The NHL on ABC

Infobox Television
show_name = The NHL on ABC


caption = The "NHL on ABC" logo for their 1999-2004 coverage.
show_name_2 =
genre = Sports
creator =
writer =
creative_director =
developer =
presenter =
starring = John Saunders
Gary Thorne
Mike Emrick
Al Michaels
Bill Clement
Jim Schoenfeld
John Davidson
Al Morganti
Barry Melrose
Chris Berman
Steve Levy
Dave Strader
Darren Pang
Brian Engblom
Erin Andrews
Sam Ryan
voices =
narrated =
theme_music_composer = Bob Christianson
opentheme =
endtheme =
composer =
country = USA
language = English
num_seasons = 2 (1992-1994 version)
5 (1999-2004 version)
num_episodes =
list_episodes =
executive_producer =
co_exec =
producer =
supervising_producer =
asst_producer =
co-producer =
editor =
story_editor =
location =
cinematography =
camera =
runtime = 150 minutes or until game ends, with an option to dump out at 180 minutes
network = ABC
picture_format =
audio_format =
first_run =
first_aired = February 6, 2000
last_aired = June 7, 2004
preceded_by =
followed_by =
related = "ESPN National Hockey Night"
website = http://web.archive.org/web/20040815194650/http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/abcsports/television
production_website =
imdb_id =
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"The NHL on ABC" is a former TV show that televised National Hockey League games on the American Broadcasting Company and was produced by ABC's corporate sibling (under the Walt Disney Company umbrella) ESPN.

Before the 1992-93 NHL season

In 1979, ABC was contracted to televise Game 7 of Stanley Cup Finals. Since the Finals ended in five games, the contract was void. Had there been a seventh game, then Al Michaels (play-by-play), Jim McKay (anchor, under the "Wide World of Sports" umbrella), Bobby Clarke (color commentator) and Frank Gifford (reporter) would've called it.

1992–1994 version

From the 1992–1993 season to the 1993–1994 season, ABC televised six weekly regional telecasts on Sunday afternoons beginning in March (or the last three Sundays of the regular season). ABC would then televise three weeks worth of playoff games (or the first three Sundays of the playoffs). They didn't televise the Stanley Cup Finals which instead, were televised nationally by ESPN and by Prime Ticket in Los Angeles (1993) and MSG in New York (1994). Games televised on ABC were not subject to blackout.

These broadcasts (just as the case was with the 1999-2004 package) were essentially, time buys by ESPN. The main difference is that the graphics were ABC Sports' instead of the ones seen on "ESPN National Hockey Night". In later years, the roles would be reversed as ESPN's graphical style would be used with the exception of intermission reports. ABC even used ESPN's theme music for the 1992–1994 coverage. During ABC's next stint with the NHL, they had their own theme music (composed by Bob Christianson [ [http://www.bobchristianson.com/ Bob Christianson - COMPOSER · ARRANGER · MUSICIAN] ] ).

Announcers

tudio hosts

John Saunders

=Play-by-play men=

#Gary Thorne
#Mike Emrick
#Al Michaels

Color commentators

#Bill Clement
#Jim Schoenfeld
#John Davidson

Reporters

#Al Morganti

1999-2004 version

In August 1998, ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 signed a five year deal worth a total of approximately $600 million (or $120 million per year).

This time around, ABC televised four to five weeks worth of regional games on Saturday afternoons beginning in January. ABC also televised the National Hockey League All-Star Game and Games 3–7 of the Stanley Cup Finals in prime time.

Following the 2003–04 season, ABC/ESPN was only willing to renew for two years at $60 million per year. ABC executives later conceded that they overpaid for the 1999–2004 deal, so their offered to renew the TV rights was lower in 2004 [ [http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2001/apr01/apr09/4_thurs/news1thursday.html Sports TV get pricier and pricier. Here's why ] ] .

Announcers

tudio hosts

John Saunders, John Davidson (studio analyst from 1999-2002), and Barry Melrose (studio analyst from 2003–2004)

tanley Cup Finals hosts

Al Michaels (1999-2002); Chris Berman (2003-2004)

=Play-by play men=

#Gary Thorne
#Steve Levy
#Mike Emrick
#Dave Strader

Color commentators

#Bill Clement and John Davidson (2003–2004)
#Darren Pang
#Barry Melrose (1999–2002), Brian Engblom (2002–2004)

=Ratings=

tanley Cup Finals

References

External links

* [http://www.ilovewavs.com/TV/Sports/TV%20Theme%20-%20ABC,%20NHL.wav TV Theme - ABC, NHL.wav]
* [http://espn.go.com/abcsports/pressreleases/s/2003/0107/1488594.html ABC Sports announces its hockey broadcast teams]
* [http://espn.go.com/abcsports/s/nhl/schedule.html ABC's 2002-2003 NHL schedule]
* [http://www.jsonline.com/sports/etc/ap/jul01/ap-hkn-nhl-tv-chan071101.asp NHL, ESPN-ABC Seek Viewers]
* [http://www.armchairqb.com/nhl_1999-00_sked_two.html#abc NHL's 1999-2000 Television Schedule Open this result in new window]
* [http://www.highbeam.com/library/doc0.asp?docid=1P1:49525087&refid=ink_tptd_np&skeyword=&teaser= OVERNIGHT TV RATINGS JUMP 60 PERCENT FOR NHL ON ABC]
* [http://www.rgj.com/news/stories/sports/964156513.php RGJ.com - ABC to add fifth day of NHL coverage in 2000-01]