May 28, 200520 yr Uh Oh; The National Hockey League's pocket book has taken another hit. Sources tell TSN that American cable sports giant ESPN will decline their option to retain their NHL broadcast rights for next season. The option to retain their national cable rights was for $60 million US. ESPN has declined to comment on the matter, but the decision is expected to be officially announced next week. The league is now free to negotiate with any other US cable network, including ESPN who may try to negotiate a new deal at a lesser cost. The NHL announced its cable agreement with ESPN last May, worth half the $120 million US a season it made under the five-year, $600-million deal that expired with ABC/ESPN after the 2004 Stanley Cup Final. Both sides reached a one-year agreement with options for the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons in May 2004. While ESPN and ESPN2 covered a plethora of games during its previous contract, the new deal called for ESPN2 to air just 40 regular-season contests. The cable sports network also held exclusive rights to the conference finals and the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final. The league also signed a two-year deal with NBC last year, which had the same type of revenue-sharing agreement the network has with the Arena Football League. Under the agreement, NBC would take the first portion of income from advertising to cover production expenses, while the NHL takes the next portion and the two split additional revenue equally. The regular-season ratings on ABC have declined 21 per cent since the 2001-02 season while last year's Stanley Cup final ratings were down 21 per cent from 1999-2000.
May 28, 200520 yr This makes me sad as a hockey fan, but what it does mean is that hopefully if a new deal is signed elsewhere that the games shown arent strictly Avs/Red Wings/Dallas Stars/ NJ Devils games. Those were the big 4 of ESPN hockey and hardly and other decent teams were shown. However, this is very disappointing. :fyou Bettman/Goodenow
May 28, 200520 yr NHL is going to have a lot of promblems, if it was possible to have more. ESPN carries that league. What other station would want them.
May 28, 200520 yr A few weeks ago I read that "Bowling Night" was getting better ratings than the playoff Hockey games it was replacing got last year.
May 29, 200520 yr QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ May 28, 2005 -> 10:08 PM) The NHL just should've sold it for 4 billion while they still had a chance. i agree completly bettman/goodenow have totally f***ed this league
June 1, 200520 yr Author LMAO; It looks as if there will be no NHL games on ESPN next season. ESPN Executive Vice President Mark Shapiro indicated that since NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was unwilling to reduce its rights fee from $60 million, ESPN would not enter into any broadcast agreement with the league. The NHL claims the $60 million figure was already a bargain in that a lengthy lockout was already factored into its equation. Jun. 1 - 6:59 am et
June 1, 200520 yr Boy this just keeps getting better and better for the NHL...nice job ya bunch of f***tards...
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