The best way to watch NHL 2013/14?

[Big Popper]

What TV channels are showing NHL this year?
Or would it be better to buy a streaming service? PC? Xbox? or Playstation? The kids can show me how to do it if needed!
I didn't bother last year what with the lock out shortening the season.

[Yotes]

I think Premier Sports (http://www.premiersports.tv) are the official TV channel again, if you've got satellite telly.

Or you can get NHL Game Center Live for streaming to devices, remembering it's subject to blackouts where PS are broadcasting - there are ways around that though.

[Big Popper]

I would imagine there is a lot more choice on GCL where you only get what Premier sports are showing, am I correct in assuming this?
Can you watch replays of matches on GCL

[Yotes]

Yes you can watch archived games, the blacked out games eventually show up there, it just takes a while (48hrs I think).

Premier Sports appear to have a player now too, don't know anything about that though.

You can get around the black outs on GCL by using a proxy, something like unblock-us.com for $5 a month, which others on here use (I've not been bothered to try yet, but reports have always seemed positive).

[Pies]

GCL is by far the best one IMO

[Dan]

Nope. HockeyStreams. GCL has a ludicrous black out scheme, is late streaming all games, is unreliable and CONSTANTLY shows you the scores while you're going into archives.

[Deleted]

GCL is the best once youve mastered getting round the black outs, i watch it in HD through my Xbox , will never miss a wings game if its on PS or not

[Dan]

I disagree. Getting round the blackouts equals further cost, on top of the added cost of the service in the first place. The picture is no better than HS (a little worse usually), the archives take longer to be uploaded and the customer service is far worse.

HS is cheaper, better quality and quicker. They don't have an app to be fair but all you need is a HDMI cable.

[Deleted]

It doesnt cost me know more to dodge the black outs, you ve got to know the right websites and my quality is HD , NO LAGGING either , the only cost for me is the GCL subscribtion

[Dan]

GCL has an irritating 2 minute off-live delay. Means the forums are always well ahead.

[Pies]

Sept 2, 2013 18:20:27 GMT Dan said:

GCL has an irritating 2 minute off-live delay. Means the forums are always well ahead.

Don't read the forums then Dan?

[novahob]

GCL is only $99.99 this year which is really good value, HD feeds which PS don't have. Never tried hockey streams but that's another good option. s mentioned above there are ways around blackouts via either free or small charge per month (less than $5)

[nate24]

Dan I don't know why you are so aggressively against GCL. It's a preference and each to there own. You haven't got it this season as if you had you'd know that it is improved on last season. I've watched four games with no lag at all. One was live.

I have GCL which I watch through my PS3 and tablet and it is amazing. I also have unblock us but I had that already so I could watch US and Canadian Netflix so the cost is negligible for what I get out of it.

The delay is hardly noticeable. I watch the game not the forums whilst watching. I sometimes tweet but that's about it. Actually had one of my tweets read out by MSG during a Rangers game!

As for seeing the score. It has happened to me but only because of user error. I'd changed the option to show scores for some reason and forgot to change it back.

At $99 it is a steal, this is the season to try it whilst price is low and it you don't like it you know you've tried it and can find something better.

'NHL on the Fly' may well be coming to GCL soon which will be a huge bonus!

[Dan]

I'm not aggressively against it by any means, I just think that it's irritatingly flawed in policy and execution. I've actually got GCL this year so i can't be too against it!

One major, major flaw became apparent this morning. I watched the first period of the Habs Flyers game last night and went back into it when i got up. Whilst tracking to the point where I left it they actually have spots on the timeline for each goal! What an absolutely ludicrous thing to add... You can't even turn it off to my knowledge either.

The major thing that irritates me about it is the lack of period-break coverage, an undefendable blackout policy and constant silly little problems like the one above. Hell, they didn't even have the PS3/360 apps working last season until 3 weeks after the season began. It's a good service, but could be so much better.

HockeyStreams are better quality (despite what they say officially, just look at them!), more reliable, quicker archived and offer a wider range of games. The major thing that holds them back (and the only reason I chose GCL over them) is the lack of a dedicated app on PS3.

[nate24]

The time bar is annoying, I manage to look away but also have it set to shots only so if I do see it I at least don't see the goals.

The between period coverage is hit and miss. Sometimes you will get but mostly you won't. This is due to the NHL not owning any rights to that part of the broadcast.

By and large I watch the game the day after when the gaps have been cut. Each game is down to about 90 minutes which is perfect for me as period break shows can pump games up past two and a half hours. I make up for this by reading a lot of hockey media so don't feel I miss a lot.

If you want a really good podcast the 'puck podcast' is brilliant. It's by two guys in the media in LA. Ones a ducks fan and the other a kings fan but they cover the whole league in pretty good depth.

[Dan]

I don't think i've ever had the period break coverage. It seems odd. Obviously no adverts, but they must have the rights for the discussions. I tried the shots only thing too, it still shows the goals.

[oldman]

kids bought me this Apple TV box so now i can watch NHLgamecentre stuff through the TV much easier, nice piece of kit this Apple thingy.

as for Premier is anyone else having trouble viewing it, or just me, the picture has been breaking up for days on it.

[Dan]

GCL has improved a lot this year. You can't go wrong between that or HockeyStreams.com

Cheap as hell and almost unlimited hockey.

[Yotes]

Got premier sports for free at the minute on VM, I like having the hockey on the box easy as you like but the quality of the footage isn't close to the streaming quality. You get our lot too of course which is nice (don't mention quality of footage at all there).

Still, got the Winter Classic on now, - 11c apparently, and I thought the sky dome was chilly on Sunday. Think Tootootrain is there, hope he took a jacket or 4.

[oldman]

Found out the problem with watching Premier in my study it is affected by the Virgin Hub in the same room, watched the Winter Classic in the Lounge no problem at all except they need more variety in their interval programming.