I like the way this sounds so far

[TiLoBrown]

Within the TV industry, the thinking is that NBC’s retaining the rights to the NHL is crucial, not just to its effort to upgrade Versus, but also for the prestige of NBCUniversal’s new corporate structure and the new NBC Sports Group, as the NHL contract is their first deal to be negotiated. The source added that ESPN is unlikely to win any part of the national cable package.

In addition, the source said, Flyers owner Ed Snider “won’t let the NHL leave” Versus and NBC. “And I’d be very surprised if he would devalue the brand by letting ESPN have even a secondary national cable package.” In addition to his position as a powerful NHL team owner and member of the league’s Board of Governors Executive Committee, Snider is American Chairman of Comcast Spectacor.

NBC, Versus have inside track on NHL deal

 

[sportfan09]

get'em ed

 

[Automattic]

My biggest hope going in was that VS would would be given time and money to grow. And since day one, their product has been of good quality and continues to improve imo.

 

[Comeds]

Cool, it looks like Versus has Wednesday night games now.

 

[awaz]

i would LOVE to be in on these negotiations.. with the nba and nfl staring lockouts in the face.. these talks would have to be some interesting shit

i'm all for growing the game and a sports station together, the way they have with VS, and the every monday/tuesday games throughout the regular season and i'm guessing an increase down the stretch here, i can't complain..

however, pissing off espn might not be the best idea.. if the nba and nfl do lockout, that would be a great opportunity for the nhl to swipe fans from both sports, and to be the primary sport covered on espn

i think if i was making this decision, my ideal situation would be to have versus/nbc hold on to what they have now, and maybe give espn a 'game of the week' down the stretch run, perhaps starting in march.. that way, espn will want to raise interest in hockey from the start of the season, so that the ratings for the spring games are as high as can be.. however, i'm guessing espn wouldn't do that and let NBC/versus feed off that ratings boom in the playoffs, they would want some playoff coverage too, which i dont really want to give them

 

[SLY]

I've noticed a lot of people bad mouthing hockey coverage on VS., I think its excellent. With NHL Network and VS I'm all set. Only two channels I really need. Not a fan of NBC, but better than ESPN. I just hate Doc Emery.

 

[dash]

Hey, maybe ESPN will pick up CFL football games...After all, our balls are bigger.

 

[SLY]

i would LOVE to be in on these negotiations.. with the nba and nfl staring lockouts in the face.. these talks would have to be some interesting shit

i'm all for growing the game and a sports station together, the way they have with VS, and the every monday/tuesday games throughout the regular season and i'm guessing an increase down the stretch here, i can't complain..

however, pissing off espn might not be the best idea.. if the nba and nfl do lockout, that would be a great opportunity for the nhl to swipe fans from both sports, and to be the primary sport covered on espn

i think if i was making this decision, my ideal situation would be to have versus/nbc hold on to what they have now, and maybe give espn a 'game of the week' down the stretch run, perhaps starting in march.. that way, espn will want to raise interest in hockey from the start of the season, so that the ratings for the spring games are as high as can be.. however, i'm guessing espn wouldn't do that and let NBC/versus feed off that ratings boom in the playoffs, they would want some playoff coverage too, which i dont really want to give them

Like Comeds said, theres Wednesday games often too, not every week, but it seems like 2 out of 4 wednesdays in a month has a game on.

 

[SLY]

And VS postseason coverage is awesome as well.

 

[SLY]

Hey, maybe ESPN will pick up CFL football games...After all, our balls are bigger.

They cover spelling bees and spitball contests, might as well cover Canadian Football.

 

[awaz]

I've noticed a lot of people bad mouthing hockey coverage on VS., I think its excellent. With NHL Network and VS I'm all set. Only two channels I really need. Not a fan of NBC, but better than ESPN. I just hate Doc Emery.

my only beef with versus is the replay control.. i want a replay after every penalty, and i want a replay of dumb shit that goes on.. i dont care what ppl look like while they sit in the box, show me the penalty.. maybe that's a lack of camera coverage, but i want that fixed.. aside from that i agree, vs has been great

perhaps more than anything though, i love that VS has committed to the NHL.. their intermissions are all hockey all the time, and the hr long tv show (hockey central i think its called?).. although i haven't seen the latter

And VS postseason coverage is awesome as well.

+1

 

[pixburgher66]

I just freaking want Clement and Thorne back. I don't care who has it.