Might ESPN bid on NHL rights in 2011?

Hi Rabbits and Rats! I'm a longtime lurker who recently started to whisper from the sidelines. This is the first time I've jumped into the game, but I do like to get hit, so I hope you welcome me with fraternally planted feet.

This interview with ESPN VP of Communications Mike Soltys touched on hockey coverage. Nothing revelatory, but at least he says all the right things. Well, except for the implication that the SCF might not see ABC...

SMW: Does ESPN have an interest in maybe reacquiring NHL rights down the line? Those are going to be up in 2011.

Soltys: We have been big fans of hockey going way back. As I mentioned earlier, we have agreements with them around the world. It’s got to be a deal that’s going to make financial sense for us, and it has to be something that we can get some of the high-quality telecasts. But we certainly have an interest. And any of those kind of rights that we don’t have, it’s hard to speculate. It depends on many circumstances, when they becomes available, but largely economically, if it makes sense for us, and makes sense for our viewer.

[follow the link for more on the SCF question]

almost 2 years ago GetBengt 5 comments 0 recs |

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If a deal is done from an all-ESPN standpoint (as in, no-ABC coverage involved), this makes a ton of sense. You presumably replace the NHL’s current cable network — VS, which is limited in the number of homes it reaches and how many of those homes even have the option of getting VS in HD — with a new one — ESPN, which is available in nearly 100% of American homes and has a high percentage of cable providers subscribing to its HD feed. As far as whether or not ABC would be included, I could care less. It basically moves from one broadcast network to another, and they’re all the same to me.

by kseandoyle on Mar 5, 2010 6:43 PM EST reply actions

Well, was never any question that the deal makes sense from the NHL’s perspective, assuming ESPN wants to pay money to air NHL games. The question is whether ESPN will pursue the deal and outbid Versus/whoever else shows up to play this time.

by sixsevenfiftysix on Mar 5, 2010 7:32 PM EST up reply actions

What are the chances they go all NBA ESPN/TNT and go joint, ESPN and Versus? Versus really gives a damn about hockey and they do put effort into it, although their coverage could use improvement here and there.

Ovechkin = Green Backs

by red army line on Mar 6, 2010 6:18 AM EST up reply actions

If there's no On-Air Broadcast on ABC

Then an ESPN deal makes no sesne for either side. The problem is that ESPN is committed to college football from September to December, and then NBA/College basketball from January to March (With the NBA going on until June). And of course, from Feb to November they also have NASCAR (they have the rights to the Nationwide series, the second tier series, along with the final races for the Sprint Cup).

The only way ESPN becomes the NHL’s television outlet is if ESPN loses the NBA to something like Fox or CBS.

Let's go Caps!

by MikeL-Pivonka on Mar 6, 2010 5:03 PM EST reply actions

You make a good point. . .ESPN is already cluttered with NCAA Football and Basketball and the NBA. However, I think they have enough space on ESPN2 and sometimes on ESPN, to broadcast a night or two of hockey. They still have shows devoted to the NFL on all year, an entire 30 minutes devoted to ‘turning left’, a time slot for “grapefruit” league baseball, ESPN2 has gambling on quite often, not to mention the reruns of sportscenter all day. I think they would get much better ratings with quality NHL games in those slots (even though i love the commentators they have doing Poker)

Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!

by kingzman264 on Mar 8, 2010 2:36 AM EST up reply actions

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