Wow. Well a lot has happened since I went to bed last night this morning. The videos seem to be working again, and the NHL is saying that they never told anyone to block embeds.
Was this a major YouTube bug? Internet Gremlins? Not sure yet, and it may be a while before we know for sure, but the important thing is that I’m an NHL fanboy again and I get to giggle at hockey recaps in French—’cause that’s really all that matters.
Hey folks, I just got off the phone with someone at the NHL. Looks like the NHL wants you to see video recaps, but they don’t want anyone to spread the word. I’m not sure exactly when they flipped the switch, but as of right now the NHL is no longer letting anyone embed any of their YouTube videos on any other site.
Can someone explain this to me? Isn’t the whole point of YouTube to get more eyeballs on a video? I really thought that the NHL was doing a smart thing by pushing the envelope and embracing Web 2.0 to get more hockey in front of more people, (other than the once a month NBC game and All-Star game on Versus, of course), but it turns out they just don’t get it.
They’re putting their videos on YouTube, but they don’t understand why they’re putting their videos on YouTube.
So, for the time being, you’ll have to click on the video recap to go to YouTube’s site, and then watch the video there. Of course there won’t be any news, any way to know if the game is any good, or (god forbid!) the actual score of the game, but that’s how the NHL wants you to consume their product.
update: RUWTbot will be invading Canada in August. read more…
I’m not the biggest Hockey fan. I usually don’t watch much of anything on the ice until the playoffs start, but I’ve found myself watching the YouTube clips we have on the site. I was flipping through some footage today, and low and behold, those crazy French Candians are giving us NHL recaps in French! You can put it right up there with trying to use ATMs in Spanish. It’s fun. I don’t know why. I’ve just come to terms with it.
The site currently processes TV listings just for US ZIP Codes, but can be expanded to Canadian Postal Codes if we upgrade the TV package. The web stats don’t show any visits yet from our benevolent neighbors to the North, but if you guys start to arrive, please let me know so I can be a good host.
You know you’re good when your name becomes an adjective 120 games into your career.
The Stars and Oilers played an unbelievable game last night. The quick recap will tell you the Stars came back from a 3 goal deficit and won the game in a shootout, but the video will show you the last three goals were awesome (good stuff starts around 2:45), each one more exciting than the last, with the middle one an Ovechkin-like work of art.