Kukla's Korner Hockey
Next entry: Sutter & Asham Go At It
Previous entry: Outdoors in Red Square
Report- Return To ESPN In The Hands Of The NHL
by Paul on 12/12/07 at 03:21 PM ET
Comments (5)
from Michael Farber of Sports Illustrated,
The door is open, then, for ESPN.
According to an ESPN source, the network could be interested if it saw a fit in terms of cost and content. The network would require playoff hockey and one night of exclusivity during the regular season. “It’s totally in the NHL’s hands,” the source said.
As one media critic expressed it, does the NHL want to be No. 7 on ESPN or No. 1 on Versus? The league does indeed receive more loving care from Versus than it did on ESPN, despite the half-hour show ESPN2 used to give it nightly, but its absence from the cable heavyweight has taken hockey one step further from the national conversation.
Filed in: NHL Media, Hockey Broadcasting | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: ESPN,
Comments
Dear NHL,
Please get national friday and saturday night games, whatever network you choose. This Monday-Tuesday stuff is garbage…
I want HNIC Saturday night in the USA!!
Posted by canesice on 12/12/07 at 03:56 PM ET
Come to think of it, I think the NHL would be more likely to choose a Sunday night game on ESPN 2, so they can keep the HD Net package.
Posted by Steve from New Jersey on 12/12/07 at 04:03 PM ET
It’s not like ESPN is going to be giving the NHL their pick of nights on which they’ll be broadcast on ESPN2. The NHL would get whatever night the league can’t reliably fill with college basketball or the NBA.
That said, it’d be pretty stupid for the NHL to not take ESPN up on this, unless Versus has some fairly ironclad playoff exclusivity arrangements with the league… and considering NBC gets some of those games I don’t see how that can possibly be the case.
Essentially, any money the NHL got from ESPN to broadcast more games during the regular season is free money, because it’s not like games are only played on Monday’s and Tuesday’s.
Posted by HockeyinHD on 12/12/07 at 04:25 PM ET
Better yet, give them all the W/conf games they want.
I am really tired of all this Ranger and Philly crap.
It seems like game after game, just because Comcast has money in those teams. I want a nightly report that is re-broadcast in the morning. having to go on the net each morning is ok, but there a lot of fans that don’t have access to broadband.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 12/12/07 at 05:36 PM ET
Add a Comment
Please limit embedded image or media size to 575 pixels wide.
Add your own avatar by joining Kukla's Korner, or logging in and uploading one in your member control panel.
Captchas bug you? Join KK or log in and you won't have to bother.
Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.
Most Recent Blog Posts
Video- Sundin And Roenick Honored By Their Respective Teams
Randy Carlyle Ready To Coach Again
Just Another Game For The Wings?
Video- Flyers Lose 5-2 At Home To Rangers
Video- Lars Eller Goal, Good Offense Or Bad Defense?
Hockey Talk In the Middle Of February
About KK Hockey
Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.
From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.
Email Paul anytime at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
When learning from experts it’s best to learn personally from them, or from their blog. We can provide that with poker lessons blog, your home to learn poker personally.
Do you get shocked from the luck in the game of poker? Stop getting shocked and start being a Poker Shoker
Make extra cash while playing online poker. Rakeback is free and comes with rake races.
Kukla’s Korner is always a free service for readers, but it costs some money to maintain. If you’re ever in a position to donate a few dollars to help out, we’d be very appreciative.
ESPN would likely want Thursday or Sunday night, and very likely on ESPN2. They air college hoops, NBA, college and Monday Night Football Monday-Wednesday and Friday-Saturday.
VERSUS and the league would be very smart to have that conversation.
Posted by Steve from New Jersey on 12/12/07 at 03:45 PM ET