Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
Mediaweek has good news for the NHL, cleverly changing the acronym to "National Hot League" in a headline on Sunday, a la Paris Hilton or something. But seriously, the news from them is very good for the NHL as they explore their options regarding a new television contract.
Ratings are up, advertisers are buying, and it appears that a bidding war between Versus and ESPN could be coming.
The uptick in hockey comes at a crucial time for the current rights holders. With Versus and NBC contracts set to expire in 2011, John Skipper, evp of content at ESPN, has indicated he’d like hockey to return to ESPN and ABC.
Jamie Davis, president of Versus, aims to hold on to the asset. “We took over the telecasts in 2005, the year after the lockout, and together with the NHL, as true partners, we have worked to bring the viewers back,” Davis said.
At least one media buyer is rooting for Versus. “If the NHL goes back to ESPN, it is going to get lost on a network that shows so many different sports,” said one national TV buyer. “On Versus, it stands out.”
The buyer added that the completion of the proposed Comcast-NBC deal would make a joint NBC/Versus hockey buy just as potent as an ABC/ESPN buy.
There's no telling if hockey will return to ESPN at some point, and the debate about whether or not that's even a good thing for the game will rage on. But there's no denying that having options is a good thing, and the NHL continues to regain popularity, those options will only increase.
13 comments
Comments
FU ESPN
Keep Hockey on VS.
by Meatface on Apr 26, 2010 6:32 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
This is the ultimate truth
"If the NHL goes back to ESPN, it is going to get lost on a network that shows so many different sports,"
Folks, it would not be ESPN that gets the HL. More likely ESPN 2. And even then, the NHL would find itself 3rd or 4th tier.
The whole argument against Versus used to be being able to find it on the cable dial. There are aspects I still don’t like about it, but the truth is with the Comcast/NBC Deal, the potential for the NHL to get more coverage (and more coordination) in the US and stand out is just too good tpo pass up with Versus.
What Versus does need to do is offer more games.
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by John Fontana on Apr 26, 2010 6:33 PM EDT reply actions
I would prefere a deal where they’re on both Versus and ESPN. ESPN will bring them more eyes, no matter how little they’re featured on the channel, but it’s obvious that the Versus deal has helped both that network and the league a hell of a lot.
I think something similar to what the NBA has… where they’re on TNT and ESPN… would be perfect.
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by Travis Hughes on Apr 26, 2010 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
agreed
Mountain West Connection
by Jeremy Mauss on Apr 26, 2010 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree.
If it the NHL was able to get on both networks, that would obviously ideal. If the NHL were to go with ESPN exclusively, I think that it would be a huge slap in the face to Versus for all that they have invested into making the NHL available to a national (American) audience. Aside from the little dispute with DirecTV, I have like Versus’ coverage of the NHL. NBC on the other hand…Pierre McGuire has GOT TO GO!
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by Derek B on Apr 26, 2010 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes. Versus has done a great job with their coverage, and it’s improved leaps and bounds over what it was back in the OLN days. There’s no way we’d get wall-to-wall coverage on ESPN like we’ve been getting with Versus. It’s just going to get better with the NBC merger, and you know they’ll treat us well since we were there from the start.
That said, the power of the ESPN brand in the eyes of the average American sports fan is huge, and to have a piece of that is critical, I think.
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by Travis Hughes on Apr 26, 2010 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Now that the silly dispute with Directv
is over, I hope it stays with Versus. Versus is my favorite sports cable channel now with cycling and the NHL.
I agree that they need more games on. They’ve done hockey right for the most part and with the NHL Network, everything I need is pretty much there. If it goes back to ESPN, hockey fans have to wait through college basketball and all the other sports.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Apr 26, 2010 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions
My vote is for Versus too.
ESPN sports commentators has always crapped on hockey; often saying that it is not a real sport. Now, I am reading that ESPN wants to bring hockey to thier network. ESPN is one funny network. maybe it should cahnge its name to “Comedy2.5”
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by LoNJDTechnology on Apr 26, 2010 11:42 PM EDT reply actions
Versus
They do a decent job with MWC football and the more sports they have is good for a balance.
Mountain West Connection
by Jeremy Mauss on Apr 27, 2010 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions
I can’t stand ESPNBA/NFL, they always try to make it all about the personalities not the teams that are playing… I like the way VS has handled Hockey, I think that the NHL should return the favor to VS for sticking with them when no one else thought hockey was a viable sport
by Dave_is_a_killer on Apr 27, 2010 11:51 AM EDT reply actions
That depends...
can ESPN get names right? For instance, Tyler Kennedy does NOT play for the Buffalo Sabres, but for 40-something minutes of a game last month, that’s what they were calling rooke TIM Kennedy.
My only problem with Versus is their obvious bias toward the large market teams. You are not local of Pittsburgh or DC, stop acting like you are.
by The Burl 8 on Apr 27, 2010 1:32 PM EDT reply actions
Versus is a "true partner", my ass
The quote from Davis about Versus being a “true partner” of the NHL is BS.
A true partner doesn’t join half the round 1 playoff games IN PROGRESS. Add an alternate channel if you have to… even my local sports channel does that when there’s a hockey game and a basketball game on the same night. I pay for NHL Center Ice and of course the games that were being shown on Versus were blacked out for us on Center Ice.
And who cares about the commentators? Most people can’t stand anyone but their local commentators anyway…
Also, Versus HD is crap. Pseudo HD is what it is.
I’m sure it’s obvious I’m not a big fan of Versus. I’m not a fan of ESPN either, but I think some bidding competition might result in better coverage for fans. And that is what it’s all about.
by Ashlea on Apr 27, 2010 4:50 PM EDT reply actions
Agree with you there
While VS is pretty decent most of the time, they have done a shi**y job with the playoffs. No games from the PHI/NJ series, and only fractions of most non-PITorWAS games. VS is horrid with playoffs. ESPN would have the extra channels to show all the games.
by chillicothe20 on Apr 27, 2010 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions
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