35 replies to this topic

[Rucchin20]

The backlash begins, and ESPN has opted out of its option to televise the 2005-06 season.

ESPN DROPS NHL

[Dark Knight]

Thanks Bettman and Goodenow, NHL and PA

[PortBeach13]

No suprise here. Its only going to get worse.

[Veca]

Well, if this don't get them working on getting a deal done, nothing will. Bye-bye $$$$$$$$$$$.

Idiots, they ALL are idiots!!!

[Dark Knight]

  Well, if this don't get them working on getting a deal done, nothing will. Bye-bye $$$$$$$$$$$.

Idiots, they ALL are idiots!!!      

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This won't. As PB91 said, this is no surprise.

[fedorov-fan91]

It is a very frustrating situation and even though I'm angry and disappointed by this, I have to agree with PB91 when he said it wasn't a surprise.

[Arse McKnob]

ESPN has disrespected and misused hockey for about three years. The anchors never bother to learn the names correctly and are usually openly dismissive of the game, and it was impossible to find hockey consistently on the main ESPN channel (wednesday night hockey my arse). ESPN needed the NHL when ESPN2 was short on programming, and couldn't wait to dump it once that network was established in most cable systems.

Hopefully we can make some lemonade here and find a national network that won't treat the game like an albatross.

[Veca]

Well, now they have to hustle to make some new TV deals, they can't until they get the NHL back again.
No matter how fans felt about the ESPN coverage, it still was better than no coverage at all. I can guarentee that owners are not happy at all to loose the coverage they had before getting a better deal. You just know Bettman has heard about it! So has dear Goodenow from the players. This impacts all of them!!

[sykora_39]

After ESPN could come FOX Sports...

[lvsprt]

After ESPN could come FOX Sports...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's why Center Ice appears to be the way to go. But no NHL, no hockey on TV.

[DropThePuck]

ESPN will not pick up a $60-million US option to retain NHL broadcasting rights for next season, the network said Saturday.

ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys said the network would have further comment next week. The option deadline is Wednesday.

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.

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[SacredCow]

After ESPN could come FOX Sports...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Easy now, Sykora. That's my place of business you're talking about.

Yeah, FOX screwed up their coverage of the NHL back in the mid 1990's, but they've been great at handling the NFL, MLB and NASCAR. FOX gets the BCS in 2007, so they are THE leader in network sports by far. If they were to get the NHL for FSN and televise national games, would any of you really complain?

ESPN did a lousy job of covering hockey, as Arse pointed out. They have five channels now (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPN News and ESPN U) but couldn't find 30 minutes a day for NHL 2 Night? Really? In the 120 hours a day you have to fill with programming, there's no room for that show? But there's room for Cold Pizza? Please.

ESPN had an obligation for a whopping 40 games this coming season. That's a joke. Again, they have five channels. 40 games? In a six month season? That's just over six a month. SIX! And you know that those games are going to be the same few teams every time. Detroit, Colorado, New York, Philadelphia, Dallas...maybe Boston. You think you're ever going to see a Vancouver/Calgary game on there? Or an Atlanta/Ottawa game? Of course not!

The owners just lost $2 million each, they'll get over it. However, the players just lost about $32.4 million (54% of the $60 million in revenue). They are not happy, and this may hurt negotiations. They may want a bigger % of revenue to make up for it.

I hope the NHL does like the NFL and creates its own network. Get the subscription fees from DirecTV and all the cable companies, earn the money from advertising and televise as many games as you want on your own network! If the league wants to showcase Sidney Crosby next year, show his games. Have a 1-hour show just on him. Have a nightly news and analysis show that covers the whole league, not just the "big city" teams. Let's hear about trouble in the Predators lockerroom, the Oilers coaching woes, etc. Plus, you're no longer at the mercy of some network that doesn't appreciate you (ESPN) or which treats you like a lab rat (FOX).

[Veca]

I hope the NHL does like the NFL and creates its own network. Get the subscription fees from DirecTV and all the cable companies, earn the money from advertising and televise as many games as you want on your own network! If the league wants to showcase Sidney Crosby next year, show his games. Have a 1-hour show just on him. Have a nightly news and analysis show that covers the whole league, not just the "big city" teams. Let's hear about trouble in the Predators lockerroom, the Oilers coaching woes, etc. Plus, you're no longer at the mercy of some network that doesn't appreciate you (ESPN) or which treats you like a lab rat (FOX).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Now there is a great idea!!! If only you could get it to the idiots that are ruining things....

[PortBeach13]

I hope they do that too, sometime in the future...

[DucksFan2035]

well it would give me a reason to get satelite and center ice which iv been trying to convince my parents on getting...only thing id be able to watch are the panther games :\

[Francaise]

ESPN has disrespected and misused hockey for about three years. The anchors never bother to learn the names correctly and are usually openly dismissive of the game, and it was impossible to find hockey consistently on the main ESPN channel (wednesday night hockey my arse). ESPN needed the NHL when ESPN2 was short on programming, and couldn't wait to dump it once that network was established in most cable systems.

Hopefully we can make some lemonade here and find a national network that won't treat the game like an albatross.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Good luck!

[Francaise]

After ESPN could come FOX Sports...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I hope the NHL does like the NFL and creates its own network. Get the subscription fees from DirecTV and all the cable companies, earn the money from advertising and televise as many games as you want on your own network! If the league wants to showcase Sidney Crosby next year, show his games. Have a 1-hour show just on him. Have a nightly news and analysis show that covers the whole league, not just the "big city" teams. Let's hear about trouble in the Predators lockerroom, the Oilers coaching woes, etc. Plus, you're no longer at the mercy of some network that doesn't appreciate you (ESPN) or which treats you like a lab rat (FOX).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, there is an NHL network in Canada.....

[Veca]

No reason why we can't have a special NHL network....other than they will insist that not enough people would watch I'll bet!!

We need something better than what we had. There is no way the NHL will attract more fans without better coverage on TV. I just hope the morons who have deprived us of a full season of NHL hockey will be able to wrap their feeble brains around the simple fact.....

[SacredCow]

Allegedly, the Center Ice package will be free to all cable and DirecTV subscribers if/when the NHL comes back. The NHL will pay for it as a way to thank the fans and to get interest back in the sport.

[Dark Knight]

Free Center Ice is a good step (one I asked for before). Oh, and Bettman and Goodenow resign.

[DropThePuck]

Shapiro indicated to the Globe that the only arrangement acceptable to ESPN at this point would be profit sharing.

<link>

[Veca]

Allegedly, the Center Ice package will be free to all cable and DirecTV subscribers if/when the NHL comes back. The NHL will pay for it as a way to thank the fans and to get interest back in the sport.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

FREE, I like free.........

[Rucchin20]

Allegedly, the Center Ice package will be free to all cable and DirecTV subscribers if/when the NHL comes back. The NHL will pay for it as a way to thank the fans and to get interest back in the sport.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It needs to be, as games were hard enough to come by before the lock out w/o it! Given what has transpired, they need to do something to save the sport, and I'm not talking about the CBA.

Again, I don't think they have a clue how big of a hit they are going to take off of all this! Ticket prices will need to drop, the games will need to be on TV, and they will need to take a long and serious look at marketing this game. It is what it is, and they created it.

[DropThePuck]

Even despite all that, ESPN offered a last-minute compromise. It would buy year-long broadcasting rights from the NHL--but for "well below half of $60 million," according to Shapiro. The league demurred, refusing to budge from its $60-million asking price. Said Bernadette Mansur, the NHL's communications VP, "We're not interested in devaluing the product any further."

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[Veca]

Even despite all that, ESPN offered a last-minute compromise. It would buy year-long broadcasting rights from the NHL--but for "well below half of $60 million," according to Shapiro. The league demurred, refusing to budge from its $60-million asking price. Said Bernadette Mansur, the NHL's communications VP, "We're not interested in devaluing the product any further."

<link>

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Too late!!!!