NHL and Comcast cable are close to siging a $100 million television deal.

[Bay Side]

NHL and Comcast cable are close to siging a $100 million television deal.

http://www.sabrefans.com/

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports this morning that the NHL and Comcast cable are close to siging a $100 million television deal. The NHL has been without a cable carrier in the U.S. since ESPN declined its $70 million option. The deal would be for two years in length, with a one year option followed by a three year option. Comcast apparently has promised a certain level of advertising revenue and reaching a certain number of homes within the first two years. If those levels are not met the NHL can opt out of the deal after two years. The games will likely be broadcast on OLN (Outdoor Life Network) which reaches 61 million homes as compared to ESPN's 70 million. Comcast could also spawn a new stand alone NHL network but that is not likely at this point due to the expense of starting...

[treydawg]

So the NHL won't be on ESPN, ABC, Fox, or any of those networks? That sucks.

[pigpen65]

I wonder if this means they can figure out the center-ice stuff now. I'm anxiious to see if they will give a price break.

[nATEFan22]

so how does this affect the sabres???

[CupCrazy]

So the NHL won't be on ESPN, ABC, Fox, or any of those networks? That sucks.
NBC will carry some games, but it's unclear how that's gonna work out, since the deal they have with the NHL is based on revenue sharing only. (no money up-front, just a cut of the "profits")

I really hope this deal works out. I've read a lot of stuff about how Comcast has been itching to create a sports network that would directly compete with ESPN. At this point, the OLN channel is in almost as many homes as ESPN and they are kind of desperate for programming, so NHL games might get REALLY good coverage over there.

Go Comcast!!!

[CupCrazy]

so how does this affect the sabres???
Well, under past deals, each team got a cut of the money paid out by the network...in this case, $50million per year, so the Sabres should see maybe $1million of that. Then, if the deal with NBC makes any money, the Sabres will get a piece of that as well. It's a pitifully small amount when compared to what NFL teams bring in from TV broadcast deals, but it DOES help the bottom line and could mean the difference between a team showing a profit or not.

As for Sabres games being broadcast, you may have missed the thread where we talked about MSG's coverage. The deal is that in Western NY, 75 of the Sabres games this season will be carried on MSG (or MSG2 if something "more important" is on the main MSG channel that night)

As of this morning, there is still no news about a deal being worked out with DirecTV so that the MSG2 feed is carried to people outside of Western NY. They better have that worked out before the puck drops or I'll be making some phone calls. :)

BTW, Rick Jeannaret and Jim Lorentz will be calling the games on MSG...no word on whether Robi and Danny Gare will be part of the broadcasts, but I'm still hopeful.

[Papaduke]

Crap I was about to dump Comcast... guess I need to rethink that one.

[ckg68]

Maybe....but it isn't a channel that makes you think,"hockey"...

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?ID=132876

[ckg68]

So the NHL won't be on ESPN, ABC, Fox, or any of those networks? That sucks.

That's only if your a fan of A. the Rangers,Devils,Flyers,etc. B. Darren Pang or C. glowing pucks.

But...OLN? The home of Survivor? How the hell is OLN going to promote the NHL if it comes to the network-have Jeff Probst come out,light hockey sticks on fire and then snuff each of them out? (Oh sorry...I meant that's how OLN would promote the Stanley Cup playoffs....:) )

And,quite honestly,Comcast should proceed with plans to create a NHL channel. If it can work in Canada(for obvious reasons),there's no reason why it can't here.

[ckg68]

to the mods...please wipe out this thread...didn't notice the first one...sorry about that,Chief...:)

[г]

Outdoor Life Network is associated (ownership) with TSN in Canada and TSN is part-owned by ESPN.

Sounds like ESPN just won a 'bidding war' against themselves LOL

[DropTheGloves]

So what would that mean for people with Adelphia cable in Buffalo? I don't get the OLN. I'm lost.

[Papaduke]

This probably means we will see that Flyers about 40 times this season.

[Player6600]

Do you guys think ESPN will match the offer

[CupCrazy]

Do you guys think ESPN will match the offer
Hell no...ESPN doesn't care about sports anymore. They're going to change their name to PokerTV later this year...all poker, all the time.

In fact, I heard the "PN" in ESPN now stands for Poker Network...I just can't come up with anything clever for the "ES". :)

Seriously though, they pay less than half as much for poker broadcast rights as they did for the NHL and the ratings are SIGNIFICANTLY better...even the ratings on re-runs are phenomenal. It's bizarre. They have absolutely no interest in hockey anymore.

GO COMCAST!!

[CupCrazy]

So what would that mean for people with Adelphia cable in Buffalo? I don't get the OLN. I'm lost.

I'd say give it a few weeks to see how things shake out. You may not get the games that OLN broadcasts, but you should get the Sabres games that will be carried on MSG.

It probably won't be until September before the dust finally settles on all this stuff. It's gotta be a logistical nightmare to make all this happen in such a short time!

[The REAL Sabres]

So the NHL won't be on ESPN, ABC, Fox, or any of those networks? That sucks.That anything but sucks. Well, at least for ABC and ESPN. FOX was, glowing puck aside (hey, they tried; unlike ESPN), was very good but the last FOX game was game 5 of the Finals that never ended 6 years ago.

[nATEFan22]

SO...........


if i live near albany and have every sports package known to man (except center ice) will i be able to see sabres games???

[The REAL Sabres]

Do you guys think ESPN will match the offerI'm pretty sure their last offer was a bluff. They have a lot of the NHL talent displaced throughout the network. Levy and Bucch are SC regulars (in fact they were both on tonight). Thorne, Shulman and Strader have done commentary for other sports. Clement does the Great Outdoor Games and some of the weird sports they have from time to time.

The also have Melrose, Parm, Engblom, Panger, Smith, Hradek, etc. quietly waiting.

[CupCrazy]

Well, I hope ESPN is done with the NHL. Aside from NHL2night, their coverage kind of sucked. I'd like to see the NHL go some place where it's really going to be showcased and have something new and exciting done with it.

I'm sure the first season on the NHL on OLN would be rough and there'd be a lot of growing pains, but given enough time, I think Comcast could do some really cool stuff.

I've even read that they would like to use their On Demand service for NHL games, so would subscribe to the NHL package and then be able to watch a game any time after it started...it's like Tivo on steroids. That would be really AWESOME!

...unfortunately, I don't have Comcast and can't get it in my area, but I'm moving within the next 6 months and Comcast availability would be something I'd look for...if all of this goes through, of course. :)

ESPN is all about poker and basketball these days...let the NHL go where it'll get the respect it deserves.

[The REAL Sabres]

Well, ESPN wasn't bluffing. They did not match.

John Buccigross just broke in the baseball game with an update and he was somewhat choked up when announcing that.

Oh well, we must turn the page completely on everything. I hope Comcast changes the channel's name.

[Karl]

Imo Comcast should ditch the Outdoor Life Network all together and come up with a whole new plan. Seriously no one will take the NHL seriously on OLN, if Comcast wants to seriously challenge ESPN they need to revamp everything. It can be done to, I know there are a lot of people who are sick of ESPN and the crap they are running. Just like how MTV doesn’t show any music videos ESPN is running crap game shows, reality shows, dramas. Then there are the many annoying SportsCenter anchors like Stuart Scott who annoy the Hell out of me. I would watch a Comcast sports channel if they hired the right people to do there shows.

[The REAL Sabres]

OLN is a good basis to start IMO. Plus Comcast is in the hockey business so they'll do it right. Although, ESPN was also in the business at one point too. The correlation wasn't evident at all though.

The NHL is better off.

[Karl]

I agree that the NHL is better off, but I still think they need to change the name. How about CSC Comcast sports Channel? Or CSN Comcast Sports Network?

[Papaduke]

I think the first thing Comcast does is pursue Buccigross and Melrose. With the NHL not on ESPN, the hockey coverage will be just about the same as European Soccer. Bucci is a hockey man through and through and at his first opportunity he will leave.

[Papaduke]

As a Comcast subscriber I was pumped to hear that they are bringing the NHL Network to the States. Now I hope it makes it to the Land of Dixie. Being in the Thrashers market I believe it will. I do have to say that Comcast will be a good partner and they do sports right. In Atlanta we have channels run by Comcast that is dedicated to the Falcons (Falcons Vision) and the Braves (Braves Vision) as well as Comcast Sports South that runs local sports programming (HS & College).

[Thumper]

ESPN has had more coverage on poker, bowling, women's basketball, and the spelling bee than they've had on hockey.

Not to mention their ridiculous over the top basketball coverage.

Good riddance.

[RabidBillsFan]

I will miss Gary Thorne doing NHL games... I really enjoyed his style, and he's better than just about anyone out there right now.

[delectrolux]

In fact, I heard the "PN" in ESPN now stands for Poker Network...I just can't come up with anything clever for the "ES". :) !
.
Every ten Seconds Poker Network
Eventual Suicide: Poker Network
Everybody SING! Poker Network
Educational Sabotage Poker Network
.
apparently, i can't come up with anything clever for the "ES" either...
.

[The REAL Sabres]

I will miss Gary Thorne doing NHL games... I really enjoyed his style, and he's better than just about anyone out there right now.I won't miss his brutal name butchering.

[The REAL Sabres]

This sounds awesome so far!!

• 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.

And for RBF...

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

http://www.nhl.com/news/2005/08/233286.html

It's also nice Adelphia was recently purchased by Comcast and TimeWarner. WNY cable suscribers should be thrilled.

[Papaduke]

ESPN has had more coverage on poker, bowling, women's basketball, and the spelling bee than they've had on hockey.

Not to mention their ridiculous over the top basketball coverage.

Good riddance.

Don't Forget to Mention they unleashed Steven A Smith "Quite Frankly I am an *******" on the public. Proving that any jerk with a catch phrase no matter how utterly stupid they are can have their own TV show.

[Papaduke]

I have it Egghead Spelling & Poker Network

[ckg68]

This sounds awesome so far!!

• 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.

And for RBF...

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

http://www.nhl.com/news/2005/08/233286.html

It's also nice Adelphia was recently purchased by Comcast and TimeWarner. WNY cable suscribers should be thrilled.

All of it does. But,IIRC,isn't WNY's Adelphia system going to become part of Time Warner?

And as long as NHL Network gets coverage on DirecTV,that's cool with me.

Next goal: Bug the hell out of Comcast to give us a regional sports network to succeed Empire.

Oh,Papa: forgot to mention this...saw somewhere that Stephen A. Smith's new show only pulled a .2 in its first week or two,never mind the continuous ads you see for it every few minutes on ESPN and all of its networks. So don't count out the good taste of American TV viewers just yet.

[Papaduke]

Just as I suspected though... Philthydelphia is the first featured game Flyers vs Rags 10/5

www.olntv.com

[Thumper]

.
Every ten Seconds Poker Network
Eventual Suicide: Poker Network
Everybody SING! Poker Network
Educational Sabotage Poker Network
.
apparently, i can't come up with anything clever for the "ES" either...
.


Hahahahahaa....I like Everybody SING!: Poker Network! Hilarious.

[Thumper]

Don't Forget to Mention they unleashed Steven A Smith "Quite Frankly I am an *******" on the public. Proving that any jerk with a catch phrase no matter how utterly stupid they are can have their own TV show.

True, not to mention when they have thier football or basketball highlights, and somehow some of the talking heads sound like they're rapping to the highlight footage. Like, that's really cool. I really want to hear a sports caster rap over Shaq highlights, and use all the cool ebonics lingo. Duh.

[Karl]

Looks like Comcast and the NHL are starting out right. Looks like the first game will be the Rags and the Flyers. http://www.olntv.com/