Aug 21 2008
Not a lot of tube time for Thrashers this season
By Bud L. Ellis
thrashers.today.com
ATLANTA – So, you want to see the Atlanta Thrashers play on the tube in 2008-09, but you don’t live in Georgia.
Your options are limited.
When national TV executives study the schedule, a team that finished with the third-worst record in the NHL doesn’t exactly make them drool. Perhaps that’s why the Thrashers will appear on national TV only twice this season: Oct. 28 against the Flyers and March 16 vs. the Capitals. Both games will be televised on Versus, which – unfortunately – remains the main NHL cable carrier in the U.S.
Seriously, sidetracking from the Thrashers’ lack of exposure for a second and speaking about hockey’s lack of exposure in the U.S., having the games on Versus is always going to hurt the NHL. ESPN barely shows highlights anymore now that the Worldwide Leader In Sports doesn’t broadcast games. It’s a shame, too, because there are a lot of people who would watch the sport if they could get Versus.
OK, back to the Thrashers: of course, no games on NBC as of right now (the network will pick up games for late in the season, so if the Thrashers aren’t contending, they aren’t playing on NBC this season. You saw the Thrashers from time to time last season on NBC and Versus, but remember, Atlanta was coming off the Southeast Division title and did play host to the All-Star game. No All-Star game plus a bad season means if you want to watch the Thrashers and you live away from the Peach State, coughing up the cash for the NHL Center Ice package is your only option.
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3 Responses to “Not a lot of tube time for Thrashers this season”
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Will they still be on Sports South or whatever it is called these days?
Mike: Yes, the Thrashers will be on SportsSouth again this season … I don’t think the schedule has been announced yet.
But, since the SportsSouth regional networks also cover the Hurricanes, Predators and Lightning, you have to be in Georgia to get Le Thrash. So, if you’re not in Georgia, you’re not going to get much of the Thrashers without Center Ice.
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Thanks for the info.