NHL Finally Figures Out New Media?

It appears that this coming Wednesday will herald a big change at NHL.com. The website will be host to NHL Online which is described as a seven-channel digital network - really? they have digital on computers these days? - which will bring you further inside the league than you could ever imagine.

The biggest issue I've had with the NHL - ok, maybe just one of the issues - has been the lack of access to interesting content. From hot dog reviews by Rick Dipietro to shopping sessions with Alexander Ovechkin, this appears to be taking steps to remedy that.

In today's world, online video is huge and second-nature and the NHL tried to answer with the NHL.tv portal earlier this year. The final grade? A giant F. The filing system is confusing at best, videos are rarely updated - who wants to watch a pre-game media conference two days after the game? - and where are these "Classic Games" that are supposed to be there?

So will this be the panacea to keep casual and hardcore fans interested in the game? Or will they launch this and fail at the ultimate litmus test of all online endeavours: regular updated content.

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NHL all the time with NHL Online

TSN Close to Signing New Deal

The Globe and Mail is reporting that TSN is close to signing a contract extension with the NHL. The deal is purported to last into the 2013-2014 season (matching CBC's latest extension) and would include more Canadian team games, which does mean more Leafs games. Good with the bad folks.

The best part of this deal is the inclusion of broadband rights to games televised on TSN. TSN has done a great job of streaming international competitions such as the World Juniors and World Championships. If they also start streaming NHL games, all the better. The more accessible games are, the more people you will attract.

I've railed in the past about how the NHLs implementation of streaming video. Their policy up until last year was to effectively ignore online video though so I didn't complain too much. It looks like they are wising up. Or they're being dragged kicking and screaming by their partners and competitors.