NHL on SportsChannel America
{{short description|US television program}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image = SportsChannel.JPG
| caption =
| alt_name = NHL on SportsChannel
Hockey Night America
| genre = Sports
| creator = SportsChannel America
| writer =
| director = Larry Brown
Billy McCoy (senior director)
| creative_director =
| developer =
| presenter = Bob Papa
Leandra Reilly
Lee Zeidman
| starring = See announcers section below
| voices =
| narrated =
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| composer =
| country = United States
| language = English
| num_seasons = 4
| num_episodes =
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer = Jeff Ruhe{{YouTube|title=Cup Finals Close 1992 SC America|id=fK3AdHkw9dw}}{{cite news |last=Hasen|first=Jeff|date=October 4, 1989|title=Broadcast Column: Sportscast Preview Release at will|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/10/04/Broadcast-Column-Sportscast-PreviewRelease-at-will/9707623476800/|work=UPI|location= |access-date=June 4, 2022}}
| producer = John Shannon (senior producer){{cite web| url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-01-16-9101050382-story.html| title= AS TV FARE, HOCKEY STILL OUT IN COLD|first=Steve|last=Nidetz|newspaper=Chicago Tribune| date= January 16, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016}}
Mike Connelly{{cite web| url= https://www.sportsvideo.org/2019/01/23/the-svg-podcast-michael-connelly-svp-ep-fox-sports-regional-networks/| title= The SVG Podcast: Michael Connelly, SVP/EP, Fox Sports Regional Networks|first=Brandon|last=Costa|work=Sports Video Group| date= January 23, 2019| access-date= March 15, 2021}}
| location =
| cinematography = Terry Ford
Dean Anderson
Bob Boykin
Marty Muzik
| camera =
| runtime = 180 minutes or until game ends (including commercials)
| network = SportsChannel America
| company = National Hockey League
NBC Sports
| first_aired = {{Start date|1988|10|16}}
| last_aired = {{End date|1992|06|01}}
| related = {{Plainlist|
}}
}}
The NHL on SportsChannel America was the presentation of National Hockey League broadcasts{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com/search?q=NHL+on+SportsChannel+America&btnG=Search+Books&tbm=bks |title=NHL on SportsChannel America, About 769 results (0.43 seconds) |website=Google Books |accessdate=29 April 2013}} on the now defunct SportsChannel America{{YouTube|title=NHL Open SportsChannel America 1988|id=a56I5li3IpI}} cable television network.
Terms of the deal
Taking over for ESPN,{{cite web| url= https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-1988-11-16-2663778-story.html| title= MAYBE ESPN DID FANS A FAVOR IN LOSING THE NHL|first=Gary|last=Blockus|newspaper=The Morning Call| date= November 16, 1988| access-date= February 9, 2016}}{{cite web| url= https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1988-08-19-8802170671-story.html| title= PICK ANY HOUR -- OR HEMISPHERE -- TO TUNE IN COSTAS|first=Jim|last=Sarni|work=Sun Sentinel| date= August 19, 1988| access-date= February 9, 2016}} SportsChannel's contract paid US$51 million{{cite book |last=Kunz|first=William M.|author-link= |date= 23 April 2020|title=The Political Economy of Sports Television|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kuzeDwAAQBAJ&dq=1990+stanley+cup+finals+sportschannel+america&pg=PT64|location= |publisher= Routledge|page= |isbn=9781000060447}}{{cite news| url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/06/22/sportschannel-america-interested-in-buying-hts/fbab2dfb-af45-49f4-bd98-0b20a61c3b00/| title= SPORTSCHANNEL AMERICA INTERESTED IN BUYING HTS|first=Norman|last=Chad|newspaper=Washington Post| date= June 22, 1988| access-date= February 9, 2016}}{{cite web| url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-10-03-sp-4343-story.html| title= NHL 1991-92 : There's a Lot Not to Watch : Hockey: There is no national TV, no collective bargaining agreement and no Eric Lindros. But there are Sharks.|first=Steve|last=Springer|newspaper=Los Angeles Times| date= October 3, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016}} ($17 million per year{{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1990/10/08/the-bucks-start-here-this-off-season-the-blues-unexpectedly-made-two-players-very-rich-and-the-fallout-has-been-felt-throughout-the-league-title-3dthe|date=October 8, 1990|first=Jay|last=Greenberg|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=THE BUCKS START HERE}}) over three years,{{cite news |last= |first= |date=April 2, 1991|title=The News - Apr 2, 1991|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1290&dat=19910402&id=UjBUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ao0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4322,509279|work=news.google.com|location= |access-date=}} more than double{{cite news| url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/11/26/nhl-and-sportschannel-more-is-less/f82b8589-b0e8-47fb-919f-832aca20dc7b/| title= NHL AND SPORTSCHANNEL MORE IS LESS|first=Norman|last=Chad|newspaper=Washington Post| date= November 26, 1988| access-date= February 9, 2016}}{{cite book |last=Bass|first=Alan|date= 25 January 2011|title=The Great Expansion: The Ultimate Risk That Changed the Nhl Forever|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JgLqzbebH4gC&q=nhl+sportschannel+america&pg=PA198|publisher=iUniverse|page=198|isbn= 9781450286077}} what ESPN had paid ($24 million) for the previous three years{{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1991/03/18/shooting-star-brett-hull-has-become-a-goal-scorer-of-near-gretzkian-dimensions|date=March 18, 1991|first=Richard|last=Demak|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=SHOOTING STAR}} SportsChannel America managed to get a fourth NHL season{{cite web| url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-10-04-9103300943-story.html| title= NHL FEELS PINCH IN TV DEAL|first=Steve|last=Nidetz|newspaper=Chicago Tribune| date= October 4, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016}} for just $5 million.{{cite web| url= https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/04/sports/hockey-nhl-again-signs-contract-with-sportschannel-america.html| title= HOCKEY; N.H.L. Again Signs Contract With SportsChannel America|first=Joe|last=LaPointe|newspaper=New York Times| date= October 4, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1992/02/17/scorecard|date=February 17, 1992|first=Richard|last=Demak|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=SCORECARD}}{{cite book |last=Gatehouse|first=Jonathon|date= October 2012|title=The Instigator: How Gary Bettman Remade the NHL and Changed the Game Forever|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ryb0O7riZnQC&q=nhl+sportschannel+america&pg=PA158|publisher= Triumph Books|page=158|isbn= 9781623686567}}{{cite book |last=Moshavi|first=Sharon D.|date=January 13, 1992|title=BC-1992-01-13.pdf|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1992/BC-1992-01-13.pdf|page=78}}{{cite web| url= https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1991-09-26-1991269142-story.html| title= Lack of TV contract doesn't shake up NHL|author=Newsday|newspaper=Baltimore Sun | date= September 22, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016}}{{cite web| url= https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1991-10-04-0000211242-story,amp.html| title= NHL, SPORTSCHANNEL SIGN ONE-YEAR DEAL| first= Jim| last= Shea| newspaper= Hartford Courant| date= October 4, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016| archive-date= July 13, 2021| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210713120813/https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1991-10-04-0000211242-story,amp.html| url-status= dead}}{{cite web| url= https://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-xpm-19911004-1991-10-04-9110040190-story.html| title= LOCAL TV STATION GIVES NFL FANS OPTION PLAY|first=Jennifer|last=Williams|newspaper=Daily Press| date= October 4, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016}}
The SportsChannel America deal was in a sense, a power play created by Charles Dolan and Bill Wirtz. Dolan was still several years away from getting control of Madison Square Garden, and Wirtz owned 25% of SportsChannel Chicago. NHL president John Ziegler{{cite web |url=https://puckjunk.com/2018/10/29/john-ziegler-did-more-harm-than-good-for-hockey/|title=John Ziegler Did More Harm Than Good for Hockey|last=Barry|first=Sal|date=October 29, 2018|website=Puck Junk}}{{cite news|last=Deacon|first=James|date=June 8, 1992|title=Palace revolt|url=https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1992/6/8/palace-revolt|work=Maclean's|location=|access-date=|archive-date=March 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316151019/https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1992/6/8/palace-revolt|url-status=dead}} convinced the board of governors that SportsChannel America was a better alternative than a proposed NHL Channel backed by Paramount and Viacom that had interests in the MSG Network and NESN.
=SportsChannel's availability=
Unfortunately, SportsChannel America was only available in a few{{cite web |url=https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Guest-Writer/The-Good-the-Bad-and-the-Ugly-of-John-Zieglers-NHL-reign/163/95608|title=The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of John Ziegler's NHL reign|last=Moncour|first=Gilles|date=October 29, 2018|website=HockeyBuzz.com}} major markets (notably absent though were Detroit, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis{{cite news |last=Strachan|first=Al|date=March 15, 2005|title=NHL needs a TV partner|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Columnists/Strachan/2005/03/15/961494.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103093933/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Columnists/Strachan/2005/03/15/961494.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 3, 2019|newspaper=Toronto Sun}}){{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1988/08/22/woe-canada-a-nation-wept-as-its-hero-nhl-star-wayne-gretzky-was-traded-from-edmonton-to-los-angeles|date=August 22, 1988|first=E.M.|last=Swift|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=WOE, CANADA}}{{Cite news|title=NHL broadcast boss pleased with cable move|date=May 2, 1989|first=Rudy|last=Martzke|newspaper=USA Today|page=3C}}{{cite book |last=Staudohar|first=Paul D.|date= 31 May 2018|title=Playing for Dollars: Labor Relations and the Sports Business|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XLdcDwAAQBAJ&q=1990+nhl+all+star+game+on+nbc&pg=PA138|publisher= Cornell University Press|page=138|isbn= 9781501717857}} and reached only a 1/3 of the households that ESPN{{cite web| url= https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1991-10-03-1991276186-story.html| title= Underexposed NHL needs to write Dear John letter to Ziegler|first=Bob|last=Ryan|work=Baltimore Sun|authorlink=Bob Ryan| date= October 3, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016}} did at the time.{{cite book |title=Playing for dollars: labor relations and the sports business |last=Staudohar |first= Paul D. |year=1996 |publisher=Cornell University Press |page=[https://archive.org/details/playingfordollar00stau/page/n150 137] |isbn=9780801483424 |url=https://archive.org/details/playingfordollar00stau |url-access=registration }}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1988/06/27/117913/a-better-open-too-much-brent-abc-improved-at-brookline-but-brent-musburgers-ego-showed-in-the-nba-finals|title=A Better Open; Too Much Brent|date=June 27, 1988|magazine=Sports Illustrated|first=William|last=Taaffe}} SportsChannel America was seen in fewer than 10 million households.{{cite web| url= https://buffalonews.com/news/sportschannels-coverage-wont-be-seen-line-is-overdrawn-here/article_04bb7535-d2c7-5f74-bbed-5bf660e04cc6.html| title= SPORTSCHANNEL'S COVERAGE WON'T BE SEEN LINE IS OVERDRAWN HERE|first=Alan|last=Pergament|newspaper=The Buffalo News| date= October 4, 1990| access-date= February 9, 2016}}{{cite web| url= https://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-xpm-19900119-1990-01-19-9001180311-story.html| title= HOCKEY RETURNS TO NETWORK TV WITH ALL-STAR GAME|first=Terry|last=Armour|work=Daily Press| date= January 19, 1990| access-date= February 9, 2016}} In comparison, by the 1991–92 season,{{cite web| url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-06-01-9202190025-story.html| title= NHL'S TV POLICY RILES ANNOUNCERS |first=Steve|last=Nidetz|work=Chicago Tribune| date= June 1, 1992 | access-date= February 9, 2016}} ESPN was available in 60.5 million{{cite book |last=Gatehouse|first=Jonathon|date= October 2012|title=The Instigator: How Gary Bettman Remade the NHL and Changed the Game Forever|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ryb0O7riZnQC&q=John+Ziegler+SportsChannel+America+nhl&pg=PA158|publisher= Triumph Books|page=158|isbn= 9781623686567}} homes whereas SportsChannel America was available in only 25 million. As a matter of fact, in the first year of the deal ({{NHL Year|1988}}), SportsChannel America was available in only 7 million homes when compared to ESPN's reach of 50 million.{{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1991/10/07/greed-indeed-in-its-expansion-strategy-as-in-too-many-other-matters-the-nhl-has-shown-a-passion-for-fools-gold-title-3dgreed|date=October 7, 1991|first=Jay|last=Greenberg|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=GREED, INDEED}} When the SportsChannel deal ended in 1992, the league returned to ESPN{{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1992/10/19/dont-change-that-channel-contrary-to-conventional-wisdom-the-nhl-can-make-it-on-tv-with-a-few-alterations-title-3ddon|date=October 19, 1992|first=E.M.|last=Swift|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=DON'T CHANGE THAT CHANNEL}} for another contract that would pay US$80 million over five years.{{cite web| url= https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1992/09/03/nhl-okays-espn-deal/| title= NHL okays ESPN deal|first=Cammy|last=Clark|work=Tampa Bay Times| date= September 3, 1992| access-date= February 9, 2016}}
SportsChannel America took advantage of using their regional sports networks' feed of a game, graphics and all, instead of producing a show from the ground up, most of the time. Distribution of SportsChannel America across the country was limited to cities that had a SportsChannel regional sports network or affiliate.{{cite book |last1=Reed|last2=Reed|first1=R.M.|first2=M.K.|author-link= |date= 6 December 2012|title=The Encyclopedia of Television, Cable, and Video|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gU3uBwAAQBAJ&dq=1992+Stanley+Cup+Finals+SportsChannel+America&pg=PA89|location= |publisher= Springer|page=89|isbn=9781468465211}} Very few cable systems in non-NHL territories picked it up as a stand-alone service, with many only taking it on a pay-per-view basis during the Stanley Cup Finals. In addition to the SportsChannel regional networks, Maryland-based Home Team Sports and Minneapolis-based Midwest Sports Channel (independently owned and operated despite the similar sounding name) carried the games. In 1991, two Prime Sports networks, KBL (Pittsburgh) and Prime Sports Northwest agreed to carry the playoff package, expanding it reach to an additional 2.6 million homes.{{cite news |last1=Hasen |first1=Jeff |title=Broadcast Column: Sportscast |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/03/29/Broadcast-Column-Sportscast/3589670222800/ |access-date=25 June 2021 |work=UPI |date=March 29, 1991 |language=en}}
==Philadelphia==
Since SportsChannel Philadelphia did not air until January 1990, PRISM (owned by Rainbow Media, the owners of SportsChannel, at the time) picked up the 1989 Stanley Cup Finals. Other than that, there was no NHL television coverage in Philadelphia except for the Flyers for the first half of the original deal.
{{See also|1988–89 Philadelphia Flyers season|1989–90 Philadelphia Flyers season}}
=Lawsuit=
As previously mentioned, the NHL would return to ESPN following the 1991–92 season. Shortly after the ESPN deal was signed, SportsChannel America would contend{{cite web| url= https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1992-09-04-0000112893-story.html| title= SPORTSCHANNEL SUES OVER NHL DEAL|first=Jim|last=Sarni|newspaper=Hartford Courant| date= September 4, 1992| access-date= February 9, 2016}}{{cite web| url= https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/1992-10-11/the-puck-stops-here-for-espn| title= The Puck Stops Here For Espn|first=Julie|last=Tilsner|work=Bloomberg| date= October 11, 1992| access-date= February 9, 2016}} that its contract with the NHL gave them the right to match third-party offers for television rights for the 1992–93 season. SportsChannel America accused the NHL of violating a nonbinding clause. SportsChannel America argued that it had been deprived of its contractual right of first refusal for the 1992–93 season. Appellate Division of New York State Supreme Court justice Shirley Fingerwood would deny SportsChannel America's request for an injunction against the NHL. Upholding that opinion, the appellate court found the agreement on which SportsChannel based its argument to be "too imprecise and ambiguous" and ruled that SportsChannel failed to show irreparable harm.
In the aftermath of losing the NHL, SportsChannel America was left with little more than outdoors shows and Canadian Football League games. For SportsChannel, the deal was a disaster overall. While the cable channel three years later, was available in 20 million homes (as previously mentioned), the broadcaster lost as much as $10 million on the agreement, and soon faded into obscurity. Some local SportsChannel stations – which carried NHL games in their local markets – were not affected.
Coverage overview
=Regular season coverage=
SportsChannel America televised about 80–100 games a season{{cite news|title=USA NETWORK MAKING SOME MAJOR-LEAGUE CUTS|date=February 10, 1984|newspaper=Miami Herald|page=7F}}
{{cite book |last= |first= |author-link= |title=FCC Record: A Comprehensive Compilation of Decisions ..., Volume 8, Issue 5|year= 1993|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DUqvJBWqgfsC&dq=1982+Stanley+Cup+Finals+USA+Network&pg=PA4900|location= |publisher= |page=4900|isbn=}} (whereas ESPN aired about 33 in the {{NHL Year|1987}} season). Whereas the previous deal with ESPN called for only one nationally televised game a week, SportsChannel America televised hockey two nights a week in NHL cities and three nights a week elsewhere.
It was very rare to have a regular-season game on SportsChannel America that wasn't a regional SportsChannel production from the Chicago Blackhawks, Hartford Whalers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, or Philadelphia Flyers. The San Jose Sharks were added in {{NHL Year|1991}}. As previously suggested, SportsChannel America for the most part, used the local telecasts. The dedicated SportsChannel America station was little more than an overflow channel in the New York area for SportsChannel New York.
=Special programming=
In 1989, SportsChannel America provided the first ever American coverage of the NHL Draft.{{Cite news|title=A look at the NHL's 27th draft|date=June 16, 1989|first=Kevin|last=Allen|newspaper=USA Today|page=8C}} In September 1989, SportsChannel America covered the Washington Capitals' training camp in Sweden and pre-season tour{{Cite news|title=Soviets In, With Army and Dynamo|newspaper=Washington Post|date=December 26, 1988|first=Robert|last=Fachet}} of the Soviet Union. The Capitals were joined by the Stanley Cup champion Calgary Flames, who held training camp in Prague, Czechoslovakia and then ventured to the Soviet Union. Each team played four games against Soviet National League clubs. Games were played in Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev and Riga. The NHL clubs finished with a combined 6–2 record against the top Soviet teams, including the Red Army club and Dynamo Moscow. Five of the eight contests were televised by SportsChannel America.
==All-Star Game coverage==
SportsChannel America was the exclusive American broadcaster of the 1989 All-Star Game.{{cite web|first=Steve|last=Nidetz|date=February 7, 1989|title=MCGUIRE'S GAME IN TOP FORM AGAIN|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-02-07-8903030943-story.html|access-date=February 9, 2016|work=Chicago Tribune}} The following year, they covered the first ever NHL Skills Competition and Heroes of Hockey game. SportsChannel America would continue their coverage of these particular events through 1992. In 1991, SportsChannel America replayed the third period of the All-Star Game on the same day that it was played. That was because NBC broke away from the live telecast during the third period in favor of Gulf War coverage.{{cite web |last=Sandomir |first=Richard |authorlink=Richard Sandomir |date=May 14, 1991 |title=TV SPORTS; Stars and Penguins: Cable Compatible |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/05/14/sports/tv-sports-stars-and-penguins-cable-compatible.html |access-date=February 9, 2016 |work=New York Times |page=B13}}{{cite news|title=All-Star Game pinpoints NHL's limited exposure|date=January 18, 1991|first=Jack|last=Craig|newspaper=Boston Globe}}
==Stanley Cup playoffs==
===Divisional finals===
===Conference finals===
{{see also|NHL Conference Finals}}
===Stanley Cup Finals===
==== Notes ====
SportsChannel America's national coverage of the 1990 Stanley Cup Finals was blacked out in the Boston area due to the local rights to Bruins games in that TV market. NESN televised three games at Boston Garden in the Boston area while WSBK had two games in Edmonton. In {{scfy|1991}}, SportsChannel's Stanley Cup Finals coverage was again blacked out in the Minnesota and Pittsburgh areas due to the local rights to North Stars and Penguins games in those respective TV markets. In Minnesota, KMSP-TV aired three games in Pittsburgh while the Midwest Sports Channel had three games in Bloomington. In Pittsburgh, KBL televised three games at the Igloo while KDKA aired three games in Minnesota. Had there been a Game 7, it would have aired on KMSP-TV in Minnesota and KBL in Pittsburgh respectively. Finally, in {{scfy|1992}}, in Pittsburgh, KBL televised the first two games while KDKA aired the next two in Chicago. However, in Chicago, SportsChannel Chicago aired the first two games, and Hawkvision aired the next two.
Production
SportsChannel America's master control facilities were located in Floral Park, NY at Cablevision's Rainbow Network Communications facilities, and their studios were located at Dempster Hall at the Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY. Most games aired on the network were simulcasts of the other SportsChannel Regional games. However, there were times when the network produced games of importance that were unavailable on one of the regional networks.
If any of the aforementioned teams made the playoffs, SportsChannel America focused on those teams. For example, SportsChannel Chicago produced the SportsChannel America coverage for the Blackhawks' 1990 playoff run. Because of Blackhawks owner Bill Wirtz' disdain for free and basic cable home game telecasts, the road games were shown in Chicago, with the home games only given short live look-ins as "bonus coverage". The same occurrence happened in 1992, but this time, their home games were broadcast on a pay-per-view basis via "Hawkvision".{{cite news| url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1992/06/01/for-nhl-to-grow-zieglers-got-to-go/4cca3fce-dabf-4e86-83be-0bc08773d992/| title= FOR NHL TO GROW, ZIEGLER'S GOT TO GO|first=Michael|last=Wilbon|newspaper=Washington Post| date= June 1, 1992| access-date= February 9, 2016|authorlink=Michael Wilbon}} The Blackhawks broadcasts were also simulcast on Chicago's WBBM radio during those years. The typical outcue to commercial break was...."(score) on SportsChannel......(pause) and WBBM" SportsChannel America would run their own bumper music from the Floral Park Master Control facility so that they could fade out the remote's audio after the announcers said "SportsChannel".
For the Stanley Cup playoffs, SportsChannel America used Bob Papa as the anchor for the coverage. The studio kicked off coverage of each night with a pregame show for all of the regions. Once the games began, the studio produced live cut-ins of every goal for each of the regional games aired. The studio also switched viewers of one game to another game when a period ended or when the game was over. After the early games, the studio then took all viewers out to a West Coast game. After all the hockey for the night, the studio finished the night with a postgame wrap-up show. In 1989, both Conference Finals series involved two of SportsChannel's regional teams.
Sometimes, they would use the CBC feed for other series involving Canadian teams (the Boston Bruins–Montreal Canadiens series, for example). For the Stanley Cup Finals, SportsChannel America used its own facilities regardless of the involvement of regional teams. They would also use their own facilities for any Conference Final series that did not involve one of SportsChannel's regional teams.
=Announcers=
Bob Papa{{Cite news|title=Lighter load at ABC doesn't bother McKay|date=April 12, 1990|first=Steve|last=Woodward|newspaper=USA Today|page=3C}} and Leandra Reilly were the studio hosts while Denis Potvin was the studio analyst during the regular season coverage. For the Stanley Cup Finals, Jiggs McDonald called the play-by-play, and Bill Clement was the color commentator. Also during the Stanley Cup Finals, Mike Emrick served as the host while John Davidson{{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1991/05/13/a-strong-voice-for-hockey-john-davidson-has-become-his-sports-top-broadcaster-in-part-by-outworking-everybody-else-title-3da|title=A STRONG VOICE FOR HOCKEY|date=May 13, 1991|first=Jeff|last=Bradley|magazine=Sports Illustrated}} served as the rinkside and studio analyst{{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1992/06/08/swept-away-the-penguins-staked-a-claim-to-greatness-by-winning-their-second-straight-stanley-cup-4-0-over-the-blackhawks|title=SWEPT AWAY|date=June 8, 1992|first=Jon|last=Scher|magazine=Sports Illustrated}} (Herb Brooks filled that role in 1989).
Sometimes, they would use the CBC feed for other series (the Boston Bruins–Montreal Canadiens series, for example). For the Stanley Cup Finals, SportsChannel America used its own facilities regardless of the involvement of regional teams. They would also use their own facilities for any Conference Final series that did not involve one of SportsChannel's regional teams. SportsChannel America's master control was at a Cablevision studio in Oak Park, Illinois with its NHL studios located at Adelphi University on Long Island.
==Play-by-play==
- Chris Cuthbert
- Mike Emrick
- Pat Foley
- [http://www.knx1070.com/pages/3274.php?contentType=4&contentId=94498 Steve Grad]
- Randy Hahn
- Dave Hodge
- John Kelly
- Jiggs McDonald
- Rick Peckham
- Jeff Rimer
- Joe Starkey
- Gary Thorne
- Ken Wilson
==Color commentary==
- Bruce Affleck
- Mike Bossy
- Scotty Bowman
- Herb Brooks{{Cite news|title=NBC's O'Neil known for boldness, making changes|date=May 11, 1989|first=Rachel|last=Schuster|newspaper=USA Today|page=3C}}{{cite book |last=Mirlis|first=Eric|author-link= |date= May 2018|title=I Was There!: Joe Buck, Bob Costas, Jim Nantz, and Others Relive the Most|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RTKCDwAAQBAJ&dq=herb+brooks+sportschannel+america&pg=PT257|location= |publisher= Simon and Schuster|page= |isbn=9781683582120}}{{cite web| url= https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1991-11-01-1991305047-story.html| title= He's baaack: Herb Brooks leaves sales for pro hockey| first=Don|last=Markus|work=Baltimore Sun| date= November 1, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016}}
- Gerry Cheevers
- Bill Clement{{cite web| url= https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1993-05-28-1993148025-story.html| title= ESPN gives hockey its moment on center ice|first=Ray|last=Frager|newspaper=Baltimore Sun| date= May 28, 1993| access-date= February 9, 2016}}
- John Davidson
- Don Edwards
- John Garrett
- Dennis Hull
- John Kelly
- Craig Laughlin
- Dave Maloney
- Peter McNab
- Joe Micheletti
- Jim Peplinski
- Denis Potvin
- Pete Stemkowski
- Dale Tallon
- Ed Westfall
==Studio/ice level personalities==
- Mike Breen
- Herb Brooks
- John Davidson
- Stan Fischler
- Al Koken
- Dave Maloney
- Bob Papa
- Denis Potvin
- Leandra Reilly
- Lee Zeidman
Commentating crews
- Chicago Blackhawks: Pat Foley and Dale Tallon (in 1992, SportsChannel America rode them all the way through the Stanley Cup Finals)
- SportsChannel Chicago
- Hartford Whalers: Rick Peckham and Gerry Cheevers
- SportsChannel New England
- New York Islanders: Jiggs McDonald and Ed Westfall
- SportsChannel New York
- New Jersey Devils: Gary Thorne and Peter McNab
- SportsChannel New York
- Philadelphia Flyers: Mike Emrick and Bill Clement
- SportsChannel Philadelphia
- San Jose Sharks: Joe Starkey or Randy Hahn and Dennis Hull, Pete Stemkowski (most games), or Brian Hayward (when Hayward is injured)
- SportsChannel Pacific
=See also=
==Chicago Blackhawks seasons==
==Hartford Whalers seasons==
==New York Islanders seasons==
==New Jersey Devils seasons==
==San Jose Sharks seasons==
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://drewlbucket.blogspot.com/2005/08/can-oln-help-rescue-nhl.html The DrewL Bucket: Can OLN Help Rescue NHL?]
- [https://archive.today/20130126061302/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-11423010.html?refid=ip_hf NHL inks SCA deal for $5.5m. (cable television contract between National Hockey League and SportsChannel America) (Multichannel News)]
- [http://www.andrewsstarspage.com/CBA/8-17cba.htm CBA: TV and the price of expansion]
- [http://www.plaidworks.com/chuqui/blog/001885.html Is the NHL better off?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061026174732/http://www.plaidworks.com/chuqui/blog/001885.html |date=2006-10-26 }}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070707200404/http://inthecrease.blogs.com/in_the_crease/dallas_stars/index.html ESPN fails to match, Comcast gets NHL]
- [http://ezra.cornell.edu/posting.php?timestamp=702619200 Dear Uncle Erza]
- [http://www.dbsforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=69983 The NHL on SportsChannel America (1988-1992)]
- [http://puckthemedia.wordpress.com/2008/12/02/great-moments-from-er-uh-nhl-on-sportschannelamerica/ Great Moments From, er, uh, NHL On SportsChannelAmerica?]
- [https://archive.today/20130102062559/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1126563/index.htm The NHL's latest TV deal is a bad one for fans]
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Category:1990s American sports television series
Category:1988 American television series debuts
Category:1992 American television series endings