Versus gets NHL Television Contract Extension

[SirJW 207]

http://multichannel.com/article/CA6410619....y=Breaking+News

[Jason Harris 31]

Pretty dismal numbers but, for all we know, decent enough for a cable channel of that size.

Plus it's certainly better than the alternative of being dropped by Versus.

[Hordie Gowe 17]

Being dropped by Versus would be a good thing, no one is watching anyway. My cable company does not offer versus, but I still get CBC (but they may be losing the NHL).

[KYHockey3 0]

Being dropped by Versus would be a good thing, no one is watching anyway. My cable company does not offer versus, but I still get CBC (but they may be losing the NHL).

so just because you dont watch versus, they should drop the nhl?

i live in the states and versus is really the only station who has nhl games on it. versus is my only option, and im sure its the only option for many. so i dont think dropping the nhl is a good idea for versus...because people do watch it

[Oberon 0]

i live in the states and versus is really the only station who has nhl games on it. versus is my only option, and im sure its the only option for many. so i dont think dropping the nhl is a good idea for versus...because people do watch it

He, too, lives in the states. Many cable companies in the states do not offer Versus, so many people cannot watch NHL games. In addition to the terrible broadcasts, one big strike against Versus is its limited distribution.

[KYHockey3 0]

who else besides versus even has nhl games?

i have insight and have nearly every sports channel and they are the only ones with nhl

[hockeymom 2]

who else besides versus even has nhl games?

i have insight and have nearly every sports channel and they are the only ones with nhl

You are missing the point here.

Versus has the contract with the NHL - therefore they are the only channel that carries the NHL. If you do not or can not subscribe to Versus (because it isn't offered in your area) - you are unable to watch NHL games on TV.

The benefit to Versus in this extension is they are hoping to build a larger audience. Although the NHL numbers are dismal - the NHL is the highest rated program Versus has on its' current schedule.

[KYHockey3 0]

ok

hockeymom

thanks for clearing it up.

i thought hordie meant no one watched versus, so they should quit showing games....i didnt know they weer the only one!

[G60 0]

Versus has the contract with the NHL - therefore they are the only channel that carries the NHL. If you do not or can not subscribe to Versus (because it isn't offered in your area) - you are unable to watch NHL games on TV.

i can watch NHL games on FSW and FSBA.

[philatangy 0]

I must say that I have not been too happy with the broadcasts that have happened on VS. I miss when ESPN had the contract.

[hockeymom 2]

Versus has the contract with the NHL - therefore they are the only channel that carries the NHL. If you do not or can not subscribe to Versus (because it isn't offered in your area) - you are unable to watch NHL games on TV.

i can watch NHL games on FSW and FSBA.

How are they connected with Versus? Because my guess is they are connected or it is a sub-contract deal.

[Cavs019 710]

Versus is the only channel with a "national" deal.......if you subscribe to any of the fox sports channels you should be able to get those games, in addition to your local team (in my case MSG)

[mack 44]

Yup, so I could always see Predator away games on FSN-South and sometimes they'd goof and give us Thrashers and Blues games. Versus eats bag.

[Hordie Gowe 17]

so just because you dont watch versus, they should drop the nhl?

i live in the states and versus is really the only station who has nhl games on it. versus is my only option, and im sure its the only option for many. so i dont think dropping the nhl is a good idea for versus...because people do watch it

Its not that I don't watch Versus, its that I CANT (it is not offered on my cable provider) watch Versus.

[G60 0]

Versus has the contract with the NHL - therefore they are the only channel that carries the NHL. If you do not or can not subscribe to Versus (because it isn't offered in your area) - you are unable to watch NHL games on TV.

i can watch NHL games on FSW and FSBA.

How are they connected with Versus? Because my guess is they are connected or it is a sub-contract deal.

Fox Sports, as far as i know is in no way connected with VS. they were televising games long before VS/OLN was even in the picture.

it is only regional games, however, ducks, kings and sharks for me.

[homexlife 0]

i wish it would go back to ESPN terribly...not gonna happen though.

[Hordie Gowe 17]

I think ESPN realized they can do just fine without the NHL. They can grow other sports/activities (poker,Xgames). At first I missed being able to see random games at night on ESPN2 from the west coast, then after a while I just forgot about it and moved on. I'm sure the same approach was taken by many other fans across North America.

[Oberon 0]

Individual teams can negotiate their own television contracts. For instance - here in Minnesota, most Wild games are available on Fox Sports North (cable), with a few other games on a local broadcast station. So, if you have cable, it's not that hard to follow a local or regional team (unless you're a Blackhawks fan). Versus and NBC are the only networks in the US with national broadcast deals with the NHL.

[KYHockey3 0]

yeah, i live in ky and the predators and bluejackets games are sometimes on fns or something like that.

[hockechamp14 0]

Individual teams can negotiate their own television contracts. For instance - here in Minnesota, most Wild games are available on Fox Sports North (cable), with a few other games on a local broadcast station. So, if you have cable, it's not that hard to follow a local or regional team (unless you're a Blackhawks fan). Versus and NBC are the only networks in the US with national broadcast deals with the NHL.

I can't get rangers games, and I live in connecticut. We don't even get MSG. The worst part is that the Yankees have their own damn channel!

[hockeyherb 1]

I didn't see anyone mention this yet but don't forget NBC shows weekend games now and I think will be showing some of the playoffs.

Thrillers like Rangers vs Flyers. (they obviously pick teams for market size not whether the game will actually suck or not.)

[kosydar 0]

Not Versus-specific, but hockey popularity nonetheless- http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=194496&hubname=nhl

[Hordie Gowe 17]

Interesting data about the attendance, but as I have learned statistics are easy to manipulate.

[--notorious 0]

I didn't see anyone mention this yet but don't forget NBC shows weekend games now and I think will be showing some of the playoffs.

Thrillers like Rangers vs Flyers. (they obviously pick teams for market size not whether the game will actually suck or not.)

Yeah, i see alot of Devils game on weekends, but on sundays I'd still rather watch OHL

[Chadd 916]

Not Versus-specific, but hockey popularity nonetheless- http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=194496&hubname=nhl

Not only that, yields are up. Last season they gave away a lot of tickets to games just to get people back. There aren't many teams still doing that this year.

Versus has the contract with the NHL - therefore they are the only channel that carries the NHL. If you do not or can not subscribe to Versus (because it isn't offered in your area) - you are unable to watch NHL games on TV.

i can watch NHL games on FSW and FSBA.

How are they connected with Versus? Because my guess is they are connected or it is a sub-contract deal.

Local affiliates, those channels don't have national reach outside of certain satellite packages.