Hockey fans, breathe easy again. Saturday night's Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals will be seen locally after all. Sun Sports, which televises Lightning games, has agreed to pick up NBC's feed for the opening game of the series between the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins. The telecast will begin at 8 p.m. Sun Sports received final approval from Fox, which owns Sun Sports, as well as final clearing by the NHL on Friday afternoon.
NBC is showing the game nationally, but the local NBC affiliate, WFLA-Ch. 8, could not show the game because it is broadcasting its 26th annual All Children's Hospital Telethon. It appeared the game would not seen because the league could not find an alternate station to pick up the game. That's when the Lightning stepped in. Working feverishly behind the scenes for the past 24 hours, Lightning officials, in conjunction with the NHL, contacted Sun Sports and helped negotiate the deal to assure the Tampa Bay market would not be shut out of the game.
Local DirecTV customers can see the game on Ch. 656, while the DISH Network will show it on Ch. 451. The game will not be seen in high definition.
Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday night and that game will be seen on Ch. 8. However, Sunday afternoon's coverage of the French Open on NBC will not be seen because of Ch. 8's commitment to the telethon.
Tom Jones doesn't sing "It's Not Unusual'' or shake his hips (well, unless you're willing to pay cash), but he does have plenty to say about sports. If it's funny, crazy, weird, irreverent or worth arguing, Tom has his opinions. So pull up a chair and get his two cents -- and give him your two cents, as well.
E-mail Tom Jones:
Heart back to normal rhythm, thank you Tom for keeping us informed... by the way I am a very rational woman, also a rabid Wings fan.. Here's hoping for a great series!
Posted by: Wing Fan | May 29, 2009 at 02:00 PM
OK, I can finally stop my plans to drive to Georgia tomorrow. Now I can spend the gas money on beer. Woo-hoo! Go Wings!
Posted by: Matt | May 29, 2009 at 02:16 PM
What about Versus? Channel 26 on Brighthouse...I thought they were airing the game.
Posted by: 'burgh-er | May 29, 2009 at 02:20 PM
Will this include the Sun Sports HD Channel (719) too?? I know sometimes the Rays game are on the regular sun sports channel but not the HD channel.
Posted by: JJB | May 29, 2009 at 02:24 PM
Does this include SUN SPORTS HD, or just regular SUN SPORTS????
Posted by: JJB | May 29, 2009 at 02:28 PM
Not sure about whether it's on HD. I will check and post something on it soon. -- Tom Jones
Posted by: Tom Jones | May 29, 2009 at 02:40 PM
Hey, "Wing Fan", "Matt" and "burgh-er", get out of my state now! You live here, support the home team. Especially you, douchebergh-er, if Pittsburgh is THAT great, why did you come here? Leave.
Go Bolts!
Posted by: Rob | May 29, 2009 at 02:47 PM
Wait just a moment. Lightning management worked on this deal and didn't completely bungle it? Maybe there's hope for us Bolts fans after all. And, since my Bolts are out of the playoffs, GO PENS!
Posted by: Jim M. | May 29, 2009 at 02:51 PM
GO PENS!
Posted by: Keith | May 29, 2009 at 03:29 PM
Pens in 5 GO PENS!!!
Posted by: Art R | May 29, 2009 at 03:36 PM
Rob - before you go calling someone a douchebag-er, maybe you should look in the mirror first. Living somewhere doesn't mean I have to automatically support the home team. And last time I checked, YOU don't own the state.
Posted by: Allison | May 29, 2009 at 04:00 PM
Thank you so muck.....GO PENGUINS
Posted by: george | May 29, 2009 at 04:02 PM
Hey Rob, stop the nastiness, I'm a season ticket holder for the Lightning, Bucs & Rays! Just happen to be a Wings fan along with my husband. And if you need to be reminded, the Lightning aren't in the finals. I love hockey man give it a rest!!!!
Posted by: Wing Fan | May 29, 2009 at 04:39 PM
Thanks Lightning and thanks Sunsports
Posted by: craig | May 29, 2009 at 04:43 PM
Fortunately, this doesn't knock the Rays off Sun Sports. They play at 4 p.m. on Fox on Saturday.
Posted by: mockdraught | May 29, 2009 at 04:50 PM
Talked to people at Sun Sports and, unfortunately, the game will not be on HD. Too many technical issues to turn around in a day to get the game in HD. But, hey, we should be happy it's on at all. Enjoy the game, everyone.
-- Tom Jones
Posted by: Tom Jones | May 29, 2009 at 04:53 PM
Thanks again Tom, you are the man!!
Posted by: Wing Fan | May 29, 2009 at 05:07 PM
Is the telethon in HD? Nothing better than Gayle Sierens in HD.....eeeewwww
Posted by: politically incorrect | May 29, 2009 at 05:26 PM
Yeah - thanks to the Lightning organization! GO WINGS!
Posted by: amyleigh | May 29, 2009 at 05:39 PM
I'm glad to see that NBC made a deal to get the game aired SOMEWHERE. That way i can see the Overhyped penguins get smacked by the Wings!
Posted by: Seer1963 | May 29, 2009 at 08:19 PM
There is a reason that Hossa left and took Less money to join the Wings. People are so Blinded by the "Pretty Boy" ("Sid the Kid")who don't get me wrong is Great, that they forget to look at the depth of Detroits Roster who just quietly (in comparison) goes about its business and can win without it's stars. In fact when Detroits star player(s) go cold someone else steps up and gets hot.People say it will come down to Goalies they talk about how great the Pens goalie is I'm not saying he isn't. Next time you can though look up Osgood+ playoff wins and where Osgood stands on the alltime list for wins by a playoff Goalie.
These are the reasons the Wins will win the Cup.
Posted by: Seer1963 | May 29, 2009 at 08:35 PM
It's Cup time,The time of Calamari,Cheli Chilli if you can get your hands on it,Brats,Drinks and of course what's watching any Hockey let alone the Cup without Friends.
That's what it's all about!
Thanks to NBC for making arrangements for the Stanley Cup!
Most Importantly though Good Luck to and God Bless NBC and ALL CHILDRENS HOSPITAL and here's hoping that they raise all the Money they need and More!!!!
Posted by: Seer1963 | May 29, 2009 at 08:57 PM
And for us Tennis fans? Nada - once again Tampa media is bush league.
How interesting that FOX owns Sun Sports, and FOX also allows their other affiliates to broadcast the telethon on their digital subchannel.
In summary - NBC sucks, and Tampa tv continues to suck.
Posted by: A-Viewer | May 29, 2009 at 08:58 PM
And for us tennis fans? Nada.
Interesting that sun sports is owned by the FOX network. FOX seems to care about the viewers.
NBC - let's be honest here, they suck.
And in all likely-hood, Tampa media is ignoring the tennis audience. As if we don't have a history of tennis pro's training here - Sampras, Blake, Seles....
Posted by: A-Viewer | May 29, 2009 at 09:03 PM
Before everybody critizes those of us rooting fot the Wings or the penguins. Does that mean that we should stop watching and enjoying our sport when they aren't in the playoffs like this year. Do you not watch the playoffs or the Super Bowl when the Bucs aren't in them any longer? What alot of free time we all would have if that were the case.
Obviously you are not a true Hockey fan or you would be watching The Cup regardless of who was playing.
Posted by: Seer1963 | May 29, 2009 at 09:24 PM
People like Rob I find amusing. Imagine this Hey rob this is a great Super Bowl party.
Rob:uh thanks
(Game starts people start cheering) Rob: okay all you people cheering for Pittsburgh or Arizona get out of my party!NOW! The rest of you can stay and enjoy the commercials with me.
Posted by: Seer1963 | May 29, 2009 at 09:37 PM
Every year WFLA tries to get me to hate sick children.
Posted by: Netminder31 | May 29, 2009 at 11:55 PM
Netminder, this year the bulk of that hate should be directed towards NBC. Technology gave WFLA a good way to broadcast the sports on HD, but NBC decided that the viewers don't count as much as their power play with their Tampa affiliate.
Tom understands NBC's position (can't let those affiliates decide what gets primary or alternate placement), but FOX network handled exactly opposite (see the discussion at http://blogs.tampabay.com/twocents/2009/05/game-1-of-cup-final-might-not-be-seen-in-tampa-bay.html#comments ).
What will happen if the US OPEN Tennis finals get bumped to Monday like last year? Will CBS block WTSP from airing it on the subchannel?
We viewers are the losers. Not much we can do, but keep in mind that NBC is the bad guy.
P.S. I'm a tennis guy. I only get 5 chances a year to see the French open on HD. Can't comment on hockey, but pro-tennis on clay REALLY benefits from the digital signal.
Posted by: A-Viewer | May 30, 2009 at 09:17 AM
and you don't get SUNSPORTS in hD unless YOU PAY extra!
This is why I have a Canadien satellite and watch hockey Night in Canada and TSN where hockey is respected!
Posted by: Wiz | May 30, 2009 at 09:12 PM
And here I was just thinking the non-HD viewing of the playoffs was just a comcast in Utah screw job. I watched Game 1 on the CW which is affiliated with our local NBC channel. Being a born and raised Hockeytowner, this is criminal not to watch my Wings in HD. *sniff, sniff* BUT the only thing better is to watch my Wings beat (in 5) my hubby's team, the Penguins....again!!! I would watch the Red Wings upside down and under water if that were the only option though.
Let's Go Red Wings!! I have a cravin' for some calamari. :)
Posted by: Ex-pat Hockeytowner living in Utah | May 31, 2009 at 02:26 AM
WFLA NBC S*CKS So do most sports bandwagon fans in Tampa who would otherwise should demand it instead of some Stupid Hurricane Special/ telethon.. F' the Wings and Pens! GO BOLTS!
Posted by: HockeyBay.com | June 01, 2009 at 11:33 AM