“Controversial but Not Overstepping the Bounds”: NHL Legend Wayne Gretzky Came to the Defense of NBA- Inspired Ice-Hockey Show Earlier This Year

Wayne Gretzky is “the greatest” hockey player of all time. With a phenomenal career that spanned 20 seasons, the Canadian professional ice hockey player has been given the title of “the great one.” In 2021, Wayne Gretzky made his television debut with a studio show called The NHL on TNT.

The NHL and NBA fanbase have always been at loggerheads with each. The debates on which one is the superior and more popular sport have been making rounds forever.

Wayne Gretzky defends ‘NHL on TNT’

The announcement of the upcoming studio show, TNT with NHL, caused unrest within various fandoms. While some were worried that the new show would take away the time slots for their shows, many NBA fans were of the opinion that it’s a copy of the shows the NBA does.

The show follows the WBD Sports format, which pertains to showcasing a combination of serious news and analysis and some not-so-serious segments. However, the essence of the show is still hockey.

In an interview with the hollywoodreporter.com, Gretzky shared his opinion on the matter. He said, “I think we all admire the chemistry and the show that the NBA does. They have done such a tremendous job that we are just trying to be one quarter as good as they are, in the sense that they are lighthearted, yet they are serious. They can be in some ways a little bit controversial but not overstepping the bounds. There are more positives than negatives, and I think people want to hear that.”

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He further added that their show isn’t trying to fritter away. They just want to spread positive energy and prepare the fans for the big games.

Why are NHL games televised on TNT?

In 2021, Turner sports signed a seven-year agreement with NHL, earning the rights to broadcast the NHL games on TNT and TBS for the next seven years, i.e. until 2027-2028. These include the regular seasons, Stanley Cup playoffs, and Stanley cup finals.

TNT is an American cable television channel. TNT stands for Turner Network Television. Launched in 1988, it is owned by Warner Bros. Initially, TNT focused on airing classic films and television series. However, in 2001, TNT decided to tone down the dramatic flair and concentrate on sporting events and feature films.

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