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STATS LLC, the world's leading sports information provider, announced today that NBC Sports will incorporate the company's research and production resources in its coverage of the National Hockey League (NHL). NBC Sports debuts its NHL coverage on Saturday January 14, 2006.
NBC Sports will utilize STATS' industry renowned web-based statistics tool, STATS Pass along with its celebrated game notes and bullet facts while enjoying immediate access to its expert research staff.
"We're very excited to be a supporting member of NBC's National Hockey League coverage. We share their passion for the NHL and bringing hockey fans an in-depth, unique view of the game," said STATS Executive Vice President, Steve Byrd.
STATS Pass provides a quick and easy way to research STATS' vast supply of current and historical NHL information. STATS Pass has the ability to tailor the company's proprietary databases and develop individual custom reports by tapping into a countless supply of statistical leaders and trailers, splits, situational breakdowns and player and team game logs and rankings.
NHL ON NBC STUDIO SHOW
Former NHL All-Stars Bill Clement and Ray Ferraro will lead NBC's studio team. The studio show will originate from ice level at "The Rink at 30 Rock," allowing the studio team to use the ice for demonstration purposes. Joining Clement and Ferraro for this week's coverage as a guest analyst in the studio is hockey legend Mark Messier, whose No. 11 will be retired by the Rangers tomorrow night at Madison Square Garden. Each week of the regular season, the studio show will feature a prominent guest analyst from the hockey world.
PRODUCTION ELEMENTS
NBC Sports will mike players each week to bring fans as close as possible to the action on the ice. Another prominent feature of NBC's NHL broadcast coverage will be the introduction of "Goalie Cam," a lipstick-sized camera imbedded in the goalie's mask, allowing fans to witness the game from the goaltender's perspective. NBC also will utilize a team of "Inside-the-Glass" reporters consisting of former players and coaches, who will report from between the teams' benches as opposed to the traditional corner runway position. The "Inside-the-Glass" reporters, similar to NASCAR pit reporters, will provide news, strategy and analysis during the heat of the action.
HISTORY OF NHL ON NBC
On May 19, 2004, NBC and the NHL announced a two-year agreement on a partnership for NBC to televise NHL games. The partnership, which begins this season, may be renewed for an additional two years at NBC's option.
NBC was the first U.S. network to air a national broadcast of Stanley Cup Playoff hockey, providing coverage of four Sunday afternoon games during the 1966 postseason. The contract began with the April 10 game from Chicago Stadium between the Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings, with Win Elliot calling play-by-play and Bill Mazer serving as analyst (final score: Detroit 7, Chicago 0). To publicize the NHL on NBC, the Stanley Cup made its inaugural "Today Show" appearance on April 8, 1966, joined by Rangers coach Emile "The Cat" Francis.
NBC would reappear to televise games for three seasons beginning with the 1972-73 season. In the final year of the contract, 1974-75, 14 regular season games and seven Stanley Cup Playoff games were broadcast. The 1973-74 broadcasts featured, for the first time, all players' names on the back of their uniforms and a new between periods feature titled "Showdown," with 20 (16 shooters and four goaltenders) of the League's greatest players going head-to-head in a penalty shot competition. The NBC NHL broadcast team from 1972-75 featured Tim Ryan doing play-by-play, Ted Lindsay as analyst and Brian MacFarlane as host.
NBC televised the NHL All-Star Game from 1990-94.
NHL ON NBC REGULAR SEASON COVERAGE
NBC Sports will present six weeks of NHL regular-season action: Jan. 14, Jan. 21, Jan. 28, Feb. 4, April 8 and April 15 (see complete schedule below). Schedule highlights include rookie sensation Sidney Crosby and hockey legend Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins hosting the Flyers on Jan. 21, and the Red Wings visiting their Conference rivals the Avalanche on Jan. 28. The Avalanche, Stars, Red Wings, Flyers and Rangers have the most appearances on NBC's NHL schedule with four each. The Penguins and Bruins both appear on the network three times during the season. The St. Louis Blues and the Los Angeles Kings each appear twice, and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Atlanta Thrashers, Minnesota Wild, New York Islanders, San Jose Sharks and Tampa Bay Lightning each appear once.
NHL ON NBC STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF COVERAGE
NBC Sports will provide coverage of the Conference Quarterfinals on April 22, 23, 29 and 30; the Conference Semifinals, May 6, 7, 13 and 14; the Conference Finals on May 20; and Games 3-7 of the Stanley Cup Final in primetime.
About STATS LLC
STATS LLC offers the best from sports information leaders AP MegaSports and STATS, Inc. The combination offers unparalleled packages of premium sports content from sports scores and statistics to editorial content. STATS' MegaSports product offers customers breaking sports news from AP's national wire, game previews, photos and audio content, scores, schedules and a variety of other sports-related content in a digital format. STATS' SportsPower is a rip n' read service provided to broadcasters. STATS' innovative sports information solutions are utilized in numerous business segments: professional teams; sports broadcast production, cable and satellite networks; interactive television; broadband, wireless and internet; game developers and fantasy sports providers; print media and wire services. STATS is owned jointly by the Associated Press and News Corporation.
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