMarch 17New York Rangers at BostonMarch 24St. Louis at PhiladelphiaMarch 31Toronto at New York RangersApril 7Pittsburgh at AtlantaApril 14Montréal at New York Rangers

The January 4 game was on a Friday night; all other regular season games were on Sunday afternoons. All start times were at 2 p. m. Eastern Time unless noted.

DateTeamsPlay by playColor commentator(s)Studio hostJanuary 5St. Louis at BuffaloPhiladelphia at MontréalTim RyanTed LindsayBrian McFarlaneJanuary 19California at ChicagoTim RyanTed LindsayBrian McFarlaneJanuary 26Philadelphia at BostonTim RyanTed LindsayBrian McFarlaneFebruary 2Detroit at New York RangersTim RyanTed LindsayBrian McFarlaneFebruary 9Montréal at BuffaloTim RyanTed LindsayBrian McFarlaneFebruary 16Boston at PhiladelphiaTim RyanTed LindsayTed LindsaySt. Louis at VancouverTim RyanTed LindsayBrian McFarlaneMarch 30New York Islanders at AtlantaTim RyanTed LindsayBrian McFarlaneApril 6Minnesota at ChicagoTim RyanTed LindsayBrian McFarlane

All start times (except the January 19 and February 9 telecasts) were at 4:00 p. m. Eastern Time.

For 17 years after the 1975 Finals, there would be no national over the air network coverage of the NHL in the United States (with the exception of CBS' coverage of game two of the 1979 Challenge Cup and game six of the 1980 Stanley Cup Finals and NBC's coverage of the NHL All Star Game beginning in 1990) and only spotty coverage on local TV stations and regional sports networks in markets that had NHL clubs. This was because no network was willing to commit to a large number of games, in turn, providing low ratings for NHL games. ABC would eventually resume broadcasting regular NHL games (on a time buy basis through ESPN) for the 1992–93 season (and continuing through the 1993–94 season before Fox took over the broadcast television league rights for the next five seasons).

From 1990 through 1994, NBC only televised the All Star Game. NBC reportedly wanted to test the appeal of hockey, having recently lost the Major League Baseball package to CBS. Shortly thereafter however, NBC would gain the broadcast television rights to the National Basketball Association (NBA) from CBS, thus there was a bit of a notion that NBC no longer really needed. Marv Albert, and John Davidson called the action, while Mike Emrick served as an ice level reporter in 1990. Meanwhile, Bill Clement served as an ice level reporter in 1991, 1992 and 1994. Also, Hockey Night in Canadas Ron MacLean helped out with NBC's coverage of the 1993 All Star Game, as would Brenda Brenon for the 1994 All Star Game. In August 1989, The New York Times asked Marv Albert why had hockey lacked the popularity of other team sports in the United States. According to Albert, not many people have played hockey, and it was very difficult to capture as a televised sport. While Wayne Gretzky, playing for the Los Angeles Kings, had to help, there was according to Albert, also the impression that the owners encouraged fighting because they felt that the fans wanted it. The Montreal Canadiens were slated to host the 1990 All Star Game, but the team withdrew their bid to considerations due to the superb hosting by Quebec City of Rendez vous '87. This had allowed the Pittsburgh Penguins, which wanted to host an All Star Game in 1993, to move up three years early. For its part, Pittsburgh's organizers added much more to previous games, creating the first "true" All Star weekend. Firstly was the addition of the Heroes of Hockey game, a two period oldtimers' game between past NHL greats. The second was the addition of the National Hockey League All Star Skills Competition, a competition between the players invited to the All Star Game. The Skills competition was created by Paul Palmer, who adapted the Showdown feature seen on Hockey Night in Canada from to All Star players would be rewarded with US$2,500 for any win in the skills competition. As previously mentioned, when NBC broadcast the 1990 NHL All Star Game, it marked the first time that a National Hockey League game of any kind was aired on American network television, since CBS aired Game 6 of the 1980 Stanley Cup Finals. instead of a Tuesday night, as was the case in previous years. This allowed NBC to air the game live across the United States – marking (surprisingly) the first time that a national audience would see Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux play. Referees and other officials were also wired with microphones in this game, as were the two head coaches. Finally, NBC was also allowed to conduct interviews with players during stoppages in play, to the chagrin of the Hockey Night in Canada crew, whose attempts to do likewise were repeatedly denied by the league in previous years. NBC ultimately earned a 4.4 rating for the 1990 All Star Game. In 1991, NBC broke away from the telecast in the third period to televise a briefing from The Pentagon involving the Gulf War. SportsChannel America included the missing coverage in a replay of NBC's telecast (NBC owned 50% of Rainbow Enterprises, the parent of SportsChannel America). There were reports about NBC making an arrangement to air four to eight regular season games for the season but nothing materialized. More specifically, NHL officials had arranged a four to eight game, time buy package on NBC, but that fell through when the NHL wanted assurance that all NBC affiliates would carry the games (by 2006, NBC had generally gotten all but a couple of affiliates in the Top 50 markets to carry the games). For instance, in 1990, NBC's affiliates in Atlanta (NBC's coverage of the 1992 All Star Game aired on the independent station WTLK in that market), Charlotte, Memphis, New Orleans, Indianapolis and Phoenix did not clear the game (Atlanta and Phoenix would eventually receive NHL teams, however the Atlanta franchise relocated to Winnipeg in 2011). Ultimately, roughly 15% of the nation did not have access to the game. As previously mentioned, ABC became the league's network broadcaster instead, and then Fox won a bidding war with CBS for television rights lasting from the through seasons. YearPlay by playColor commentator(s)Ice level reportersStudio hostRating1994Marv AlbertJohn DavidsonBill Clement and Brenda BrenonHannah Storm2.51993Marv AlbertJohn DavidsonRon MacLeanGayle Gardner2.41992 Marv AlbertJohn DavidsonBill ClementGayle Gardner2.31991Marv AlbertJohn DavidsonMarv AlbertJohn DavidsonMike Emrick3.6

NBC's coverage of the 1993 All Star Game drew a .450 rating in the males 18 34 bracket, the highest among sports shows this year and well above the NBA’s .350 average.

In 2002, NBC broadcast the Winter Olympics from Salt Lake City, Utah. It marked the first time that NBC televised the Winter Olympics since the 1972 Games from Sapporo, Japan. For the men's hockey tournament, NBC enlisted ESPN/ABC’s Gary Thorne to call the games with color commentator John Davidson. The secondary announcing crew consisted of Fox’s Kenny Albert and ESPN/ABC’s Joe Micheletti. Albert also did play–by–play for the women's tournament alongside Lisa Brown Miller. Meanwhile, ESPN/ABC’s Darren Pang served as ice level reporter for both the men's and women's ice hockey tournaments. ESPN/ABC’s Bill Clement worked with Jim Lampley as a studio analyst during their coverage of both ice hockey tournaments.

In May 2004, NBC reached an agreement with the NHL to broadcast a slate of regular season games and the Stanley Cup Finals. The plan called for NBC to air at least six weeks of regular season games (three regional games each week) on Saturday afternoons. In addition, NBC was to show one or two playoff games per weekend during the playoffs. Between two and five games from the Stanley Cup Finals would air in prime time (OLN/Versus received the other two as part of its package). NBC's primary game each week, as well as the Stanley Cup Finals, would air in high definition. Unlike previous network television deals with the NHL (like Fox, which had the rights from 1994 to 1999 and ABC, which had the rights from 1999 to 2004), NBC paid no upfront rights fee, instead splitting advertising revenue with the league after meeting its own production and distribution costs. On the other hand, the league avoided the arrangement some minor sports leagues have, in which they pay networks for broadcast time and produce their own telecasts, but keep any advertising revenue. The last time NBC Sports entered a television deal which did not require it to pay any rights fees was in 1994–1995, when the division was involved in the Major League Baseball joint venture called "The Baseball Network." To a lesser extent, NBC also had a similar sort of revenue sharing agreement with the Arena Football League and, because of their ownership in the XFL, also paid no rights fees for airing that league. NBC's out of market games were available on NHL Center Ice through the 2006–07 season; NBC switched to stand alone games for the 2007–08 season.

NBC's initial contract with the NHL ran for two years, with an option given to the network to renew for two additional years. NBC's NHL coverage was delayed a year because of the 2004–05 NHL lockout, which wound up cancelling the entire regular season and playoffs. NBC instead, decided to replace five of its scheduled NHL broadcasts with alternate sports programming (such as reruns of NASCAR Year in Review and The Purina Incredible Dog Challenge). NBC also decided to give one of the slots back to local affiliates, some of which filled the time given back to them with infomercials.

DateTeamsStart times (All times Eastern)1/22/05Philadelphia vs. New York RangersChicago vs. St. LouisSan Jose vs. Colorado2 p. m.2 p. m.2 p. m.1/29/05Tampa Bay vs. BostonColorado vs. DetroitAnaheim vs. Minnesota1:30 p. m.1:30 p. m.1:30 p. m.2/5/05Chicago vs. BostonNew Jersey at PhiladelphiaDallas vs. St. Louis2 p. m.2 p. m.2 p. m.2/19/05Philadelphia vs. New York RangersDetroit vs. Tampa BayDallas vs. St. Louis2 p. m.2 p. m.2 p. m.2/26/05New York Islanders vs. New JerseyColorado vs. PhiladelphiaSan Jose vs. Detroit1:30 p. m.1:30 p. m.1:30 p. m.4/9/05New York Rangers vs. BostonChicago vs. St. LouisAnaheim vs. San Jose2 p. m.2 p. m.5 p. m. (would have been seen only in the Pacific Time Zone, Alaska, and Hawaii)

The NHL on Versus was a presentation of National Hockey League (NHL) games broadcast on Versus. The NHL's television deal with Versus was made at the conclusion of the 2004–05 NHL lockout that caused the cancellation of an entire season. At the time, Versus offered a two year, US$130 million contract (with a network option for a third year). Versus was expected to use NHL coverage to show it was a legitimate suitor for Major League Baseball and National Football League packages that were to be negotiated later in 2005, but they did not land agreements with either league. In 2007, the NHL signed an agreement to extend the NHL on Versus to the 2010–2011 season. Versus paid $72.5 million for 2007–2008 and will pay inflationary increases over the next three years. The network broadcast at least 54 games during the regular season (usually two games per week, sometimes three or just one), plus the All Star Game, Skills Competition, and YoungStars game. At the end of the season, the network would have blanket coverage of the playoffs, culminating in the first two games of the Stanley Cup Finals. Versus also showed the NHL Awards Show and first round of the NHL Draft (both a simulcast from Canadian television). Under the terms of the contract running from 2007–2011, Versus aired 54 or more NHL games each season, generally on Monday and Tuesday nights, and provided coverage of as many Stanley Cup Playoff games as possible (generally two per night in the first two rounds; the Conference finals are usually played on alternating days), and two games of the Stanley Cup Finals (games three and four in 2009, 2010 and 2011). In the 2006–07 season, Versus began to carry an exclusive national "game of the week"; the games were typically scheduled on Monday nights, though aired on Tuesday nights during the National Football League season in defense of Monday Night Football. No other broadcaster could carry an NHL game during the window, although the league stated that it would try to arrange its schedule in future seasons so that few other games would be played during the window. Versus also provided postgame coverage after every game they broadcast. The postgame show was initially known as Hockey Central, airing from their Stamford, Connecticut, studios. Beginning in the 2011–12 season, the program was renamed NHL Live, and began incorporating NHL on NBC personalities.

NHL games officially returned to NBC under the new agreement on January 14, 2006, debuting with three regional games (New York Rangers at Detroit Red Wings, Colorado Avalanche at Philadelphia Flyers, which is aired on NBC Sports Philadelphia also followed by the Dallas Stars at Boston Bruins) to substantial praise among hockey fans and writers, who often compare the television network's presentation to Hockey Night in Canada, which is broadcast in full on the NHL Center Ice package (although some writers even speculated that NBC's playoff broadcasts were superior to CBC's, largely because of their choice of announcers and the fact that NBC provided HD coverage of games prior to the Finals). Games one and two of the Stanley Cup Finals were on OLN, while the remainder of the series was on NBC. NBC's broadcast of game seven drew a 3.3 rating, a 21% drop from ABC's 4.2 for game seven in 2004.

DateTeamsStart times (All times Eastern)Commentator crews1/14/06New York Rangers vs. DetroitColorado vs. PhiladelphiaDallas vs. Boston2 p. m.2 p. m.2 p. m. Mike Emrick, John Davidson, and Pierre McGuireDave Strader, Brian Hayward, and Joe MichelettiChris Cuthbert, Peter McNab, and Cammi Granato1/21/06Philadelphia vs. PittsburghDetroit vs. ColoradoSan Jose vs. Los Angeles2 p. m.2 p. m.6 p. m. (West Coast, Alaska, and Hawaii only, Red Wings game was aired in Detroit)Mike Emrick, John Davidson, and Pierre McGuireChris Cuthbert, Peter McNab, and Cammi GranatoDave Strader, Brian Hayward, and Joe Micheletti1/28/06Pittsburgh vs. New York RangersDetroit vs. DallasTampa Bay vs. Philadelphia2 p. m.2 p. m.2 p. m. Mike Emrick, John Davidson, and Pierre McGuireChris Cuthbert, Peter McNab, and Cammi GranatoDave Strader, Brian Hayward, and Joe Micheletti2/4/06Detroit vs. ColoradoDallas vs. St. LouisNew York Islanders vs. Pittsburgh2 p. m.2 p. m.2 p. m. Mike Emrick, John Davidson, and Pierre McGuireChris Cuthbert, Peter McNab, and Cammi GranatoDave Strader, Brian Hayward, and Joe Micheletti4/8/06New York Rangers vs. BostonColorado vs. St. LouisAnaheim vs. Los Angeles2 p. m.2 p. m.6 p. m. Mike Emrick, John Davidson, and Pierre McGuireChris Cuthbert, Peter McNab, and Cammi GranatoDave Strader, Brian Hayward, and Joe Micheletti4/15/06New York Rangers vs. PhiladelphiaMinnesota vs. DallasBoston vs. Atlanta2 p. m.2 p. m.2 p. m. Mike Emrick, John Davidson, and Pierre McGuireChris Cuthbert, Peter McNab, and Cammi GranatoDave Strader, Brian Hayward, and Joe Micheletti

For the 2006–07 season, NBC broadcast three regional NHL games per weekend of coverage during the regular season. The network also scheduled ten coverage windows during the playoffs (not including the Stanley Cup Finals). The additional broadcasts were expected to replace the Arena Football League, which NBC dropped after the 2006 season. NBC also produced two games per week in high definition, up from one in 2005–06. The newly titled NHL on NBC Game of the Week returned on January 13, 2007, with three regional games (between the Los Angeles and St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers) at 2 p. m. Eastern Time. Games started at various times, ranging from 12:30 to 3:30 p. m. during the season (this variation primarily resulted from NBC's commitments to the PGA Tour and other programming).

Following the conclusion of the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals, Kenny Albert and Eddie Olczyk moved over to Turner Sports to serve as their lead broadcast team. Also moving over from NBC to Turner Sports were studio host Liam McHugh and studio analysts Anson Carter and Keith Jones. "Inside the Glass" reporter Pierre McGuire meanwhile, was hired by the Ottawa Senators to serve as the team's senior vice president of player development on July 12, 2021. Secondary play by play announcer John Forslund moved on to become the television play by play broadcaster on Root Sports Northwest for the Seattle Kraken ahead of their inaugural NHL season in fall 2021. Forslund later joined TNT in a fill in role. "Inside the Glass" reporter and studio analyst Brian Boucher joined ESPN/ABC for its NHL coverage as its color commentator. Joining Boucher were analysts A. J. Mleczko, Ryan Callahan, and Dominic Moore. Boucher later joined TNT before the 2023 24 season.

Name Region served NHL team rights Notes NBC Sports California Northern and central California San Jose Sharks Created in 2008, in conjunction with Maloof Sports & Entertainment (owners of the Kings and Monarchs), after the company did not renew their television contract with FSN Bay Area. NBC Sports Chicago Illinois, northwestern Indiana, Iowa, non Milwaukee market areas of southern Wisconsin Chicago Blackhawks NBC owns 20% of this joint venture with the Bulls, Blackhawks, White Sox, and Cubs (who own 20% each themselves). NBC Sports Philadelphia Philadelphia, eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, southern and central New Jersey Philadelphia Flyers Channel serves as flagship of the Comcast SportsNet. Replaced PRISM and SportsChannel Philadelphia as the local broadcaster of the Flyers in 1997.

Name Region served NHL team rights Notes NBC Sports Northwest Oregon and Washington Vancouver Canucks NBC Sports Northwest ceased operations in September 2021 after losing the rights to the Portland Trail Blazers NBA team to Root Sports Northwest. That same month, the Seattle Kraken officially joined the NHL, and Canucks games ceased to air in the Washington and Oregon areas. NBC Sports Washington Delaware, Maryland, south central Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D. C., West Virginia Washington Capitals Ended affiliation with Comcast in 2022 after Monumental Sports & Entertainment acquired full control of the network, though it continued to operate under the NBC Sports Washington name until the end of the 2022–23 season. The network rebranded to Monumental Sports Network in September 2023.