NBC | NHL to Sign New Deal

[evolver115]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/nbc-sports-nhl-unveil-new-179799

NBCUniversal's NBC Sports Group will unveil details of a new TV deal with the National Hockey League mid-day Tuesday.

The league sent out an email Tuesday morning saying NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will hold a conference call at 1pm ET with NBC Sports Group chairman Dick Ebersol and other executives.

TV networks have been in pursuit of a new TV deal with the NHL whose current arrangement ends with this season.

NHL programming currently airs on NBC and Versus, which after the recent Comcast deal to acquire a majority stake in NBCUniversal are both part of Ebersol’s group. The deal is the first major sports rights contract since the Comcast-NBCUniversal deal.

 

[SLY]

So is this an exclusive deal to NBC/VS? Or does ESPN still have a chance at a small percentage?

 

[jstewismybastardson]

heard on the radio they are going from 60 mill with versus to 200 mill per

honestly, espn never had a shot

 

[SLY]

Thank whomever is in the skies watching over us!!! Fuck you Disney!

 

[awaz]

not that big of a surprise.. thats a good chunk of change for the nhl.. wonder how long the deal is

 

[maddogmark25]

Gotta love it...the NHL just told ESPN to suck a big one

Hope ESPN has fun showing bowling and spelling bees for a whole winter next year :p

 

[dash]

This is very good news...

 

[SLY]

This is very good news...

Indeed. I just hope next season they have a national game on more than just Monday and Tuesday on VS.

 

[SLY]

Gotta love it...the NHL just told ESPN to suck a big one

Hope ESPN has fun showing bowling and spelling bees for a whole winter next year :p

ESPN is gahbage.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

not that big of a surprise.. thats a good chunk of change for the nhl.. wonder how long the deal is

puckdaddys source saying 10 years ... wow ... too long!!! ...

at 5 years you could have brought espn back to the table and potentially made them increase the pricetag even more




The NHL never came back to ESPN with a final bid, sources said. ESPN's interest in picking up the package stayed until the end of the bidding process. But sources said it was too difficult for the NHL and ESPN to work around NBC and Versus' matching rights.

So, in essence, the NHL was a restricted free agent, and NBC could match the offer sheet. As SBJ reports, the current TV rights deal has VERSUS paying $77.5 million and NBC in a revenue-sharing contract with the NHL.

 

[pixburgher66]

I dunno. I love VS but hate NBC typically. It's good money though...I just really wanted ESPN to get a weekly game or something similar.

 

[Eddie_Shack]

puckdaddys source saying 10 years ... wow ... too long!!! ...

at 5 years you could have brought espn back to the table and potentially made them increase the pricetag even more




The NHL never came back to ESPN with a final bid, sources said. ESPN's interest in picking up the package stayed until the end of the bidding process. But sources said it was too difficult for the NHL and ESPN to work around NBC and Versus' matching rights.

So, in essence, the NHL was a restricted free agent, and NBC could match the offer sheet. As SBJ reports, the current TV rights deal has VERSUS paying $77.5 million and NBC in a revenue-sharing contract with the NHL.

lol, this from the league trying to crack down and discourage GMs from signing guys to long term contracts. Oh well, as long as the last two years of the Versus deal aren't for $500K, we can call it legit.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

lol, this from the league trying to crack down and discourage GMs from signing guys to long term contracts. Oh well, as long as the last two years of the Versus deal aren't for $500K, we can call it legit.

actually you might be right lol ... top heavy in the first few years so they can buy the Glendale bonds and keep the coyotes from leaving town

 

[pixburgher66]

*sigh* This basically puts a nail in the coffin of any hope of Thorne/Clement returning. *Plays taps softly*

 

[jstewismybastardson]

from Dowbiggin at the globeandmail


The anticipated loss of one or two U.S. franchises to Canada does not appear to have been an impediment to the contract.

 

[dash]

The anticipated loss of one or two U.S. franchises to Canada does not appear to have been an impediment to the contract.

I think I can count on one hand the number of games that NBC will broadcast featuring the Winnipeg Jets over the next 10 years...However, it's probably the same number if the team remains in Phoenix.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

I think I can count on one hand the number of games that NBC will broadcast featuring the Winnipeg Jets over the next 10 years...However, it's probably the same number if the team remains in Phoenix.

true but ... it does say something when the league might "remove" franchises from the 9th and 13th biggest tv markets in the US and the price seems unaffected

 

[johnnytata]

i like disney just fine as long as they stick with kiddie movies and pirates of the carribbean. just leave hockey the fuck alone.

 

[Comeds]

What, you dont want Doc Emerick joined in the booth by special guest Captain Jack Sparrow?

 

[BOSSMANPC]

Ha. If the NFL and NBA have lockouts next year. ESPN will probably be televising Blind Fencing on High wire competetions.

Assholes!.