Versus gets NHL Television Contract Extension

[Jason Harris 31]

Interesting blurb in today's Boston Globe for DTV subscribers:

Versus and DirecTV are embroiled in a standoff reminiscent of the showdown between the NFL Network and Comcast. DirecTV’s contract with Versus - which is scheduled to carry 54 NHL games in a season that begins Oct. 1 - expires Aug. 31. In a message to subscribers, which scrolled across television screens tuned to Versus yesterday, DirecTV has made it clear that the network may no longer be an option if a deal is not agreed upon. The satellite television provider is accusing the network of “asking for terms which do not reflect the market and which they are not asking of other distributors.’’ Stay tuned, hockey fans.

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

Personally i like VS. Any hockey on my tv is a okay with me. Versus has grown quite a lot in recent years. While i doubt it will or could ever rival the likes of ESPN, it certainly may grow into its own. Id love for them to try and wrestle the X games and other extreme sports away from ESPN. And honestly, if your a big hockey fan, which im assuming cause your reading this, go out and buy Centre Ice. i dont undertand why more people dont do it. I purchaced it for my computer last season, and ill have it for my TV this year. I dont think i'll ever go another season without it again.

[ts.krajewski 0]

Man kinda sucks, it would be nice if VS would drop it so ESPN could pick it up. Even if its on ESPN2 it would still get more viewers.

[kovyperron5727 0]

Man kinda sucks, it would be nice if VS would drop it so ESPN could pick it up. Even if its on ESPN2 it would still get more viewers.

I agree I think Versus is lame, but thank God for NHL Center Ice B)

[flyers10 57]

Does Center Ice offer all games in HD?

[Chadd 916]

Does Center Ice offer all games in HD?

Not on comcast cable, I get zero center ice games in HD. That's why I didn't order it for the first time in ten years last season.

[IniNew 53]

Does Center Ice offer all games in HD?

Not on comcast cable, I get zero center ice games in HD. That's why I didn't order it for the first time in ten years last season.

I just checked, and last year (first year offered) on Verizon FiOS TV, Center Ice will be broadcasting select Center Ice games in HD.

[wcerin 0]

Maybe I'm not reading this right but the way I understand it is.... VS has national rights so.. everyone will get there local teams on there local cable channels ie SNY, Comcast, MSG, CSN, UNLESS the game is broadcast on VS which has sole rights to certain games AND THE PLAYOFFS. SO if your cable carrier or satalite provider does not carry VS you will not get select games or any playoff games unless your local team is in the playoffs and can carry the game. As far as Direct TV is concerned they may not be carrying VS if they can not reach a Financial agrement with them. My cousin ran into this problem with Dish Network he had NHL Center Ice all season and got every game EXEPT the VS games because Dish Network did not carry VS. He missed the entire Playoffs on his home TV. ( Thank God for friends. Please feel free to correct me if I have anything incorrect here.

[IniNew 53]

Close, you will get all your local games on your local broadcaster. You will also get the games played on NBC, including the few playoff games on there. And there's always the option of watching the game the next day on NHL Network.

[Chadd 916]

Comcast does not allow their channel to be broadcast via satellite in Philly, I don't know about Washington or Chicago. There is no way to see Flyer games if you get a dish and are in their local market.

[wcerin 0]

Chadd, Were Flyer fans also and I noticed that very rarely do I get a Flyer home feed on my NHL Center Ice its always the away feed and I'm 3 and a half hours away. I always wondered why that was.

[Chadd 916]

Chadd, Were Flyer fans also and I noticed that very rarely do I get a Flyer home feed on my NHL Center Ice its always the away feed and I'm 3 and a half hours away. I always wondered why that was.

Be happy about that, I'm stuck with them more often than not and they are not good at all.

[wcerin 0]

I here ya there. The pic quality is pretty crappy to say the least I've had the screen go almost entierly pink where the reds and oranges are supposed to be before. It just kinda sucks listening to anouncers talk about the opposition all night. Sometimes I'll listen to the net feed and watch the game on mute.

[shooter27 116]

Interesting blurb in today's Boston Globe for DTV subscribers:

Versus and DirecTV are embroiled in a standoff reminiscent of the showdown between the NFL Network and Comcast. DirecTV’s contract with Versus - which is scheduled to carry 54 NHL games in a season that begins Oct. 1 - expires Aug. 31. In a message to subscribers, which scrolled across television screens tuned to Versus yesterday, DirecTV has made it clear that the network may no longer be an option if a deal is not agreed upon. The satellite television provider is accusing the network of “asking for terms which do not reflect the market and which they are not asking of other distributors.’’ Stay tuned, hockey fans.

That sucks, oh well, I have the sports pack with all the local FS and CS channels, so I should still be able to see plenty of pro and college games there.

[retroXvertigo 4]

I got VS when I still had comcast in Baltimore. I switched to FiOS last year and still have it, along with NHL network.

[armada 0]

DirecTV Drops Versus

Looks like I don't have a choice but to buy Center Ice now. :D

[wcerin 0]

Yep, got home today and no VS on my DirectTV. Time to switch to Time Warner.

[flyerman 0]

DirecTV Drops Versus

Looks like I don't have a choice but to buy Center Ice now. :D

This is such bs! I got DTV this past spring so I could get VS and watch NHL games. Now I've got what....the NHL Network. I don't get any local games here in KS. So I've got to spend another $160+ on Center Ice. Bullsh*t!

And if I do get Center Ice, aren't the games televised on VS -- which I can't watch -- still going to be blacked out?

[87vert 0]

And if I do get Center Ice, aren't the games televised on VS -- which I can't watch -- still going to be blacked out?

I believe so

[Chadd 916]

And if I do get Center Ice, aren't the games televised on VS -- which I can't watch -- still going to be blacked out?

I believe so

VS has an exclusive contract for their games and I think on most Tuesday nights they are the only way to see hockey in the US.

[Jason Harris 31]

Hey, I was looking through DirecTV's guide to program the B's games on Center Ice, but none of them were listed. Considering the first game is only four days away, I figured they'd all be there.

Has anyone actually been able to see them in the guide?

[larrivee 3]

Everyone who has DirecTV...call them and bitch! We are running out of time to get VS back on there........

[flyerman 0]

Everyone who has DirecTV...call them and bitch! We are running out of time to get VS back on there........

I think it's a lost cause. They said they were still in "negotiations" with Comcast, but I don't see this getting resolved any time soon. I was also told they reserve the right to cancel programming within the contract terms, so there was nothing I could do. When I asked what the penalty was for canceling my service altogether, they said $20 a month until the Spring of 2011! I got hosed.

[Jason Harris 31]

Hey, I was looking through DirecTV's guide to program the B's games on Center Ice, but none of them were listed. Considering the first game is only four days away, I figured they'd all be there.

Has anyone actually been able to see them in the guide?

It seems DTV is being rather slow in setting up the guide. The Center Ice channels have now been added to the guide, but all the listings are "To Be Announced."

With two days before the season starts, you'd think they would know, "Alright, put the Canucks on 775, the Sharks on 776 and the Kings on 777...."

[yrhmblnr8r 69]

I called DirecTV yesterday to speak my piece. The operators toed the company line like pros.

- We don't know when the negotiations will be done.

- The other side is being unreasonable.

- We're doing everything we can.

- etc.

I'm a Canucks fan living in Colorado so I was already renewing Center Ice. There are no Canucks games on the VS schedule at the moment but the Av's play SJ tomorrow night. Sakic's jersey is going to the rafters and all DirecTV subscribers in the area will be effectively blacked out. This blows.

The operator gave me some money off my sports package for the next few months, but it's little consolation.