With the hockey pre-season now underway, TV networks and media buyers are saying viewership of NHL games is set to bounce back despite the league’s 15-month lockout and fears of backlash from the fans.

‘If you’d asked me six weeks ago, I was pessimistic. But since then I’ve been pleasantly surprised. No one is talking negative,’ says Doug Beeforth, president of Rogers Sportsnet.

Like most, the Rogers exec had expected some backlash, but so far ‘that anticipated anger hasn’t materialized.’

With much fanfare, the networks unveiled their hockey schedules earlier this month. Rogers Sportsnet will broadcast 177 regular-season NHL games, with RDS in Quebec showing all 82 Canadiens games and 14 Senators games. TSN is scheduled to carry 71 regular-season games, while CBC has 60.

Media buyer Mike Dougherty, vice-president of Mediaedge in Toronto, says, for now, the numbers indicate advertising has returned to pre-strike levels.

‘The demand for airtime is about the same as it was two years ago at this time. We do not sense any market softness for any of the broadcasters involved in hockey – aside, of course, from CBC,’ he says.

CBC remains this season’s unknown. The lockout of its 5,500 staff has cast a shadow over Hockey Night in Canada, the public broadcaster’s crown jewel.

For now, CBC says it is confident that its broadcasts will go ahead as planned, although there’s no word yet if, like its recent CFL games, the coverage will be commentary-free.

The NHL pre-season began Sept. 18 with the Ottawa Senators downing the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 at the Air Canada Centre before 18,948 fans.