Versus-DirecTV Debacle Could Be Over By March

Comcast-owned Versus and satellite television provider DirecTV have been wrangling back and forth with each other for months now, ever since their carriage contract expired on August 31. The following day, hockey fans among the 18 million DirecTV subscribers in the United States were thrown into a frenzy when they realized they wouldn't be able to watch nationally-broadcast games on the network.

It was the hope back then that Comcast and DirecTV would sort the deal out in time for hockey season, but after public relations battles that could rival the most heated of political campaigns, it simply didn't happen. Now, five months later, the parties are still without an agreement and millions of hockey fans are still in the dark.

Finally, though, we have good news: Versus could be back on DirecTV in time for the playoffs. Josh Gross covers mixed martial arts, which is also broadcast on the channel, for Sports Illustrated and he reports that Versus could be back on DirecTV in March. Here's Gross, reporting on Twitter.

For DirecTV subscribers concerned they'll miss UFC on Versus (Jones-Vera, Gonzaga-dos Santos) I'm told a resolution is expected by March.

In addition to NHL hockey and certain UFC/WEC events, Versus also broadcasts IndyCar racing, Mountain West Conference college football, and NBA Developmental League basketball. They also have a ton of 'original' programming, such as Sports Jobs with Junior Seau and Sports Soup.