National Hockey League Embraces TV Placeshifting

Egadfly writes "The 'placeshifting' technology that allows digitally recorded shows to be watched in several locations is growing increasingly popular. One particular reason for this popularity is because it enables sports fans to view locally blacked-out games over the Internet. The National Hockey League (NHL) has announced that it will actively support placeshifting by signing an agreement with SlingBox-maker Sling Media. The agreement will allow the company's "Clip+Sling" technologyto share both live and recorded NHL programming over the Internet. Significantly, this has happened only days after Major League Baseball (MLB) launched a public denunciation of placeshifting, accusing SlingBox owners of violating the law by sending television content over the Internet and accusing Sling Media itself of violating contracts with cable and satellite TV companies."

Re:Um yeah....about that

[Knara]

Being a Vikings fan, I will add this: Yes, it's because you're in Wisconsin.

The only fanbase I've ever seen that was as similarly blindly and rabidly supportive of their football team are the Bronco fans. The Bronco fans are more annoying, though, because at least the Packer fans can stand the cold :P

Re:Even worse for hockey fans

[Dragonslicer]

One of the reasons I like the playoffs is that I can pick whichever team has players from my college. Since my local team is the Bruins, I don't have to worry about having to cheer for my home team.

Re:Um yeah....about that

[Anonymous Coward]

One hockey game I went to, a drunk guy was yelling anything he could think of to the visiting team. Which again isn't the football kind of heckling, fans are right on top of the players in hockey for those unfamiliar. Given a persistent enough person, it's just not possible to tune it out. Eventually, a few guys on the team couldn't take it anymore, and they got into arguing with him. Well at this point, it's pretty clear they've lost, even up by a goal. One of the players loses his shit grabs a stick and starts sort of meekly swinging at the guy to get him to back off. Well having the dual advantages of high ground and liquid courage the booze hound grabs the stick, eventually taking control and attacking the players with it. Which was a combination of scary and funny at the time, but now it's just freaking hilarious as I look back on it. Eventually security got the better of him, but man. Classic.