ESPN interested in NHL
Posted 6:50 PM ET | Comments 9
According to the Sports Business Journal, ESPN and the NHL have begun preliminary discussions that could see the NHL return to ESPN as soon as the 2008-09 season. Comcast owned Versus has exclusive rights to the NHL through 2011, but according to sources, would be willing to waive the clause if they could get something in return.
Several weeks ago Eklund also reported that ESPN was interested in reacquiring the rights to NHL games.
[Sports Business Journal - Look Who's Talking: ESPN, NHL]
http://www.sportsbusiness...70&requestTimeout=900
[Eklund - ESPN wants Hockey Back]
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=8670
Several weeks ago Eklund also reported that ESPN was interested in reacquiring the rights to NHL games.
[Sports Business Journal - Look Who's Talking: ESPN, NHL]
http://www.sportsbusiness...70&requestTimeout=900
[Eklund - ESPN wants Hockey Back]
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=8670
No interest here.... their camerawork was horrible, the games were unwatchable.
grapes17 and versus is much better???? The one thing ESPN can offer the NHL that versus can't is a true National audience. Pretty much every cable
this would be a step in the right direction for the NHL. so many more tv's will be able to get nhl games again. and not to mention...as much as i love doc and think he is a tremendous hockey play-by-play announcer, it will be great to hear garry thorne calling the stanley cup finals again
i agree with phillyoff-ice. this past year's all star game got one of the worst TV ratings for the game since the 70s (trying to remember the year off the top of my head). that's because most people don't have more than regular cable and they wont get versus. i also suggest (in the tri-state local area) that if the islanders are playing on fsn and the rangers on msg, then the devils should be given a decent channel. versus never had good camerawork but it wasnt as bad as when the devils games were dumped onto the IO cable channel guide 14. that was ridiculous.
I like the broadcasts on NBC because I like Bill Clement and Ray Ferraro. However, if ESPN picks it, I hope that they can stop using the NHL as a punch-line. As a hockey fan I'm offended by it, because such negative press can kill the sport, especially here in the USA.
So ESPN may want the NHL back huh. I guess the World Series of Poker and the National Spelling Bee weren't cutting it ratings wise. I would be for this BUT only if ESPN actually marketed the game and gave us enough games to watch. Sunday night games, after football (are they even still on it) actually I think that i NBC now.Versus is awful but at least for those who get the channel they at least try. Which in my opinion ESPN never did.Oh and one more thing, if the NHL does come back to ESPN hopefully NHL2Night will as well.
All I can say is why bother. ESPN does not give the NHL or the sport it self the time of day so why even look at this. Unless the completely change their attitude and hire some qualified Hockey experts to keep the conversation flowing, I say move on and look at other venues.
NHL needs ESPN. No question, stupid to think otherwise.
mcacbe....7.1 this season...enough said