NHL Network doesn't need big ticker

Now that the NHL Network is finally available in the Midwestern U.S., we've had the opportunity to enjoy what our friends to the north have enjoyed for years.

I'm loving the wall-to-wall hockey coverage - especially the vintage games - but I'm curious why the NHL Network insists on obscuring so much of the screen with its monolithic news ticker.

During game rebroadcasts, the play is frequently hidden behind the way-too-big black bar, which ruins the viewing experience. Particularly in the off-season, when there are no game scores to report, the news ticker needs to go away. It's detracting far more than it’s adding.

Jayson Hron, Sartell, MN