Hockey Viewing NCHC $8 Decision...

Submitted by mvp on October 15th, 2021 at 11:08 AM

Michigan's two hockey games this weekend are:
Friday at 8:30 Eastern
Saturday at 5:00 Eastern

The games are on NCHC.tv (link to purchase page) and for those who are wondering, there are some options:

  • The "Ice Breaker Tournament" package of all the games is $24.95
  • A 24 hour pass is available for $16.95

Since the second game should be done well ahead of 8:30 tomorrow, I'm thinking about just getting the day pass just before today's game starts and saving the $8.

Sione For Prez

October 15th, 2021 at 11:25 AM ^

So the other thing to keep in mind is next weekend we play Western Michigan who is also in the NCHC. We are doing a split home and away series so the monthly pass would get you those two games next weekend as well. Pretty steep at $30 a month but you would essentially get all 4 Michigan games over the next two weekends at $7-8 per game. 

EDIT: I was wrong about getting all 4 games. I think since Michigan is at home next Friday, NCHC won't be broadcasting the home portion of that double header and it will be on Big Ten Plus. 

Joined: 11/16/2015

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Sambojangles

October 15th, 2021 at 11:32 AM ^

I'm happy the games are available to stream, legally, without having to overpay for a monthly or season-long subscription to the NCHC (which I obviously don't care about, though watching North Dakota occasionally might be fun). I think the price is a bit high, but not outrageously so, and they'll likely make a decent amount from the Michigan fans watching. I hope the quality is better than B1G+, which I refuse to subscribe to as I heard it's terrible. It looks like it's done by the IMG network, which I think is generally legit in their publishing (I know they do everything for the Michigan Athletic Department).

However, I wish they would consolidate under one of the major media brands so they can leverage the technology and network. Disney is the best, and ESPN+ is amazing value - I can watch tons of random football, basketball, and other sports, from my phone, all my smart TVs, etc. I've found their streaming the most reliable and highest quality as well (their MLB Advanced Media acquisition helps a ton). All for $5 a month (and it includes website exclusives like Bill Connelly too). Even selling out to FOX or NBC sports would be okay since I regularly use those too. Maybe Amazon can be the one to gobble these up and stream on Prime Video like they're doing with MLB and NFL. But, these smaller, one-off networks is one more account to create, company to give my credit card info to, and email list to sign up for. It's almost a big enough barrier to me signing up and paying. 

If anyone in media is listening - get your content on one of the apps/networks I already have and already regularly spend time on, and you're far more likely to convert me to a customer than forcing me to chase down where to stream for every weekend. 

End rant.

Joined: 12/15/2008

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WCHBlog

October 15th, 2021 at 11:57 AM ^

NCHC.tv as a service is pretty good. Easy interface and reliable. UMD's broadcasts are good too. Basically a local TV production, although I don't know what they'll do for non-UMD games. Frankly, places like Michigan and Ohio State just half-ass their production because they don't care.

 

After operating costs, about 87%(edit: That's an old number. Might even be more now that the service has grown) of the revenue NCHC.tv takes in gets distributed back to the schools. So on one $25 tournament pass, they're taking in $21. How much do you think they'd see out of the $5/month or whatever you're paying for ESPN+ or Amazon? Some other leagues have deals with ESPN+ but they don't do nearly as well financially.

 

Joined: 12/03/2008

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chatster

October 15th, 2021 at 11:57 AM ^

Yet Hockey East manages to "partner with ViacomCBS Digital to provide fans across the world the opportunity to view every single Hockey East game in (the) 2021-22 season on digital platforms . . . at no cost to (their) fans." LINK

Joined: 09/14/2010

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lhglrkwg

October 15th, 2021 at 12:26 PM ^

I guess I'm glad we can watch the game, but it does sorta suck too you have to bounce between BTN, BTN+, ESPNU, and stuff like this sometimes. It adds up

Joined: 07/03/2008

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