Hold on to your hats, the Canucks are coming to a big screen near you.
Forget Hockey Night in Canada, how about Hockey Night on the big screen? Cineplex Entertainment is bringing back Canucks pay-per-view games as a regular feature in select theatres across BC.
The idea was first tried out last year, and Cineplex says it’s been successful enough to warrant a sequel. The next “big screen” game is on Sunday, when the boys take on the Blue Jackets. [news1130]
As incredibly cool and nonintoxicating as that sounds, why would you want to watch a standard definition broadcast of a hockey game on a huge screen? Changes are coming to Canucks Pay-Per-View, but it’s still the same, over priced dribble that we have watched for the past two seasons. It could be longer than that, but I haven’t watched it for that long.
Come on, PPV people! I get that we don’t have to watch commercials, but what else do we get besides that? John Shorthouse and Tom Larschied? Yeah, that’s cool, but there could be a whole lot more.
Dare I say it, but TSN does some cool stuff by having their guys down on ice level, smack dab in between the benches. Or how about cameras on ice level? Give me a Fin cam or something more than just your standard Sportsnet broadcast with static cameras.
It’s not about being flashy or bells and whistles. I’m just saying that you could make a lot more money if people really got primo content from PPV. I don’t mind visiting our friends on the north shore to watch the game on their huge DLP TV, but if we couldn’t make it over, we’d live with listening to the radio.
The green graphics and the in between period set where Dan Murphy hangs out is nice, but that’s it? Should have spent more money on going HD, and that’s a whole other gripe.
couldn’t agree more
If it was just the sounds of the game without play-by-play announcers (analysis during replays would be fine), then I would be able to put up with regular resolution on the big screen. Also, I’d be happy with big widescreen if it isn’t HD, though I say that without having experienced watching a sports event of any kind on HD yet.
I think I remember an interview in which Chris Zimmerman echoed the same sentiments…that the PPV had to be better and unique. Uhhh…what happened, Chris??
My ideas for a unique broadcast?
Wire up players, coaches and refs with mics. Yeah, they’ve done that before, but pick players that TALK! Last week watching Ryan Kesler skate around with a mic on was brutal…he doesn’t talk!! Then…here is the good part…leave it on during the game. Let me hear the swearing and the grunting during the game…its a part of it. I want to hear Cowan challenge someone to drop the gloves. What is said? Why? If you have watched any of the Rugby World Cup, you will notice that the referee is mic’ed up and his mic is live the entire game. You get to hear the conversations with players and other ref’s…its great.
The other thing I would love to see is the suspended camera they use in football in an arena. How much space does it take up? Wouldn’t it be cool to see a game from the same perspective as the PS2 game?
And…its gotta be in HD and 5.1 surround or why even bother.
Wanna do something really cool? Put an IMAX camera on Luongo’s head for a game…imagine what that would look like.
Richard – We should hang out and catch a game in HD some time. It’s not life changing, but damn near. Even watching HD games broadcast through standard and in wide screen is pretty amazing, not to mention the 5.1 surround. Holy crap
GZ – Totally agree. The overhead cam would be cool, not to mention the numerous rafters up above to get unique views from. If anything, more robotic cameras from behind or mounted to the scoreboard.
They’ve got so many cameras, they have to have them for the goal reviews. Why not put them to better use??
Other than that, I agree with GZ’s more specific suggestion about the overhead cam, or even the “behind-the-net” cam that Fox uses so much.
That said, what I would pay for is an HD Feed of the game at a Cineplex theatre. I don’t have an HD set at home, so seeing a super-clear, super-crisp HD feed of the game on a ridiculously large screen has some major appeal… Even at the IMAX at canada place.
I realize it probably isn’t practical, but could you imagine seeing the game filmed OMNIMAX-style? Multiple small cameras on half a dozen players’ helmets filming a 360-degree view. Implausible I realize, but hey… I can dream. 😛
I’ve been a Canucks PPV subscriber for a number of years and just recently got a HDTV at home. I also just coughed up the ransom for a Shaw HD box.
One thing I’ve noticed in the past couple of years with the PPV is that the first couple of games, it’s like training camp and they don’t seem to have their shit together. Around November/early December they finally get things working a little better.
That said, I totally agree with the sentiment that they PPV are little more than the Team 1040 audio feed with an unimpressive video package.
I’ve only seen one CBC HNIC game in HD (last weekend) and it was over the air (good ole rabbit ears on the HDTV) and it was very impressive from a quality standpoint. You could definiately tell when they switched to a non-HD camera as it was quite glaring but otherwise, it was entertaining.
I’m looking forward to seeing what TSN has to offer in the HD world now that I’ve got the full package (John, come on over anytime!)
One thing I’d like to see them do with the PPV is something like what they had with the Olympics awhile ago where you had multiple channels with different camera views. At least give us the option to switch to the static above the ice cam if we wanted to see things from the rafters.
John, I couldn’t agree more with what you have to say about the PPV. I was a loyal subscriber for years (since I bought my first digital box in 2001), but they have done very little to innovate their broadcasts, regardless of the lack of HD. I’ve only picked up the odd game here and there for the past few seasons as a result.
The same can be said about the Sportsnet broadcasts. I like Hughson, and can tolerate Garrett, but beyond that, the broadcast is stale and outdated. It’s the same stuff we’ve been watching on Sportsnet for years. And do we need a big white Subway logo persisting throughout the entire game?
As you mention, TSN has done a lot to innovate their hockey broadcasts. Pierre McGuire between benches brings a level of intimacy to the show that I’ve never seen in a hockey broadcast before. They have even put the entire play by play team at ice level a few times, which is a very interesting concept.
As much as I like Dan Murphy as a “guy” (I’ve seen him around town a few times), he lacks charisma and to me seems uncomfortable in front of the camera. But, I like that he has a good relationship with some of the players. Perhaps putting him in between benches would be worth a try.
dave
It’s good to know that people are feeling the same way.
Keith – I love the ideas, even the crazy ones.
John – You’re on! If you come home and we’re already there, just act natural.
Dave – I agree to the Sportsnet broadcasts being outdated. It would be nice to see something a little more fresh and perhaps challenging to what TSN is doing. I guess I’m not harping on the personalities as much as I am the setup. And yeah, I’ve ran across Murphy as The Roxy before, but don’t hold anything over the guy. hehe But hey, how about a “Dan Cam” that roves around with him?
After all, hockey is just a game, so why not have fun with it from, literally, all angles, right?