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3. Maybe work with NBC to create a "Miracle Night in America" where they play an uninterrupted version of Disney's Miracle. You could then have a post-game sort of show which reflects on the great game with players who were there, NHL'ers who were inspired. NBC now has Al Michaels on their payroll I would think this would be a rather easy event to rig. Once the NFL season ends...perhaps the NHL could try to take advantage of NBC's Football Night in America slot and see what happens with an HOCKEY NIGHT in AMERICA. Yea its a rip off of the popular Canadian program; but why not try to create a culture of being a hockey fan here.
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I think this is a fantastic idea. I know that they tried to make a specticle last year at Rock Center by hanging all the flags around the skating rink and doing their studio show from there. They did that on Saturday afternoons and I thought it was great.
But the idea make a Sunday night National game is an awesome idea. Think about it, there is always an 8pm game. Take last night's Ducks/Kings game. That's the perfect example of a game that should have been nationally broadcast. The NHL could plan the schedule post-NFL to contain a rivalry game every Sunday night and make that the game of the week. Ducks/Kings, Rangers/Islanders, RedWings/Colorado, even tap into classic Canadian matchups: Oil/Flames, Habs/Leafs.
Make them national broadcasts with no blackouts. One of the biggest things that kill ratings is the blackouts. If the Rangers play the RedWings on Vs, the Detroit and NY markets get blacked out of the national broadcast and must watch their local broadcasts. By doing so, Vs loses the biggest rating markets and the game ratings look pitiful. Do a Sunday national game where everyone watches it on NBC. Promote the game on Friday morning on the Today show.
I don't know if NBC would want to take the ratings hit on Sunday nights, but it could work out in the end.
Couple that with having Al Michaels calling the game and you really have something here!