T1B

Adelpiero wrote:No link yet, but ESPN has matched the offer of Comcast, so ESPN2 and NHL together again!

Otis wrote:

Adelpiero wrote:No link yet, but ESPN has matched the offer of Comcast, so ESPN2 and NHL together again!

I'm absolutely shocked at this 180 by the NHL's corporate partner.


Sincerely,

No I'm not.

NHL reaches cable deal with Comcast after ESPN declines to match agreement

posted August 18 @ 1:14, EST

NEW YORK (AP) - NHL games will air on Outdoor Life Network for at least the next two seasons.

The league finalized a two-year deal with Comcast Corp. - the owner of OLN - late Wednesday night after ESPN declined to match the agreement that will pay the NHL $65 million US this season and $70 million in 2006-07. The agreement between Comcast and the NHL was approved by the league's board of governors last week. ESPN, which resumed regular broadcast of NHL games in 1992, had until Wednesday night to match the contract but decided to pass.

"Over the years, thousands of great NHL moments were presented to our fans through the lenses of ESPN cameras," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. "ESPN was a supportive partner, and both the National Hockey League and ESPN enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship. We wish ESPN continued success."

The new deal can be extended up to six years. For the 2007-08 season, Comcast would pay the NHL $72.5 million but that number could go higher based on contingencies.

OLN, best known for providing live coverage of the Tour de France, will show between 58 and 78 regular-season games, as well as conference quarter-finals and the entire conference finals - with the exception of some weekend windows that could move games to NBC in both playoff rounds.

OLN will show Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup final before NBC takes over for the remainder of the series.

The deal with Comcast goes beyond just television rights. Comcast will bring the NHL Network to cable systems in the United States, and provide on-demand game broadcasts and computer streaming of live games.

This is the second time in recent months that ESPN has declined a deal with the NHL. In June, ESPN passed on a $60-million option under the previous contract. The network tried to retain the rights for less money in talks with the league.

ESPN contended that the value of NHL games had dropped substantially following the lockout that wiped out all of last season.

"We worked very hard to build and sustain our relationship with the league and would have liked to continue," George Bodenheimer, the president of ESPN, Inc. and ABC Sports said in a statement late Wednesday night. "However, given the prolonged work stoppage and the league's TV ratings history, no financial model even remotely supports the contract terms offered. We wish the NHL all the best."

The NHL will begin a two-year deal with NBC for over-the-air broadcasts beginning with the upcoming season. That is a profit-sharing arrangement, a deal similar to what the network has with the Arena Football League and the National Lacrosse League in which it pays no rights fee to televise games.

NHL Fans Will Experience A Whole New Game On OLN

STAMFORD, CT AND NEW YORK, NY (August 18) – OLN, a television leader in action and adventure sports, and the National Hockey League (NHL) today announced that OLN will be the new national cable television home for the NHL.

Under the terms of the multi-year agreement, OLN will televise at least 58 regular-season games. These games will air consistently on Monday and Tuesday nights and be exclusive to the network. OLN will carry the NHL All-Star Game exclusively in the US and will provide wall-to-wall coverage throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including exclusive Conference Final action and the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final. OLN will kick off NHL coverage beginning with the Rangers-Flyers match-up October 5, the first day of the new season.

OLN and the NHL will bring television viewers closer to the ice by leveraging the League’s new telecast enhancements – increased behind-the-scenes access, microphones on the players and coaches, netcams and in-game interviews.

The partnership between OLN, Comcast and the NHL will redefine the sport for hockey viewers. More action on video on demand (VOD), in HDTV and online will create an experience like never before, including:
• VOD game highlights and library footage of hockey’s greatest moments with full fast-forward, rewind and replay capability;
• HDTV game coverage in a crisper, faster-moving, more exciting game for hockey fans every week;
• Online streaming of two live games per night (subject to local blackout), broadband highlights, commentary, and library footage;
• Round-the-clock coverage on the NHL Network, to be launched in the US in the future; and
• Comcast will have the ability to carry and/or syndicate additional games on Comcast’s regional sports networks where it has the consent of the local team and team’s rights holder.

"We are entering into a great partnership with the NHL. Hockey is excellent, exclusive programming for OLN and will be a marquee sport for the network. We are proud to be the new national television home of the NHL when the puck drops on October 5,” said OLN President Gavin Harvey. “Adding hockey to our lineup when the NHL returns to the ice with a fresh season, new energy, new players and a new attitude adds tremendous value to OLN and builds upon the momentum of our other premier sports programming like the America’s Cup and The Tour de France."

"We recognize and appreciate that Comcast is making a tremendous investment in the NHL and that hockey will be a priority on OLN," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "This multifaceted partnership with OLN and Comcast creates exciting opportunities for our fans and for us, and we look forward to a terrific relationship in the years ahead."

The NHL revised its schedule format, to emphasize divisional and conference rivalries, and implemented a number of changes that will reduce the number of play stoppages while heightening hockey's action, flow, offense and excitement. The attacking zone has been enlarged, and the goaltenders have been limited – not only in the size of the equipment they will be allowed to wear but also in the areas of the ice where they will be allowed to play the puck. As well, the introduction of the shootout as a tiebreaker, featuring hockey's most exciting play, the breakaway, will ensure that every contest has a winner.

“Comcast’s leadership and innovation in delivering integrated sports and other entertainment on HDTV, VOD and on the Internet is being met with rave reviews from our customers. We will use this experience to bring the NHL to hockey fans in ways that they have never seen before,” said Jeff Shell, President of Comcast Programming for Comcast Corporation.

Additional details about the OLN television schedule, hockey commentators, HDTV and VOD schedules will be released as details become available.

``It seems clear that OLN is certainly setting itself up as a competitor to ESPN,'' said George Bodenheimer, president of ESPN and ABC Sports. ``We welcome it. It will make us better.''

Hapday wrote:I think this is a great deal for the NHL for a number of reasons. This network will actually go out of its way to promote the NHL.

Of course, none of this will matter at all because the ratings for hockey in the U.S. have and always will suck

See You Next Wednesday wrote:The NHL can spin this all they want and it is certianly the best deal they can get. But there is no way being on OLN is better than being on ESPN.

Otis wrote:On OLN it's going to be their primary sport, their number one focus.

Shoalzie wrote:

Otis wrote:On OLN it's going to be their primary sport, their number one focus.

That's why I'm getting out of this. The same thing with NBC. Other than Sunday Night Football next year and Notre Dame football...what do they have? The Olympics is probably their biggest sporting event but hockey will be on break during that time and they can cross-promote with the NHL players participating. It may not be nearly as good of a deal as they had with ESPN/ABC before but this is better than nothing. I'm still going to get Center Ice so I can watch H.N.I.C.

BSmack wrote:Ironic that hockey would be on the OUTDOOR Life Network.

Cross Traffic wrote:Flyers/Rangers? Looks like one thing hasn't changed with a new channel, too many east coast games. Lets hope OLN doesn't overfeature the Comcast owned Flyers.

Jeff 2K5 wrote:

Cross Traffic wrote:Flyers/Rangers? Looks like one thing hasn't changed with a new channel, too many east coast games. Lets hope OLN doesn't overfeature the Comcast owned Flyers.

If they're smart they'll promote themselves by showing Penguins games, the thinking being that Crosby & Mario will bring in fans. And hopefully the announcers will be better on OLN. The hockey announcers on ESPN were horrible.

Cross Traffic wrote:Comcast also owns E! and several other channels, expect to see "True Hockey Story" soon.

Cross Traffic wrote:Flyers/Rangers? Looks like one thing hasn't changed with a new channel, too many east coast games. Lets hope OLN doesn't overfeature the Comcast owned Flyers.

jiminphilly wrote:ESPN showcased the Avalanche and Detroit every chance they got.