TAVARESMANIA…CATCH IT! (Just not on VS or NBC)
Networks not ready to buy into the Islanders
No Islanders games on NBC, just two on VERSUS – half as many as last season. Paraphrasing Puck Daddy, I guess Mitch Fritz was a bigger draw than John Tavares. Even TSN isn’t very interested – one game vs. the Leafs, one vs. the Habs and a pair of VERSUS simulcasts. Of course, this has nothing to do with Tavares and everything to do with a lineup that is inspiring last-place predictions. Another chance for Scott Gordon to make a bid for the Adams.
65 Responses to TAVARESMANIA…CATCH IT! (Just not on VS or NBC)
Networks not ready to buy into the Islanders
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Mike in Bohemia says:
Depressing…….
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jbranny says:
People like to watch winners. Give this team two years and you will see many more wins and thus, more appearances on national TV.
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mr t says:
i think the isles are best suited to fly below the radar for another year, maybe two, and hopefully suprise people. that is a good spot to be in, in my opinion. versus is dumb for not recognizing how good the games against the rangers are. dont they remember dp’s 50+ save performance from two years ago?
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but let me guess….NBC has the Rangers vs Bruins..Rangers vs Philly….Rangers vs Caps etc airing every weekend?
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JD (e_godard) says:
Gotta love it.
– insert Rodney Dangerfield image –
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sorry not sure what i was thinking it was 3 years ago.
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Actually, after looking over that list I dont feel as bad. Theres a handful of teams that have zero.
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Don says:
But, hey, at least we made it to CBC!
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This doesn’t concern me one bit. We’ve been “disrespected” for how many years now? (and based on our previous records, understandably so)
This team needs to prove something (anything!) before they get national air-time and simply having Tavares on the roster doesn’t do it. If this team develops well and provides fans with the fast-paced offense that Gordon thinks he can produce, thus resulting in wins, then by all means start complaining if then, and only then, the Tavares-led Isles are left off the National On-Air schedule. If they are still disrespected, well then, at least it’s motivation material!!
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On Edge says:
I know I am probably delusional but I would love to see this team make a run for a playoff spot and be a real pain in the butt to play. I think that is a reasonable goal to shoot for this year.
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Ethan K says:
@On Edge: That’s really shooting for the sky though. The Islanders will be better this year, but so will every other team in the division and conference.
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jmbella249 says:
So they’re not on the national air schedule. I’m upset over the local coverage. Isles games get thrown over to the MSG+2 channel all too often. You can’t even find the channel & the coverage is not in HD!
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RichM says:
Did anyone think the worst team in the NHL was going to be a big draw on TV? This team had no 20 goal scorers last year. No one in NY watches the Isles.
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Doug says:
You’re all assuming JT will not be returned to London for another year of OHA hockey – It’s a very strong possibility.
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Jeff Kuntz says:
Doug: JT will be an Islander. And even if he wasn’t going to play for the Islanders, which he will be, he could be sent to Bridgeport – which he won’t be because he’s going to be an Islander.
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Jim Clark says: Half as many appearances on a channel that few can get and even fewer watch. More brilliant Bettman strategy.
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LittleJimmy says:
Agree w/#5 and #13.. Plus what do you expect when the ENEMY OWNS the TV rights to the Islanders…it’s a joke!!
Until we break away from Evil Dolan, we will always get screwed…
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Peter Puck says:
I think its a major plus not to be on NBC – look at the commentary crew there. As for Versus its a premium channel on Cablevision. I am a big supporter of home team commentary – most of the time at least.
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Yes its kind of insulting, but I hate national broadcasts so I am selfishly happy about this. I am personally more concerned with whether the Isles wind up on MSG, MSG2, MSG+, MSG+2, MSG2+2, etc than I am about national broadcasts.
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UIF says:
Put yourself in a network exec’s shoes. I consider myself a pretty big fan, and even I can’t make up any scenarios in my head where we’re competitive this season.
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StevieL says:
You would think that Oct 3 game vs. the Cup champs would have some draw. JT’s home debut against Sid the Kid!Lighthouse deadline. That’s a big day in the NHL! Oh well, I guess you have to earn your exposure!
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Mike L says:
Hey it could be worse. We could be the Blackhawks a few years ago or the current Phoenix Coyotes and be blacked out of LOCAL broadcasts.
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Mikko Makela says:
Does anyone know what happened to Versus HD on Time Warner? It was 794 but as of yesterday some other station is 794. If they got rid of Versus HD that is horrible for hockey fans in NYC.
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Jimmy Mac says:
Just get Centre Ice… then you don’t have to worry about the networks.
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Strummer's Army says:
I’m surprised. I didn’t expect to be on tons of national games but more then they were awarded. You’d think with names like Tavares, Bailey, Okposo etc the broadcasters would understand it’s an opportunity to view the birth of something special (much like they told us with the Pens).
Yes, the Isles are not certain to have one of their two biggest stars in DiPietro but the team has vastly improved it’s goaltending over last season which alone should make it a better team.
Yes, the defense is again terrible so don’t expect much but still there are some stars in the making and everyone would have to say the team is better then last year.
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#15 it’s actually not even a possibility JT will be returned to Junior. Based on the amount of years he has played in the OHL the Isles are free to send him to the AHL if they choose, which is a moot point because he’ll be an Islander just like Bailey was last season. The one place he won’t play is in the OHL.
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Staten Islander says:
I’m glad they won’t be on NBC, this way i don’t have to look at Mike @#$%^%$~@#^%$ Milbury’s face between periods
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Doug(15), I think JT could show up in a wheelchair and he’d still not end up playing in London.
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Chris Mc says:
Yeah seriously Doug, lay off the hallucinogens. There is no way Tavares isnt wearing an Islanders jersey the whole season
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guru says:
to #24 – it’s a channel 481 now, NHL network HD is 468
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geduffer says:
For those who were speculating – JT is eligible for Bridgeport because he’s played 4 years of junior. Otherwise he would have to go back to London. It’s all moot as he’s staying on the Isle.
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Marc from Troy says:
Anyone know if Doug (15) has put down the crack pipe yet? Just say no, Doug. Just say no.
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art says:
I think we should worry about filling the colesium and not how many times we are on versus. Besides if the NMVC is poorly attended on those games it wouln’t help our image accross the league
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ps to my previous post, if the LH is still not settled well into the season and Wang sees big enthusiastic sell-outs, whule its not going to be a deciding factor if he fights on and keeps the team on LI it certainly would hurt.
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D-Money says:
Anyone know if Isles games will be in HD on Center Ice this year? At some point last year, they stopped broadcasting the Isles feed in HD, and I thought I heard it had something to do with MSG.
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West Coast Fan says:
I read somewhere where the NHL and national networks characterized the opener as the Pens final exhibition game of the season…
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Mike from Philly says:
Who on this team is worth watching besides Tavares and maybe Okposo. There is no outside draw to the Islanders. They act small market and cry small market so therefore the networks are going to treat them like a small market. Until the Isles off ice crap gets resolved and this team gets serious about winnig it will be more of the same.
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Pete DeBenedetto says:
It’s funny how the Toronto market has all but forgotten about Tavares since he was drafted and accepted the Islanders…..sour grapes.
I agree….flying under the radar is the way to go. I’m sure John feels the same way.
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Madchef says:
as long as i get to see them I dont care what channel they are on. plus just like in every other sport if by some chance the isles have agood year and JT is a monster out of the gate, who is to say they wont pick up a game or two of theirs down the road
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Don't Mind the Haters says:
I don’t think it’s too bad b/c last year TSN didn’t have any games. Only picked up 2 VERSUS games and put them on TSN2 near the end of the year.
Surprising is that CBC only has 1 NYI game (same as last year / against the same team OTT).
But if we were hoping for the NBC outdoor game against the Rags in 2010-2011 you would have thought NBC would have broadcast a regular NYI-NYR game to get a sense of the TV Market.
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Pat says:
What concerns me more than the national games at this point is the 3rd class citizens were treated like by MSG. How much longer is our contract with them. We would be a much better fit on SNY and get much more exclusive coverage.
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doc says:
I could care less if the rest of the country gets to see the Islanders… As long as I/we get to see them that is all that counts.
Ducks fans aren’t complaining that they wish more Islander games were on Versus and neither are Sharks fans.
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Matt says:
I like Howie and Billy anyway. Once the team gets better, we’ll see more games on National tv.
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Leviticus says:
I certainly hope JT’s performance is going to be as good as most fans thought it would be, because his impact on the team off the ice is nowhere what most of y’all suggested way back when… Remember, respect, TV coverage, etc?
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Like every thread, everyday, all that really counts is whether we have a team on the Island. In other words, will anyone care about any of the so called problems in the lineup, management or schedule if we learn that the team on the island is history? So yea the stuff is a good diversion for all of us but is there ANYTHING we can do to save the LH and the franchise?
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Isles have a new look to their website, and I noticed the link to pointblank isn’t there..
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DLR says:
Any team with Tambellini on the roster doesnt deserve prime time status.
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DLR, tambellini just needs another chance. he will find his scoring touch soon enough. haven’t we learned from the past and giving up on young players with plenty of skill?
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Tambellini has had his chances. Lets not make this a Tambellini thread. We’ve had that already. The guy posted a career high 15 pts in 65 games last year. In pretty much the same amount of games Bruno Gervais scored 19 pts. Tambelinni is a waste of a roster space
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Tavares #1 says:
@#15….JT is a lock to start with the Isles.
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#38 The Isles are a small market, not just because they act it, or cry it; Long Island is a small market, like it or not. I’m excited to see Tavares on MSG+6 if I have to.
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Jim says:
Said it before, say it again, the NHL does not even have the Isles on thier radar cause they don’t even consider them NHL caliber. (I do however like to root for the underdog and believe that we can go out and suprise some teams.)
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Blizzard says: Im with everybody else, as long as I can see the games……what irks me though is when the Islanders are on the cast off channel while the Devils are in HD. I live on Long Island not New Jersey. I want my Islanders games in HD dammit!!!!
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Kaszycki's Krew says:
By Dec 9th – the Isles will be done with T.O. and MTL on the road. All weeknight games. I am disappointed they did not get to be on HNIC as the lead game one night during the season….
Honestly, this is not the year to be worrying about national exposure. Lighthouse and continuing the rebuild are paramount. We have to to *earn* the respect back by winning. There is no disrespect going on here – as the team has done nothing to warrant the coverage. We will always be the NFL equivalent of the “1 PM Sunday Game” until we prove differently.
Winning cures all ills. till then, it will be as someone mentioned – The Home Channel of the Philadelpiha Flyers, Pens, Rags and Caps.
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Alex G says:
This is fine by me. Howie is one of the better play by play guys in the league and billy is obviously a top color guy seeing as how the nhl tapped him for playoff games
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chip saunders says:
It is reasonably that the Isle’s aren’t thought of very highly by the networks. Any national coverage is due only to Taveras. Still,it doesn’t matter as long as we get Howie and Billy here locally.
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Vlad from Brooklyn says:
I would rather see and listen to Billy and Howie in the regular digital signal then Milbury in HD. Plus it’s easier to find most games on one channel instead of tracking them all over the broadcast listings. If I have fun to watch the Isles games, I don’t care where to watch it. Go JT! Go KO! Go Isles!
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Tom says:
This really doesn’t surprise me. How many nationally televised games do the Detroit Lions & the Kansas City Royals get? If the Islanders ever become a team people are interested in watching, they’ll get a few games on TV, heck maybe EVEN radio!
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19 ISLE in NJ 22 says:
Unfortunate … but come on … lets be honest with ourselves… What has Garth done this summer then making the obvious 1st round draft pick?
This team has a great new prospect who will have his struggles at times … and has solidified its goaltending situation … but it still isn’t going to be an electrifying team to watch.
Next season I’m hoping for a quantum leap in talent … both from prospects and FA … that is of course if the LHP is approved.
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… in addition … I sure hope that in the mean time the Isles don’t fall off the media map in as far as overall exposure. Radio / TV = exposure … those cross river meanies at the Garden have full control of that.
Think if Pepsi had to rely on Coke’s ad sales division for it’s commercial advertising. Nuff said.
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Isles fan Ken says:
not surprising, but i’d rather hear Howie & Billy anyway. They can have the rags.
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If the Lighthouse ever gets built, there should be a LH channel. Like YES or SNY. It could have all the games, some of the minor league baseball games, advertizing for all things LH, a nightly sports desk, the weekly show about the Isles.
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Jzimm says:
I really couldn’t care any less than I do about the Islanders’ national coverage. I don’t want bandwaggon fans anyway.
who cares for Versus. Carolina, Anaheim, Vancouver and a few other teams are not even getting any appearance.
I’m fine with Tavares just making the Hightlights reel instead during the breaks.
I get to watch him 82 times on MSG+. fine by me.