Bettman promises huge TV deal

[Two or less]

My link

 

The NHL's leadership and its owners weren't going to ignore the crack pipe of expansion fee windfalls for too much longer. Gary Bettman's shaky hand was already reaching for it last year when he said the NHL would sooner expand than relocate current teams, although that may have also been part of his "please disperse/nothing to see here" strategy of deflecting heat from struggling markets.

So it's no surprise Bettman is dangling a $400-million entrance fee for a Southern Ontario team (pending the Toronto Maple Leafs removing their collective jackboot from the NHL's neck) as catnip to new investors like Jeffrey Vinik of the Tampa Bay Lightning and potential new owners like Jerry Reinsdorf, as David Shoalts of the Globe & Mail reports today.

 

If true, this is GREAT news for hockey.

[Trey]

Forgive me if I'm not overly excited, but I'll keep the Versus deal over putting a team in Southern Ontario. Maybe they should put a team in Minneapolis as well. I mean, the Wild play across the river in St. Paul, but it's such a long (10 minute) drive over there. I get tired of having to make the trip. :wallbash:

[Two or less]

I personally love versus. They treat hockey like gods. They are always updating their viewers, adding games (Pitt game last night, Caps game tonight), have a great intermission cast... they do everything right. I don't like their play by play teams but then again, it doesn't matter what channel the games are on, they will always have these guys doing pbp for the most part.

 

Starting Monday, they are starting a new nightly show at 6pm....

 

In the "perfect" world...

 

Monday and Tuesday should be Versus nights.

Wed should be NHL Network

Thursday should be ESPN

Friday nothing

Saturday ESPN2 (few times per season) and NHL Network showing of HNIC

Sunday should be NBC

[Buffalo Wings]

I personally love versus. They treat hockey like gods. They are always updating their viewers, adding games (Pitt game last night, Caps game tonight), have a great intermission cast... they do everything right. I don't like their play by play teams but then again, it doesn't matter what channel the games are on, they will always have these guys doing pbp for the most part.

 

Starting Monday, they are starting a new nightly show at 6pm....

 

In the "perfect" world...

 

Monday and Tuesday should be Versus nights.

Wed should be NHL Network

Thursday should be ESPN

Friday nothing

Saturday ESPN2 (few times per season) and NHL Network showing of HNIC

Sunday should be NBC

 

You know, after a few years of OLN/Versus, I wouldn't look forward to having E$PN be part of a TV deal anymore. Yes, we'd probably see more overall hockey coverage and (*gasp*) more Barry Melrose, but I'm thinking let ESPN stick with the NBA, MLB, basketball up the wazoo, and any MMA or UFC events they want. They're just too "corporate enterprise" to me.

 

I don't know if I'd go so far as to say VS treats hockey like gods, but they do give it some good coverage. For the most part, I'd just rather see the games broadcasted than have people over-analyzing things (like ESPN does) and VS does a pretty good job of that. They tell you what's going on (with the usual ###### of Crosby, Ovechkin, or whoever the star of the week is), but pretty much just show you the product.

 

I realize getting hockey back on ESPN would give the sport more exposure. Heck, if they're going to do it at all, next year would be time (being right after the Olympics & all). I just think don't think they'll do the sport justice if they start covering it again.

[bunomatic]

Not sure hockey in southern Ontario is good for Buffalo.Lets hope it does'nt cut into the sabres share of the market.I wonder if the fans that have been traveling down to see games simply stop.Especially if a team is relocated that is already established and ready to compete like the coyotes.

[shrader]

The big question mark with Versus is if and when that Comcast purchase of NBC ever happens. Versus would wind up in the hands of much more powerful and skilled people and it might have a chance to develop a bit.

[Sabre Dance]

I think the best thing that the NHL could do to promote hockey in the States would be to have US networks just carry the Hockey Night in Canada telecasts. HNIC treats the NHL like CBS treats the NFL or PGA. They have broadcasters who assume that the viewer is smart enough to understand the finer points of the game. They also have PBP guys whose voices don't sound like chainsaws (and who don't say, "cancelled" when a player is checked.).

[PromoTheRobot]

I keep wanting to call Gary Bettman on his radio show but I never have the time. I want to ask him WTF with the prices for NHL Game Center? $79 for some of the playoffs? Bettman is always railing against illegal video streams but if the NHL ever applied some common sense to their pricing they would bring more people in.

 

For one, all I want are Sabres games. Don't make me pay for games I won't watch. Second, how friggin' hard is it to offer single games? Charge something reasonable like $4.95. Third, if you pay $179 for Center Ice, why should you pay another $179 for Game Center? Lastly, I'm a season ticket holder. Why shouldn't I have the right to watch the Sabres online for no extra charge? I already pay the team about $2K.

 

PTR

[spndnchz]

I think the best thing that the NHL could do to promote hockey in the States would be to have US networks just carry the Hockey Night in Canada telecasts. HNIC treats the NHL like CBS treats the NFL or PGA. They have broadcasters who assume that the viewer is smart enough to understand the finer points of the game. They also have PBP guys whose voices don't sound like chainsaws (and who don't say, "cancelled" when a player is checked.).

 

CBS and HNIC are going to be a HD channel on TWC soon.

[Hirly5]

I think the best thing that the NHL could do to promote hockey in the States would be to have US networks just carry the Hockey Night in Canada telecasts. HNIC treats the NHL like CBS treats the NFL or PGA.

HNIC is an American hockey fans dream. Before the NHL Network started showing it, it was the 2nd best reason to have Center Ice. I always DVR it so I can get Coaches Corner and The Hotstove. The pregame show is top notch. I wish the NHL Network would carry the late game and Hockey After Dark also instead of showing it the next day.

 

The only bad thing about HNIC is having to hear that blowhard Mike Milbury. I cannot stand him.

 

Versus has improved TONS compared to when they started. I really dont care that the NHL is not on ESPN anymore. If I want hockey news, I can always hit up the NHL Network or the internet. It would be nice to have a nightly show but as said before, Versus is going to start doing that. Now of they could start to do a pregame show.

 

On a side note:

I have cable and get the NHL Network in HD but for some reason NHL On The Fly is never in HD. Their stupid commercials advertising the show are in HD but the show isn't. It just makes me mad when the channel is in HD and the programming isnt. Does anyone else have this problem?

[Two or less]

HNIC is an American hockey fans dream. Before the NHL Network started showing it, it was the 2nd best reason to have Center Ice. I always DVR it so I can get Coaches Corner and The Hotstove. The pregame show is top notch. I wish the NHL Network would carry the late game and Hockey After Dark also instead of showing it the next day.

 

The only bad thing about HNIC is having to hear that blowhard Mike Milbury. I cannot stand him.

 

Versus has improved TONS compared to when they started. I really dont care that the NHL is not on ESPN anymore. If I want hockey news, I can always hit up the NHL Network or the internet. It would be nice to have a nightly show but as said before, Versus is going to start doing that. Now of they could start to do a pregame show.

 

On a side note:

I have cable and get the NHL Network in HD but for some reason NHL On The Fly is never in HD. Their stupid commercials advertising the show are in HD but the show isn't. It just makes me mad when the channel is in HD and the programming isnt. Does anyone else have this problem?

 

NHL On the Fly isn't available in HD. They said they "hope" to have the show in full HD at the start of next season. What i don't get is, i don't mind the "show" not being in HD, but when they show highlights or live "look ins"... why isn't that in HD? Anyways, the whole thing should be in HD next year.

 

For those with center ice, Calgary @ Colorado should be a great playoff like game tonight....

[Calvin]

HNIC is an American hockey fan's dream. Before the NHL Network started showing it, it was the 2nd best reason to have Center Ice. I always DVR it so I can get Coaches Corner and The Hotstove. The pregame show is top notch. I wish the NHL Network would carry the late game and Hockey After Dark also instead of showing it the next day.

Absolutely. HNIC is a credit to the Canadians.. really makes it worth being home on a Saturday night sometimes.

[Taro T]

I think the best thing that the NHL could do to promote hockey in the States would be to have US networks just carry the Hockey Night in Canada telecasts. HNIC treats the NHL like CBS treats the NFL or PGA. They have broadcasters who assume that the viewer is smart enough to understand the finer points of the game. They also have PBP guys whose voices don't sound like chainsaws (and who don't say, "cancelled" when a player is checked.).

Absolutely dead spot on. :thumbsup:

[bunomatic]

I agree on the comment about that blowhard Milbury,nice call.How he still has any credability left at all after single handedly destroying the Islanders and building about 4 or 5 other teams to contender status in the process has me confused.Does anybody other than his wife and kids actually believe he knows what he's saying?Glen Healey is a real gum flapper as well but aside from those 2 Hockey night in Canada does put on a good show.I can't remember a saturday night that I did'nt spend at least part of it in front of the tube either at home or in a pub.

[nfreeman]

I personally love versus. They treat hockey like gods. They are always updating their viewers, adding games (Pitt game last night, Caps game tonight), have a great intermission cast... they do everything right. I don't like their play by play teams but then again, it doesn't matter what channel the games are on, they will always have these guys doing pbp for the most part.

 

Starting Monday, they are starting a new nightly show at 6pm....

 

In the "perfect" world...

 

Monday and Tuesday should be Versus nights.

Wed should be NHL Network

Thursday should be ESPN

Friday nothing

Saturday ESPN2 (few times per season) and NHL Network showing of HNIC

Sunday should be NBC

I agree with most of this, although I think their intermission and pre and postgame shows are pretty lame. I don't thing Brian engblom adds anything besides the mullet and Keith jones is only a bit better. They need a coach in there instead of engblom. Haven't seen the new 30 minute show yet though.