THIS is supporting the fans
It’s a piece of marketing work that is absent from the NHL by and large — though the individual markets see it more often than not — teams reaching out to do something for the fans that supports the base and keeps the NHL product in plain view of all those who wish to see it.
It would seem the Lightning themselves are the ones to thank for getting Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals on broadcast television in the greater Tampa Bay metro area. After WFLA abandoned ignored passed over hockey fans in the area and the chance to broadcast the game — they didn’t step up to find a host for the show in their “absence”.
The Lightning, on the other hand, did.
The Lightning brokered a deal Friday afternoon to have the game be shown on WTTA-Channel 38. The game is being broadcast by NBC, but WFLA-Channel 8, the local NBC affiliate, could not carry the game because it is carrying its annual All Children’s Hospital telethon.
It’s believed the Lightning is spending $20,000 to buy up all the local advertising time so that Ch. 38 would agree to show the game. Channel 38 is channel 6 on Bright House Networks cable systems and channel 14 on Verizon.
(hat tip to RJ)
UPDATE: THE DEAL FELL THROUGH. The Lightning game will only be broadcast locally on Catch 47 (Bright House Cable network) and WFLA’s HD channel…
June 2nd, 2007 at 12:49 pm
According to WFLA’s Website, to see the game on Veizon you need to tune to their digital channel 808 or their HD channel 835.
On Bright House, the channels are 608 and 708 or Catch 47.
June 3rd, 2007 at 9:36 am
What a load of crap, the NHL and NBC and TAMPA -tele-thon suck. I have DTV and could find the game to save my life. The NHL is a BUSH league and I am glad the season is almost over. I love hockey, I watch more hockey than anyone I know. The only other stanley cup final game I missed was when I was in Europe last summer. I can’t believe they couldn’t get the game on hockey package or make the NBC broadcast accesible. WEAK WEAK WEAK.