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Upon further review … ‘Rinkside’ not going away
November 10th, 2008, 7:00 am · 118 Comments · posted by Curtis Zupke, Staff writer
No matter how harsh the emails or nasty the message boards become, Tom Feuer likes the Rinkside View.
Feuer, executive producer for FSN, has been the target of a majority of angry hockey fans who don’t care for the network’s unorthodox broadcasts of selected Ducks and Kings games this season.
Yet after meeting with representatives from both teams and reviewing the ratings for the games, Feuer has not been dissuaded from continuing the “Rinkside” telecasts.
He said the ratings for the games have been up despite continued negative feedback.
“They may not like it, but they seem to want to watch it,” Feuer said.
FSN debuted “Rinkside View” last season for one broadcast and brought it back for 13 Ducks games this season on FSN HD and Prime Ticket HD. There are 13 more “Rinkside” broadcasts remaining, beginning with Sunday’s game between the Ducks and Kings.
The broadcasts show games through about 10 cameras positioned low around the perimeter of the rink as opposed to the traditional center-ice camera. Three of the cameras are robotic and bring wider shots of game action at ice level.
Feuer said “Rinkside” ratings have gone up 200 percent for Kings games and 20 percent for Ducks games.
The Oct.14 Kings-Ducks game shown on “Rinkside’ earned the second-highest rating since the lockout, according to Feuer.
The Ducks are receptive to “Rinkside” but do not have the same bottom-line stance about the project.
Aaron Teats, director of broadcasting, said that they have to find a way to bring in new hockey viewers without alienating traditional ones.
“It’s something that, at the end of the day, we can showcase the speed of the game, the intensity and power that the NHL has, but also do it in a way that is comfortable to watch,” Teats said.
“And right now, with our fans, we haven’t found that.”
.
“Rinkside View” came under scrutiny immediately after the first broadcast on Oct.12. A majority of viewers complained about not being able to watch play develop and the numerous cuts from camera to camera.
FSN has since placed more emphasis on overhead cameras placed at the ends of the rink and not used as many jump cuts. Feuer counters the can’t-follow-the-play complaints by saying that robotic cameras near the dasher boards allow viewers to see action that is normally obscured by a traditional angle.
“The purpose of the ‘robo is to see the speed of the game, and you can’t see that in the regular camera,” he said.
Feuer gave the Ducks and Kings credit for remaining open to the project despite fans’ reaction.
He pointed out that they are doing it for only a selected amount of games and the dialogue will continue with the teams. The recent tweaks to the broadcast might have helped, but there is a concern with toying with the presentation of games.
“We hope to get this rectified very, very soon,” Teats said. “We don’t want to be going back and forth and subject fans to constant changes that are jarring. We want to give them something that they really enjoy.”
Feuer, who likens the project to what the NFL and Major League Baseball have done with multiple cameras, said viewers are typically slow to accept something new.
“I’m going to get killed for this,” said Feuer, “but if these people truly don’t like ‘Rinkside View,’ then don’t watch. It seems to me the ratings for these games are up … We’re getting a ton of emails, and most are negative. But I think that the people that don’t like something are the ones that will do something about it, and the ones that like it will continue to watch.”
UPDATE:
FSN to tweak “Rinkside” after fans speak out
CLICK HERE TO SEE A VIDEO OF ‘RINKSIDE VIEW’
MORE FROM THE DUCKS BLOG
- BREAKING NEWS: Ducks’ Burke steps down, Murray the replacement
- Ducks call ‘major’ news conference
- Ducks for the Hall of Fame?
- Ducks-Kings ‘Rinkside View’: You decide
- Ducks community: S.C.O.R.E. program honored
- Ducks invite coach behind scenes
- Upon further review … ‘Rinkside’ not going away
- Incomplete effort results in second straight Ducks loss
- Ducks can finally rest their wings
- Ducks fall to lowly Panthers, 3-1
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Obviously the only way to get this Mr. Feuer’s attention is to not watch.
Did he ever think that the reason ratings are up 200% for the Kings games in Rinkside View is because two of the four games broadcast were against the Ducks and his broadcast was the only place Ducks and Kings fans could watch the game.
I won’t be watching this crap anymore. I’ll either go to the game or listen on the radio, but I certainly won’t support this arrogant ass or his lame Rinkside View telecast.
[...] Upon further review … ‘Rinkside’ not going away - Ducks blog - OCRegister.com [...]
Of course, people are still going to watch the game. Its the Ducks vs. Kings. I would much rather put up with sub-par camera angles than to listen only on the radio.
This guy’s an idiot, he does not realize that for true fans, either Kings or Ducks, the option of not watching the game is nonexistent.
I can’t stand Rinkside view. I gave it a chance but I just can’t follow the play. I HATE when the camera is shooting behind the goal but the play is in the COMPLETE OPPOSITE END can’t see what is going on where the puck actuayl is. One time I didn’t even know the Ducks had scored or why they called the goal back because, well I was looking at Jiggy’s butt. Sorry but I’m no puckbunny I don’t care to see a goalies butt, thanks. Put the play in the correct end or put it on the traditional overhead camera. Speed of the game doesn’t mean jack when you don’t know what the hell is going on.
And now that I know that they don’t give a crap about the regular viewers opinions, I’m going to do just as Feuer suggests, opt for the radio on those games.
Can’t believe I actually prefer KDOC to FSW.
I really don’t care for the rinkside view. Interesting note though, they didn’t take into account that while ratings might be up…we have NO OTHER CHOICE! We’re fans and we want to watch our team play…we just wish it wasn’t being shown with rinkside view!!!
Of course the early “Rinkside” broadcasts got higher ratings. The Ducks-Kings and Ducks-Red Wings games would have gotten higher ratings if they had shot them with a single camera from the back row of Section 424. The “Rinkside” view is makes for some really nice replays, but it is awful for viewing a game. As a 15-year Ducks season ticket holder, I refuse to watch it. I’ve turned off every HD broadcast this year and I don’t plan on watching any more. So much for not alienating existing fans.
Have you ever watched a game from the glass? That’s what rink side view is which is the worst seat in the house for fans that truly love the sport. It’s a shame that we have to put up with this garbage Rink side broadcast! If I wanted rink side views I would go to the games and pay a ridicules amount of money to watch a quarter of the rink!
If I were Bettman, a owner or player I would tell Feurer off! The nerve Feurer has for telling a fan not to watch it if they don’t like it! Here is a sport that is struggling enough and you say that to the fans!! I bet TSN or KDOC would never say that to a fan!
Im with Michelle, boycott FSN!
This man is a fool. “rinkside” has been unanimously panned. I’ll be happy to take his suggestion and not watch. (It’s unwatchable anyway). The single best thing to ever happen to the experience of watching hockey is the HD picture. Why can’t he get me an HD broadcast of the 13 untelevised games this year? If you show all the games in HD, you’ll achieve your market share.
The only reason why people are watching these games like this is due to the fact that they are using most of the HD broadcasts in rinkside view. The end cameras suck, and you do miss much of the play.
Not one person I have talked to likes the angle. It is pure junk. The only reason that the ratings are probably up, is the fact that they keep using the rinkside view for good games which only fuels my anger. Put the rinkside view on the ducks against the islanders or wild or some team that is boring to watch and see the ratings. Don’t judge ratings based on the Ducks or Kings against the Red Wings or Flames, or Capitals. Those are entertaining high scoring games. They need to figure it out though. I’m almost willing to buy an NHL package on cable if they use traditional camera angles in their broadcasts!
The angles suck and game is almost unwatchable. Feuer is a tool who obviously knows nothing about broadcasting a hockey game. He gives credit to the Kings and Ducks for allowing him to continue his little experiment, while I feel that both teams should be ashamed of themselves for giving so little credence to their fans wishes.
Unwatchable. Why not standard angle in HD???
I wonder what FSN advertisers think of Mr. Feuer’s attitude about viewers’ dissatisfaction. Perhaps he’s just as dismissive about other aspects of his business and they need to think about whether their dollars are being used effectively.
Mr. Feuer
i am taking great exception to your last comment, and you are absolutely correct, you should be killed for saying that, and rightfully so. You are basically telling the millions of true hockey fans to take a hike, and accomodating the few that actually like it.
im curious? is this how it always works at FSN?
Your facts on the ratings might be true, but have you considered that there might be another reason as to the increase.
Maybe someone at FSN should do a little research before any statements are made.
because of the econimic situation, fans are STAYING HOME AND WATCHING! instead of paying high prices and acutally going ot the games.
in the case of the kings games, if you took the time to notice, attendance is at an all time LOW!
in the ducks case, attendance os slightly down
so that is one reason that the kings ratings are up 200% and the ducks only 20%
besides the fact that most people are staying home in general instead of going out and spending their hard earned money.
and if that is the only broadcast available, what else are people supposed to do, oh ya, according to you, NOT WATCH I GUESS.
rediculous.
try putting the game on FSN with the normal view and FSN2 with this new crap, and then talk about which one had more viewers. I personally know what the answer will be!
Now lets talk about the actual broadcast.
this is the equivelant of sitting on the glass. And for most fans, they try it once, and that is it. If you have ever sat there, then you will realize very quickly that more than half the rink is not visible.
Most fans enjoy wathcing from more of a side/top view, as we enjoy watching plays develop.
There was one instance where the ducks scored, and i had no idea except for the hands and sticks being raised, and that is becasue the view was from the opposite end behind the goal.
what fun is that? NONE!
Bottom line is that this type of broadcast does not work, its very hard to watch, and in my opinion, you are taking away from the game.
why fix what is not broken?
Hey here is an idea, BROADCAST MORE GAMES IN HD
now that would certainly boost ratings!
I for one will not watch any of these games, and that is a shame
i have been a season ticket holder for the ducks for years,
and will be very, very disapointed if this becomes the norm.
thanks for listening.
“This guy’s an idiot, he does not realize that for true fans, either Kings or Ducks, the option of not watching the game is nonexistent.”
While I agree the guy is an idiot, I do think you have it exactly backwards. Of course he realizes not watching is not an option for most fans. That is exactly why he says “like it or lump it”. He is expressly taking the fans for granted.
Still feel not watching isn’t an option when they treat you like that? Well, if so, you deserve it.
Nick and Daryl are good, and I completely disagree with you that listening to the game isn’t as good as watching ‘rink side view’. The radio is much less frustrating for me. I know what radio can and can’t do. Watching ‘rink side’, I know how the game could be shown better and they simply aren’t doing that in order to attract new viewers with the “speed” of the game.
The rinkside view is terrible. You cannot see anything. Tom Feuer cannot possible be a real hockey fan if he thinks this is acceptable. And as for ratings, I am sure most of us are not (stone age) neilsen families so it won’t matter if we watch or not because they won’t know. Mr. Feuer must have a huge ego if it is solely his decision to keep this crap going despite all the negative emails. How does the rinkside view gain new viewers? Is someone going to channel surf and come across the game and go “wow that is cool. i am a hockey fan now.”? What’s next? Bench view for the Lakers? I bet that would never happen since it’s the precious Lakers.
“but if these people truly don’t like ‘Rinkside View,’ then don’t watch.”
Alright, then. I won’t.
At least the radio tells me whats going on and I won’t get motion sickness in the process.
Everyone thinks their child is the most handsome/beautiful.
This is his child.
Why not provide an alternate feed?? That would be the most acceptable solution. Giving viewers a headache will just have us turn off the TV, which doesn’t help the fans or the network.
Thank God I have season seats so I will miss most of the Rinkside view, but because i am a true hockey fan I will suffer through the rest of them headache or not.
I will not be watching any more rinkside view games. I have watched them to this point because I can’t afford tickets and this is the only way I can view my favorite hockey team. But if not watching is the only way to get through to FSN, they can count me out of all of these games in the future.
As an addendum, if you’re starting a point with “I’m going to get killed for this,” it’s probably a bad idea. Just a little free advice there.
I felt like I was watching a video done by an eight year old who figure out how to use a zoom lens.
It’s freaking confusion, and literally nauseating at times. I have no idea half of the time what end I am at and I don;t see it as something I’ll get used to.
As noted above, it’s early in the season and there are not options if you want to watch. If Mr. Feur gave a damn he would show the game traditionally on one FSN station and one Rinkside on the other, and announce it as such. I think he’d see what the difference would be if viewers had a choice.
Also, Mr, Feur’s response is indicative of what you’d expect from a totally out of touch executive — the same sort of thinking that no doubt went into executive decisions that have left the financial markets a mess. Finally, it’s Fox — they’re very good at not listening, but telling you what you should think and believe, so I am totally not surpirsed that some lame exec is going to dictate how you get your sports.
Maybe the reason why the Kings are up 200% is that they actually have a product worthy of watching? Sorry FSN, I don’t buy it. But they obviously do not care, especially if the fans of both teams have stated rather vehemently that the rinkside view camera does not work as well as FSN would like it to. If you all can, watch “Hockey Night in Canada” on the NHL Network. THAT’S the way to watch hockey: one stationary camera mid-ice, with behind the goalie cameras on both ends and hand-held cameras in the corners. The only way the head cheeses at FSN will change their thinking is if both teams and/or the NHL steps in. Shame on you, FSN, that is a poor way to react.
I have not heard one single positive comment about Rinkside view. Not one. Nor have I seen anything that shows there is enough positive reaction from viewers to merit continuation of this nonsense.
I would recommend taking note of all the advertisers and sending notes to them as well. If FSN won’t listen, the advertisers will, especially if there is a boycott of products advertised. If you hit advertisers wallets, that will be more effective than merely not watching the broadcast altogether.
I like the idea of showing standard view on one FSN channel and Rink Side View on the other FSN channel - let the ratings decide what stays and what goes - permanently - I bet standard view wins out 80% of the viewers
“but if these people truly don’t like ‘Rinkside View,’ then don’t watch.”
I don’t. I just listen to the radio.
Rinkside view is awwwwwwwwwfffffffuuuuuuuuullllllllllll. I think Ducks and Kings fans are united in their opinion on this one. Kings fans all over the net have been complaining nonstop for weeks, but nobody at the network listens. yet FSN showed a game (2 games ago) that didn’t have it. it was WONDERFUL - watching the game the way it was intended - then they went back to the stinky Rinkview for the last game vs. Blues. glad I missed it, it’s basically unwatchable.
also I agree with callmemochelle and I have suggested the same idea. ‘Rinkside’ should be an ALTERNATE feed on it’s own channel! with no commentary… for those so inclined to watch a game like that. I can’t imagine who would!
by the way I play hockey and thus used to watching it from that perspective and still think it stinks!! you can’t see anything at either end and the end-zone cameras they flip to, that are supposed to alleviate that problem, make it just as hard to see anything above the face-off circles and in the corners.
I have seen this Rinkside view here in Idaho with the NHL satellite package and it is awful. It is unbelievable that a producer could be so arrogant as to completely dismiss the wishes of his viewers. Tough as it is, apparently not watching the games will be the only way to get this idiot’s attention. Like others said, I would like to see FSN put a Rinkside View broadcast of a game on one channel and a normal broadcast on their other channel and see which gets higher ratings. The ego of this Feuer guy is ridiculous and both the Ducks and Kings deserve some criticism for going along with it. Yet another example of the TV technical industry wanting to try different angles and tricks to impress their friends and the actual viewer gets lost in the shuffle. (I know, I worked in the TV industry for many years and I know a lot of producers don’t care how the experience is for the viewer, they just like to go “Wow that’s different!”
I just checked and http://www.boycottrinksideview.com is available!!!
I have gone to both Staples and Honda Center to watch hockey from different areas of the arenas. It’s interesting to me that a good portion of the expensive “glass level” seats are empty except for rivalry games or for the playoffs. They may be all sold to season seat holders, but they are not filled like the nosebleed seats are. Those people in the nosebleeds know where to sit. So do media. So do operations. You won’t ever find an exclusive cafe or bar at glass level either. Why is that?
The best seats in any arena are the suites. They are packaged as the elite seats, with catering and other amenities that even the glass level seats aren’t afforded. And where are the suites located?
I rest my case.
So, if I am reading this correctly, the only way to properly send a message about how much I loathe rinkside view is to stop watching it altogether? Because of your horrible decision with this new way to present hockey, I have to stop watching the only sport that I passionately care about?
The real trouble I have with rinkside is that the view from behind the goal is confusing. It looks the same at each end and I feel that it is disorienting when you are trying to see who has possession of the puck and what side of the rink they are on.
Also, the arrogance of Feuer is jarring. He should be more open to what the viewers care about!
Stop crying about the view and be glad that you get to watch hockey at all. I will watch hockey for the rest of my life NO MATTER WHAT THE VIEW.
[...] an article by Curtis Zupke in the Orange County Register’s Ducks Blog entitled, “Upon Further Review..‘Rinkside’ Not Going Away,” Feuer, for all intents and purposes, told dedicated viewers of Kings and Ducks broadcasts [...]
I love the response “If you don’t like it then don’t watch”. Give us another station to watch the game on and everyone would ditch the “rink-side” view.
This would never happen in any other mainstream sport. I don’t see the “side line view” during Fox’s NFL coverage. How about the “bench cam” at a Laker game.
Ditch the crappy product and let us watch hockey like everyone else does.
If Center Ice offers the other feed, I’ll watch that instead
I refuse to watch rinkside view ever again.
I don’t have FSN in HD and I have refused to accept the Cox cable box to get it. I don’t have to suffer through the Rinkside view. I have seen it watching games elsewhere and it sucks. Making the action harder to follow is not the way to attract new fans to the game and it is a good way to anger long time fans. This guy Feuer sounds like one of the dull knives in the drawer.
IT STINKS.
no mr. feuer, we dont watch because we like it. we like the game and you have ruined it. but we watch because its still a hockey game, but the thrill is gone. bad move soldier.
and i never post opinions on these boards, but im really upset and disgusted.
You want a major technical innovation? Start brainstorming the feasibility of broadcasting in 1080 p. That would be something to brag about.
Rinkside is horrible. Just plan horrible.
first and foremost I agree with everyone here that the most important thing is HD. I can’t even watch in regular cable anymore, as Peter King says it is like watching the game through a dirty window.
If you really think people like the rinkside cameras then I propose (as others have above) a more scientific test: simulcast the game with traditional “TV” style camera angle and with rinkside angle and measure the viewers on each. This will confirm my suspicion that 90% of viewers prefer the TV view.
If you want to show the speed of the game, do so in a replay. I have season seats and haven’t seen the Rinkside View this year, but I have to say that I won’t watch this production based solely upon the arrogance of Feuer’s statement. I play hockey and can follow this view (if it’s the same as last season), but it’s a crappy point of view.
I think we should give Mr Feuer his props …. I mean, to ignore what appears to be an overwhelming fan consensus … truly BOLD. I, for one, am inspired by such imagination and leadership. What a Maverick!
To continue with the scientific analysis; while simulcasting, switch viewing formats every period between channels and track how many viewers switch along with it.
What a tool. Arrogance at it’s lowest.
Of course people are still watching. What other choice do we have? It’s either you watch a crappy “rinkside view” or you miss the game. I seriously doubt if it is attracting new fans, it’s just the same old fan base watching a crappy telecast. It’s like the city adding crap flavor to your water supply. You either die of thrust or drink the crappy water.
Why aren’t all the games broadcast in HD? I’m getting tired of grainy games on my 42″ flat screen HD 1080i TV!
The rink side view is horrible. My favorite is when the play is behind the net but our view is from the blueline…can’t see the play, thats fun.
Just curious, I wonder if the NHL is complaining yet? They use the local feeds for video reviews. I’m sure they hate it as well.
It’s almost as stupid as the cameramana that runs aorund the field when a baseball player hits a homerun….
“Rinkside View” has got to be the biggest idiotic gimmick foisted on hockey since the debacle that was FoxTrax!
Feuer is so mind-numbingly dumb to correlate raw numbers with acceptance of the format. Hockey fans watch hockey. Period. In whatever form it takes. Ducks’ fans know this having to put up with many games on KDOC with their poor sound and fuzzy picture. It is still our team.
As others have already suggested, put regular mode up against Rinkside for the same game. Then let’s look at the numbers.
It’s time to start emailing advertisers who pay for time slots during games, I for will tell them that I will be listening to the games via radio or just boycott their product if Rinkside broadcast is not taken away.
the rinkside view BLOWS! BLOWS!!!! thats all.
“I’m going to get killed for this,” said Feuer, “but if these people truly don’t like ‘Rinkside View,’ then don’t watch.
Thanks. I won’t. I’d rather watch curling in French.
These angles are frustrating.
And of course we are still going to watch, its our team. But its clear that we all prefer the standard view over this rink-side non-sense.
Someone needs to locate this guys email contact info so the people can be heard. I am over that ridiculous angle.
Maybe Ducks and King management can be informed of this? Let’s alienate the fan base through television.
What an arrogant idiot. Maybe he was an investment banker before he got into broadcasting?
Mr. Feurer, when the Kings are out of playoff contention and the Ducks have competition from the Angels, we’ll see how many viewers continue to suffer through your experiment. See you at Circuit City you twit!
Truly ridiculous. The broadcasts are unwatchable, disorienting and impossible to follow. I’ve played and watched hockey for more than 35 years, but I will take Mr Feuer up on his invitation and not watch Ducks or Kings local broadcasts until “Rinkside View” goes away.
A couple of questions for Fox Sports. How many of these responses do you have to see before you put Mr. Feuer in a position more suited to his capabilities? Can the sports broadcasting business be so bulletproof that this man can change the product and insist that his decision is right in the face of overwhelming public sentiment?
why don’t they start showing baseball games from the left fielders point of view. Hey…don’t like it? Don’t watch!
What an arrogant ass this Mr. Feuer. If it were April 1st, I’d think his response was just an April Fools joke. Hey pal, are you sure your last name isn’t Fuhrer, like as in Adolf Hitler? Your arrogance and denial remind me a lot of Adolf. I can’t believe that he would use ratings in this situation. Hey numbnuts, you’ve got a captive audience! There isn’t an alternative! Like someone else stated, put two feeds on and see which one gets more viewers. Rinkside View stinks and so does your attitude.
Let’s all start contacting the advertisers on FSN and letting them know we will be boycotting their products because FSN refuses to put out a product that everyone likes!
Simulcast both ways, then see which one gets watched more, duh. When you give viewers no choice, your assumptions are incredibly flawed. Another dumb egotistical suit in the FSN boardroom. Tread carefully Mr. Feuer - your self-admiring attitude just might work for you in the mirror, but can often becomes one’s ultimate downfall.
Curtis Zupke, please update your story to include a way to contact this neanderthal at FSN. He is out in la-la land!
Never thought I’d see the day where Ducks and Kings fans can both agree on something almost unanimously.
Rinkside view SUCKS!
If not watching is the only way to get it through their heads then… well hello radio!
Decision makers with complete ignorance of the game from a fans perspective, is the major reason behind the sorry state of the great sport of hockey.
Mr. Tom Feuer should be forced to swallow 100 glowing blue pucks!
the problem with the “if you don’t like it, don’t watch it” argument is the “don’t watch it” part. I am a hockey fan (first and foremost) and a Ducks fan, so I will watch the game. just like the rest of my fellow hockey fans, the pleasure of watching the game is enough to overcome a terrible angle- just like sitting in bad seats at a live game. Mr. Feur needs to keep this in mind, and save the rinkside view for the teams when they review tape. Is it really a good sign for a major network when we would rather watch the game in standard definition on public access?
This is just personally insulting. The fans speak out and voice their opinions on how they like to watch their game and it gets twisted around to fool people into thinking we actually like Rinkside View. The ratings are skewed because we have no other choice than to watch with this angle, the selection of opponents were extremely popular games to watch, and the Kings just happen to be a lot more interesting this year than in years past. If people truly liked Rinkside View it would show an increase in ratings unanimously in both Kings and Ducks fans. The fact that the Kings went up 200% and Ducks 20% show how screwy these numbers are being spun to give him the ok to continue with this garbage.
Typical Fox attitude for both of the Orange County teams and their fans.
I can’t see play develop. I can see (1) player at a time out of (10). I can’t see offensive teammates going from one end to the other. I can’t see defensive teammates that might help the puck carrier. I can’t see if everyone is covered on defense. I can’t see open players on offense. I can’t see the puck at the blue line. I can’t see the puck behind the net.
I turned the channel. Conclusion? Fantastic!
Mr. Tom Feuer,
If you want more people watching tell them to stop following only the puck. If the puck carrier is identified, teammate position and direction of movement identified, more often than not a novice should be able to keep up with the puck. If you spend all your time following the puck you won’t see anything. Kinda like Ringside View.
I turned on one game and thought what kind of an idiot is producing this thing? I thought maybe the guy on the camera that we are used to watching was out getting a $10 hot dog.
I presume that Mr. Feuer does not believe in the statement, “the customer is always right,” Isn’t it nice to know that the majority of us feel the same way about this new viewing but that attitude of Mr. Feuer is, “screw you”? How pleasant. I say we boycott and watch the ratings tank. Maybe then the majority will be listened to and hopefully this loser will be out of a job!
How do guys like these keep their jobs? The reason why Hockey is such a low rated sport for TV is because people who aren’t avid hockey fans complain that they can’t follow the puck. This makes it that much worse. I have been watching hockey both live and on TV my whole life and even I have a hard time following the puck.
[...] would like to thank Mr Tom Feuer for letting me know how much my viewership means to your station. Upon further review … ‘Rinkside’ not going away - Ducks blog - OCRegister.com I am taking his advice to no longer watch your channel. I only will no longer be watching hockey [...]
Feuer is ridiculous. He actually thinks ratings are up because of rink side view? How did people even know that rink side existed so they could flock to it? Does he really think that people will change the channel if they didn’t have rink side view?
Kings TV ratings are up because no one is attending their games. And though the Ducks are faring better, they are no longer selling out. Obviously more fans from both teams are watching from home.
if he was really concerned with what the fans preferred, he would air both types of “views” and then see where the ratings are.
I’ve watched one rink-side game on FSN and that was enough. I may not be able to watch the Ducks and Kings but there is still Center Ice with plenty of hockey. The advertisers need to be made aware of how everyone feels about this too. Money talks, especially in todays economy. With out them knowing how the fans feel about this it is useless to boycott FSN.
The camera is too slow change from the corner to the net to see the shot on goal. You don’t know who else is on the ice or their positioning on the ice. Rinkside view is a MUCH bigger disaster than the glowing puck (At least you could see where the puck was).
“…ratings are up 200%” gee considering that ducks and kings play in so cal. do we have any other option of WATCHING the game. guess that’s the definition of a monopoly
Do these clown honestly think that radically changing the camera angles is the key to acquiring new viewers? I have been watching hockey for 20+ years, whenever Rinkside View comes on, my family and I turn the game off. Then we go on the internet and find the opposing teams TV feed. If thats not available, we tune into the radio broadcast. I wish there was a way to let the advertisers for Ducks broadcasts know that. Money down the drain for them.
They must have tied up a lot of money in the equipment/personnel, and thus have to force it down our throats. Mr. Feuer, own up to the fact you flat out messed this one up royally, and give the fans back their team. Stop holding them hostage with this botched experiment. IF IT AINT BROKE, DON’T TRY TO FIX IT.
Can someone please post or at least start a list of Ducks TV advertisers? I’d like to know who to boycott. I would encourage everyone else to as well…lets fix this problem.
I find the ram-it-down-their-throats arrogance of Mr. Feuer utterly devoid of any concern for the actual viewers of the games, which the advertisers are theoretically, trying to reach. One wonders if Mr. Feuer has viewed this ‘Blair Witch Project’ -like mess he calls a broadcast, let alone, an actual hockey game.
Cameras are so tight-in, that we are not allowed to see the action away from the puck, which can be more important at a particular moment of a game.
Behind-the-net cameras become so jumpy when the boards are hit, one has to reach for the motion-sickness bags.
The puck gets lost in a sea of players, especially when viewing it from the opposite end of the ice.
The transition from one end of the ice to the other, is not seamless and trails behind the action of the players.
I have tried to sit through an entire Rink-SIde View game, on more than one occasion, but sadly each time, I find myself on the verge of a migraine headache and have to stop watching. Its just not worth it. Better to listen to the radio broadcast of the game, or rue the day I cursed-out KDOC!
Rinkside is awful. Is FSN is trying to destroy hockey? The reason viewership is higher for those games is because they are in HD. Broadcast ALL THE GAMES in HD and you will REALLY SEE THE RATINGS JUMP!
I keep waiting for the rinkside view supporters to chime in, and tell us why we’re all wrong. Odd how all of those happy viewers seem not to know how to type….
What an arrogant loser! Just like the rinkside view idea.
Unbelievably bad business man! Fire his ass!
Telecasts were already lame before this confusing nauseating pov.
Thanks for ruining the little enjoyment we’re getting from Kings hockey.
When can we get to chose our own camera views?
When can we choose ambient arena audio only without the constant retarded nattering of the “play by play and color guys”?
I have to admit that some of these posts made me laugh, boy do we sound whiny! But the squeaky wheel gets the grease…eventually (I hope) so here goes! I am a Ducks fan living in the Bay Area with no cable, and no luxury of deciding to go to the game if I don’t want to watch the garbage that is rinkside view. I watch online, or rather, try to watch the rinkside broadcasts. I find it confusing, disorienting, and actually somewhat nauseating. Part of the fun of watching a game from home for me is to be able to watch and follow the game with the benefit of replays from multiple angles so I can really see if the puck crossed the line, or if it really should have been a boarding call. What I get with rinkside is endless questions…where is the puck? What was that whistle for? Wait a second, we scored??? Who was it, I can’t SEE anything!
I’m all for being able to see how fast the game is, but let me decide to do that by purchasing tickets on the glass. Don’t force feed me low angle shots from the opposite side of the rink from where the play is, or ones with half the screen covered by the boards and then quickly cut away to an even worse angle where I can’t even see the play because 5 players are screening me. Feuer is completely out of touch with the draw that the NHL has in this market if he thinks that it is acceptable to alienate the true fans from the sport by simply telling us not to watch. Increased ratings don’t mean squat in this case and everyone knows it but him.
so are you saying this is the first thing that Kings and Ducks fans can agree on that rinkside sucks! i dont like it either but it is better then the comet that Fox came out with a few years ago, when the puck was highlighted so all the people that complained that they couldnt follow the puck. what will they think of next???
Does anyone have this guy’s email? Home address? Anything we can use to bombard him with hate mail or something?
I love the Ducks and will watch games regardless of the view, but if we could organize a formal boycott, I’d be all for it.
Having to refocus my eyes everytime there’s a camera switch is beyond ridiculous…
What will it take for us to get rid of these camera angles? Bringing a sign with me at the games that says “FSN, GET RID OF THE STINKSIDE VIEW”.
Rinkside view is lousy. I’ll stick to my center ice feed of San Jose, Vancouver, or whomever else might be on the west coast. Should be some great football on Sunday nite - Dallas versus Washington.
We’ve just had eight years of a president cramming his personal agenda down people’s throats. Anyone else notice a similarity of arrogance? By all means, Mr. Feuer, be the producer who gives the audience what it doesn’t want. My family will happily take your advice and every broadcast that features Rinkside View will be a broadcast we won’t be watching. That should make your sponsors happy.
Fightin’ words: “…if these people truly don’t like ‘Rinkside View,’ then don’t watch…” The country is in dire need of a “change”, but socialist ideologies are certainly not the way to go.
Blowhard arrogance at its best. This is just another instance of an overpaid, delusional pencil-pusher’s attempt to make a name for him or herself through the exploitation of unwary viewers, who may have neither the resources nor the means of taking in a live hockey game.
While FSN will continue to do whatever it needs to bring in the most clams, Tommy boy should look into improving his leadership, persuasion, and public speaking skills that is typically required for a top ranking executive.
Not a SINGLE comment that even goes as far as saying it has its advantages or that they kind of like it, etc.
I would hope someone’s smart enough to print this out and mail it to the guy. How pompous and arrogant — and to be so outward with it?
Perhaps the writer(s) of this blog should be a little more critical as well.
The view blows you cant see the play develope! Another thing I dont understand why the NHL pulled the plug with ESPN. I dont get Versus with basic cable. Its just another blow to the fans that love to watch the games on tv. Feuer and Bettman are killing the NHL!!
Here’s another way to determine how “great” the Rinkside View is: Lift the blackouts for the opponent broadcasts. I get Center Ice, but the Ducks and Kings broadcasts are the only ones we can get. I’d much rather listen to opposing announcers (or turn the sound down and listen to the radio) if the trade-off was a watchable broadcast.
Provide another view and 80% of the viewers will watch that thank rinkside. Viewers up for the ducks/kings game, broadcast a ducks/panthers game in rinkside and see what the viewership is. Hockey is already a niche sport, don’t drive away the passionate fans you already have. If indeed you stand by the mantra, “don’t watch”, I will comply. My life is busy enough without watching horrible rinkside view hockey.
The Register needs to publish a photo of Mr. Feuer. I’d relish the chance to bump into him at a Ducks game and tell him how I feel about his rinkside view and his opinion of me as a fan.
What else could unite Kings and Ducks fans????!
QFE: ““They may not like it, but they seem to want to watch it,” Feuer said.”
Feed a starving child maggots, and I bet they ask for seconds. Rinkside view is awful and just another reason why the NHL is on the bottom of the totem pole in regards to viewership.
Bettman and Feuer should probably do lunch and figure out how to kill the league altogether.
Found his e-mail on the Kings Boards. Let him know how you feel;
tom.feuer@foxsports.net
Fire Feuer!
He idiot. There is no other choice! You are a moron and the lame rinkside view is one of the most awful things going. If you really want to improve the telecast, BROADCAST ALL GAMES IN HD from a normal camera view. HD is the best thing going when it comes to watching hockey games.
“I’m going to get killed for this,” said Feuer, “but if these people truly don’t like ‘Rinkside View,’ then don’t watch.-
Translation, I made a really stupid decision in implementing this, and rather than eating crow and admitting I’m wrong, I will put it back on the Fans. Typical corporate response.! Tie him to the net and let some defensman unload a few shots on him, and get it on Camera.
I just want this to get to 100 comments, so FSN can claim how successful this experiment is, even though it’s all generated by hate.
Next rinkside view FSN should put a middle finger in the middle of the screen so Feuer doesn’t have to make a comment at all.
98 negative comments, not one positive one. Enough said. If anyone enjoys this angle please speak up. Otherwise it is unanimous, this angle must go!!!
Ratings are up. People are watching so it must be good. People aren’t watching the games because “rinkside” is so cool. They probably hear about this ridiculously dumb idea and decide to tune in to it.
For some reason this guy refuses to believe that ratings are up for a reason beside rinkside view. They broadcast the big games, games with higher ratings, for rinkside view. I watch the games no matter what FSN does, because I like hockey, not because I like rinkside. It sucks.
The rinkside view is horrible. You can’t follow the game at all! The ONLY reason that the ratings are up is that the Ducks are a GREAT team. If he really wants to evaluate the popularity of the telecast, show the game on 2 channels - one with the regular view and one with the pathetic rinkside view.
Make sure to go vote It’s horrible.
http://ducks.freedomblogging.com/2008/11/11/ducks-kings-rinkside-view-you-decide/2560/#more-2560
Watching rinkside view is the telecast equivalent of an epileptic fit. I hate it. Feuer is an arrogant snot, trying to defend his bad idea with facts where there are no correlation.
I sent an email to this arrogant fool Tom Feuer, who it turns out just came down here from Fox Sports Northwest in 2005 and still doesn’t understand the So Cal hockey fan base. Send him an email complaining to tom.feuer@foxsports.net
But since he doesn’t care it would be even better to send emails to his higher-ups and even advertisers telling them about his “tell them not to watch comments”
In my email I told him the reason the ratings were up were because the opponents and the fact the games were in HD. I challenged him to try it against Columbus or Nashville or some team like that and see what the ratings are. The arrogant fool.
“We hope to get this rectified very, very soon,” Teats said. “We don’t want to be going back and forth and subject fans to constant changes that are jarring. We want to give them something that they really enjoy.”
If they would listen to us fans they would know we really enjoy watching sports in HD and we also enjoy being able to follow the flow of our favorite game. These idiots just don’t get it.
Rink side view Makes me look forward to the crappy picture on KDOC
Look… Ducks and Kings fans agree unanimously on this…
That should tell you how truly horrible it is right there.
it is simple… 1 game, both channels… let the fans and the ratings decide when there is a choice!
Okay, let me get this straight. The big shot at FSN has deceided that we the hockey fans should live with his decision to experiment with this horrible “toy”. Hey buddy, I live in Arizona and have the Center Ice package. The rest of the NHL, especially the Canadian teams, don’t play around with” toys.” maybe they know more than you do. If I can get the game with out the “toy”. I would gladly watch. And as far as you being a genius, it doen’t take much to piss-off as many hockey fans in Southern California. You must have been a higher up in FOX when they owned the Dodgers, nice tradition of screwing a good thing up.
Todrick, that’s a great idea. But I bet Fox won’t have the guts to do it because they know it will make them look like fools.
It’s really unbelievable that an executive at FSN has so little regard and respect for his viewing audience. I guess I’ll have to stick to the opposing team’s feed on Center Ice for the 13 remaining games Fox is going televise using the Rinkside view.
Don’t the Ducks and Kings have any leverage with FSN? I hope they at least have some respect for their fans.
I won’t be watching any “rinkside” view games. Enough said.
I would really love for the Ducks to get out of their FSN contract and put all their games on KDOC. Then I would be able to watch their games again. From now on, I am boycotting FSN period. I’m not watching any of their channels now, no matter what the sport or team.
Forget Feuer’s e-mail address…someone needs to find the e-mail address of his boss. Let his boss know that we can’t stand Tommy boy’s pet project and that we are going to start contacting and boycotting their advertisers! Anyone know who this clown works for and how to contact that person?
I’ve played hockey on a continual basis for years and years. I’ve gone to games and thats the best way to view! I watch Center Ice, and I’ve watched games for years. I watch games almost every night, and the normal camera angles I have no problem with. I can see the play develope,and it doesn’t make me dizzy. The new Rinkside view I can’t stand! The behind the net cameras are ok for power plays every once and a while, but the center ice moving low camera sucks,and overall too many camera changes. On the center ice moving glass camera, its so low you just see a gaggle of players. You can’t see a play devloping like how far on a 3 on 2 one open player is from his teamates and the defenders. I hate the Rinkside view so much I will just have to watch highlights and actually go to a few more games and of course play more. Tom Feuer, who said, ” I’m gonna get killed for this”, well you must not give a darn about hockey people like me who watch tons of games with a passion and hate the new view. For you to tell me to just go away if I don’t like it, I respond by saying why don’t YOU go away with the Rinkside view in tote! Its like the people who started the Rinkside view just want to show blind people the names on the jerseys as they skate by. Never mind about a good view of the overall game! P.S. powers that be…it it ain’t broke don’t fix it!!
They tried something, it didn’t work. It won’t last, despite the mindless Fox fool Feuer, the fans hate it. What they need to change are the horrible announcers. This “Jonny” and “Hazey” pair is garbage. If they wonder why the ratings suck, look there. Jonny sounds like the AHL where he came from. Hazey thinks he’s the know-it-all and adds no insight. We had a great announcer when we started. He’s on KNX now. They ought to bring him back and bring the broadcasts to the level of the team. Which getting rid of this Rinkside thing or making it a small part of the game would help too.
I can’t believe they’re going to continue this horrible idea. With sporting events, ratings don’t necessarily mean the viewers like what they’re seeing. They’re watching because it’s the only option.
Feuer, you need to get a clue and start listening to the comments. Rinkside sucks!
Isn’t it illegal for them to have a monopoly over the broadcasts?
Down with Feur!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stinkside View should never be broadcast again.
I don’t care if you use a new camera angle a few times a game but to make the whole game horrible is just wrong.
[...] Feuer has been most criticized for trying this approach (which was also tried in the early days of ESPN2 in the mid-’90s) and admits he erred in telling the O.C. Register this week that fans who didn’t like Rinkside view shouldn’t watch it. [...]