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Google Video Loses NBA, Gains Free NHL Videos

The NBA has terminated its sale of game videos on Google Video, a partnership that would have been ten months old tomorrow. That would typically indicate either dissatisfaction with Google’s video store model, the NBA wanting more money, or something else entirely (like the YouTube deal).

Still, Google Video users get something better, because it is free: The NHL is now available on Google Video. Not only can you watch a ton of current season hockey games, plus some great classic games, full length and commercial free on Google Video, but you can also download the videos for permanent ownership as an iPod/PSP MP4 file, or a .GVI/AVI freako hybrid video. The only thing I don’t like is that the videos can’t be embedded on other sites.

Ever since the strike ended and most hockey games moved to networks I don’t have, I haven’t seen a lot of games. Thanks to Google, I may watch more hockey this year than since the last time the Rangers were competitors.

Speaking of which, the two super-classic games from the Rangers’ 1994 Stanley Cup championship run are among those available:

1994 Stanley Cup finals, Game 7 Canucks@Rangers
Watch all the Goals, saves, and hits from some of the National Hockey League’s most historic play-off matchups.
NHL.com - 2 hr 2 min - Jun 14, 1994

1994 Eastern Conference finals, Game 6 Rangers@Devils
Watch all the Goals, saves, and hits from some of the National Hockey League’s most historic play-off matchups.
NHL.com - 2 hr 5 min - May 25, 1994

November 5th, 2006 Posted by Nathan Weinberg | Store, Google Video, Services, General | 3 comments