VERSUS evolves; Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic adds to Caps coverage

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Comcast, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, NBC, NBC Universal, New York Rangers, NHL, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Versus, Winter Classic

The National Hockey League continues to pick up assists in the re-shaping process of post-merger Comcast and NBC Universal.

The relationship between the NHL and NBC was solidified with the 10-year television rights agreement reached last April after both VERSUS and NBC saw large audiences tune in for on-ice action.

And now, one year after the Capitals downed the Penguins, 3-1, at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh and with an audience that continues to grow, VERSUS’ rebrand will be launched with the coverage of the 2012 NHL Bridgestone Winter Classic.

NBC Sports Network will be introduced as the Flyers host the New York Rangers at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park on Saturday, Jan. 2 in the regular season signature game.

“These rebranding efforts are a major step toward a complete strategic alignment of all our platforms and businesses,” said NBC Sports Chairman Mark Lazarus in John Ourand’s story, Exit Versus, enter the NBC Sports Network (subscription required).

This should only enhance coverage of the game and the sport as hockey continues to solidify its footprint in the North American landscape.

On the local front, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic has added a new “Capitals Insider,” Chuck Gormley. Read the CSN Press Release: Chuck Gormley Joins Comcast SportsNet as Capitals Insider for Digital Media.

The regional sports network (RSN) who covers the Caps is taking a cue from the home office and dedicating more resources to their hockey team in Washington.

Gormley is no stranger to the rink, or a team facing high-expectations and demanding fans, after covering the Flyers for over two decades.

And even though the RSN’s may take a while before they share any NBC Sports Network branding, it great for all hockey fans that they are on the same page in the quality and quantity realm.

I’m looking forward to all the coverage this season.

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We are louder, and more social

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Coyle Media, Eric Fisher, Jason Chimera, New York Rangers, Sports Business Journal

We are louder.

The game-within-the-game (but in the stands) between the New York Rangers faithful in Madison Square Garden and the red wave of Washington Capitals fans at Verizon Center played out during the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs Quarterfinals.

Caps forward Jason Chimera not only rendered volume at MSG to that of a tomb with his game-winning goal in the 2nd OT of game 4, but also readied the troops in D.C. for an audio assault throughout a series clinching game 5 win, 3-1.

Caps fans are more social too, according to numbers from Coyle Media’s real-time social tracking tool SportsFanGraph.

While reading European teams lead social media boom by Eric Fisher and Ryan Baucom (Sports Business Daily, April 25, 2011) I was curious to see where the Caps stood in comparison to other teams and this pairing, at #10 and #11 in the NHL, respectively, jumped out at me.

(Courtesy of Coyle Media)

New York City may have a population of 8,175,133, according to the 2010 United States Census, but it is the 601,723 strong in Washington, D.C. (also drawing a large fan base from Northern Virginia and Maryland) that have more online relationships with their team.

As seen in the graph, the Caps interactive efforts via Facebook have garnered 313,778 “Likes” and over 40,000 followers on Twitter.

These numbers enable Caps fans to slip past NYC, but just like the team on the ice, it will require a terrific effort to win round 2 and keep moving on.

4 potential Eastern Conference opponents (as of tonight) have better social numbers than the Caps when looking at combined Facebook and Twitter fans. A couple still alive in the Western Conference are impressive as well.

Capitals players and coaches are preparing for round 2 and beyond. Show your support and help Spread the Red by getting friends to join the party on the official Twitter and Facebook pages of the Capitals.

There are power in numbers – and hopefully an even bigger celebration, in person and online, when the champion is crowned.

2010 WordPress blog review: Thanks to everyone who visited and commented

The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Fresher than ever.

Crunchy numbers

A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 3,200 times in 2010. That’s about 8 full 747s.

In 2010, there were 98 new posts, not bad for the first year! There were 119 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 140mb. That’s about 2 pictures per week.

The busiest day of the year was September 28th with 135 views. The most popular post that day was Sandpaper and some scoring? Welcome, Matt Hendricks.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were facebook.com, japersrink.com, twitter.com, capitalsoutsider.com, and russianmachineneverbreaks.com.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for jeff saturday, semin, donovan mcnabb, alexander semin, and ross hollebon.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

1

Sandpaper and some scoring? Welcome, Matt Hendricks September 2010

2

Thank you, Jeff Saturday (and Tom Curran) February 2010

3

Socialist Red (translated Capitals social media) September 2010

4

About: Background & Links January 2010

5

My first article for Redskins.com: Anthony Armstrong August 2010
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