Seattle Thunderbirds get a TV deal

Hey,

I'm pretty stoked to let you guys know this and I'm excitied that finally the Thunderbirds are on TV here in Seattle. Comcast and the Thunderbirds signed a deal to have all their home games broadcasted for free on Comcast's On Demand. Here's the press release.

"T-Birds Games Broadcasting on Demand
Comcast Cable ‘On Demand’ To Show All Future Home Games
SEATTLE, December 31, 2004 — The Seattle Thunderbirds are pleased to announce that their home games against the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Everett Silvertips from earlier this week, plus all future home games during the 2004-05 season, will be broadcast on Comcast Cable On Demand the day following the game.

“This is a big step for us as an organization and we are excited to be able to give T-Birds fans the ability to see our home games on television” said Colin Campbell, Assistant General Manager. “We are excited to be partnering with Comcast in this venture.”

On Demand is accessible to all Comcast subscribers who have Digital Cable. On Demand is accessed by pressing the Menu Key on the Digital Cable remote control. Once in the On Demand Menu, select the Sports & Fitness category. T-Birds games can be found in the Thunderbirds Hockey sub-category, within the Sports & Fitness category.

With On Demand, viewers can start a program at any time and have the ability to stop, pause, fast-forward and rewind the selected program, as well as the ability to watch the program over and over again.

The game broadcasts are produced by the Thunderbirds and TRG Video Productions."


I just watched the Lethbridge and Everett games today and they were both wonderful to watch. So good to finally be able to watch the home team. Anyway I just wanted to let all the Seattlites and Washingtonians know so that we can support the Thunderbirds and Comcast and hopefully keep this ball rolling so that Comcast continues to put games on TV and maybe they're start broadcasting the Thunderbirds away games too.

Anyway just wanted to let you all know :yo: :D :handclap:

Hey,

I'm pretty stoked to let you guys know this and I'm excitied that finally the Thunderbirds are on TV here in Seattle. Comcast and the Thunderbirds signed a deal to have all their home games broadcasted for free on Comcast's On Demand. Here's the press release.

"T-Birds Games Broadcasting on Demand
Comcast Cable ‘On Demand’ To Show All Future Home Games
SEATTLE, December 31, 2004 — The Seattle Thunderbirds are pleased to announce that their home games against the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Everett Silvertips from earlier this week, plus all future home games during the 2004-05 season, will be broadcast on Comcast Cable On Demand the day following the game.

“This is a big step for us as an organization and we are excited to be able to give T-Birds fans the ability to see our home games on television” said Colin Campbell, Assistant General Manager. “We are excited to be partnering with Comcast in this venture.”

On Demand is accessible to all Comcast subscribers who have Digital Cable. On Demand is accessed by pressing the Menu Key on the Digital Cable remote control. Once in the On Demand Menu, select the Sports & Fitness category. T-Birds games can be found in the Thunderbirds Hockey sub-category, within the Sports & Fitness category.

With On Demand, viewers can start a program at any time and have the ability to stop, pause, fast-forward and rewind the selected program, as well as the ability to watch the program over and over again.

The game broadcasts are produced by the Thunderbirds and TRG Video Productions."


I just watched the Lethbridge and Everett games today and they were both wonderful to watch. So good to finally be able to watch the home team. Anyway I just wanted to let all the Seattlites and Washingtonians know so that we can support the Thunderbirds and Comcast and hopefully keep this ball rolling so that Comcast continues to put games on TV and maybe they're start broadcasting the Thunderbirds away games too.

Anyway just wanted to let you all know :yo: :D :handclap:

Perhaps it would be better to actually go to the game? Buying tickets supports the T-Birds way more than paying your Comcast bill does.

And the attendance goes down....

Why not just show the away games?

And the attendance goes down....

Why not just show the away games?

I've been asking that question for a long time now. It makes no sense at all....

Ive always enjoyed attending games in Seattle ..especially when the Blazers used to spank them !!!!
Do they still play in the arena with the square corners and does the salmon guy still drive the zamboni..hes a classic!!

Ive always enjoyed attending games in Seattle ..especially when the Blazers used to spank them !!!!
Do they still play in the arena with the square corners and does the salmon guy still drive the zamboni..hes a classic!!

We haven't played in that arena in years, ever since the Seattle Center Coliseum was renovated and became KeyArena.

And no the Zamboni guy was fired. He still attends every game though.

I can see Seattle being a big place and all, so broadcasting ome games may work. I guess it depends on how many people go to the games. I would liek the idea of all away games being televised(Im from Regina by the way and a Pats fan). I like following the team as much as possible, but I hardly ever see away games. All I've seen this year is Regina in PA...and watched Regina in MJ on TV...though I havent been able to go there yet.

Thats too bad ..we talked to him during the 93-94 playoffs , a real character .T-Bird fans are awesome ..they love the Birds ..i give em that .

I can see Seattle being a big place and all, so broadcasting ome games may work. I guess it depends on how many people go to the games. I would liek the idea of all away games being televised(Im from Regina by the way and a Pats fan). I like following the team as much as possible, but I hardly ever see away games. All I've seen this year is Regina in PA...and watched Regina in MJ on TV...though I havent been able to go there yet.

It could be the size of New York but as long as only 4,000 people show up to games it's a bad idea. People need to go, not try and find ways to watch it for free.

Seattle has a small fan base, so it's a terrible idea.

These are not live games so I don't see a problem. Wish they'd put the Silvertips on there as well (though the Tip's games are available on the internet).

These are not live games so I don't see a problem. Wish they'd put the Silvertips on there as well (though the Tip's games are available on the internet).
Read the original posters post again though. He said he is finally glad to be able to see the home team. He could see them 36 times a year if he went but apparently hes happy watching it the next day on his home tv.

Thunderbird107, I see your point. Perhaps broadcasting away games is what's order, as was suggested above. I understand that cable in Portland carries the Canadian WHL broadcast package. Wish Comcast would pick it up here.

It could be the size of New York but as long as only 4,000 people show up to games it's a bad idea. People need to go, not try and find ways to watch it for free.

I think a lot of the problem with attendance is the Key arena is NOT designed with hockey in mind. Last year with the big empty upper bowl (curtains help this year) and NO SEATS around one-third of the ice! It is a basket ball arena and when they gutted the colliseum for remodelling they ruined it for hockey.

I remember in the late 80s and early 90's when the Birds would play in the old arena for most games, but on weekends they would play at the colliseum and out-draw the sonics. Of course winning 52 games in 89-90 helped, but they are having a year like that.

The fan base is there, the facility is not. If you build it they will come. And the TV or internet will probably not make a negative impact, methinks.