NBC shuts down big screen once again - 04-30-10

This isn't much of a surprise, but NBC has once again told the Penguins to pull the plug on the wildly popular big screen outside Gate 3 for Sunday's Game 2.

NBC, which unlike other league broadcasters such as FSN Pittsburgh or Versus, pull the same move last season when it wouldn't allow the Penguins or any other American team to set up similar viewing parties.

EN Says: From what we've been told by people in the know, NBC really doesn't care about the 5,000 or so folks who would congregrate in front of Mellon Arena and the miniscule damage it could do to ratings points potentially.

What the Peacock does care about is the precedent it could set with one of its bigger high profile sports partnerships such as the NFL.

In the end, it's just another short sided decision from NBC. It's been quite a year for the Peacock huh?

Ultimately, the NHL needs to get out of this horrendous "partnership" with NBC. The NHL had a wonderful opportunity to showcase the sport during the Winter Olympics. And what happened? The bulk of the hockey games were marooned on CNBC or MSNBC.

(Photo: NBC)