--- On Sat, 25 Jan 1997 18:44:39 -0600  Mike <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
 
On Sat, 25 Jan 1997, Lowell D King wrote:
 
> In AK-Anchorage (UAA) case, it was because we no longer televise the
> SeaWolf games. For three years (I think) we did and this enabled MSC
>(and others) to work out reciprocal arrangements (i.e. when we played
>outside we would get the TV broadcast for the cost of transmission and
>vice versa). That may resume, but due to the high number of games in town
>it may never become viable again.
 
Any chance of an on-campus group coming up with something, perhaps with
donated equipment?
 
-----------------End of Original Message-----------------
 
Mike,
 
No I don't think so. I do think that when UAA becomes more competitive
then they probably will broadcast (T.V.) selected games (especially
playoff games). Minn. would be a prime candidate for that. The reason I
don't think so, is that we have a professional team which, in essence,
plays at the same arena whenever UAA doesn't. Thus, between the two teams
we have over 50 hockey games which draw roughly the same number of fans as
well as share probably 60% the same fan base. Thus, I think that it would
be difficult for an away game to achieve much of a TV market (when one can
see a live game at the same time). Both teams have all games on radio and
the nucleus of the professional team are former UAA Seawolves or other
known Alaska players. This insures the crossover fan base plus a high
interest by fans of either team in the other team. Also, UAA is much more
a 'community' team than a 'school' team (as the University is itself) and
any TV or other broadcast would undoubtedly be a commercial effort or
nothing. As a matter of interest, the professional team is owned by a
former Seawolf player, currently advertises on the Seawolf radio network,
is a Seawolf sponsor and in many, many ways is focused on supplementing
the college hockey scene rather than detracting from it. Also, remember
that we're a pretty small market (250-300,000) so for TV to be
economically viable the community would need some 'special' reason to be
highly focused on a particularly event or game - otherwise the interest is
too split. Lastly, Alaskans are known more for participation (young in
age) rather than spectators (all together there are something like 350
hockey teams in town).
 
By the way, our biggest problem is to find a way that enables the two
teams to both win the same night (they seem to alternate).
 
Lowell King, UAA fan
 
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