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Post by Boston_Habs on Aug 10, 2005 7:30:00 GMT -5
The deal is $100MM over 2 years with Comcast to air 2 games per week on its Outdoor Life channel. Once the league approves, ESPN has the chance to match the offer and take the deal.
I hope ESPN matches. The $50MM annual cost compares to the $70MM option that ESPN backed away from for this year. So it's cheaper for them and the difference in the number of viewers who watch ESPN compared to the Outdoor Life channel has to be just enormous (although the channel is part of most basic cable packages in the US and Canada).
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Post by blny on Aug 10, 2005 8:01:52 GMT -5
Regardless of whether ESPN matches or not, it's a cable deal the league needed. I'm not sure OLN is the place to air the games, but it may attract new viewers. If it keeps us from having to listen to Bill Clement I'm all for it.
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Post by jkr on Aug 10, 2005 19:28:44 GMT -5
I heard a Philly reporter ( Tim Panaccio) on the Fan in Toronto today. The OLN stuff is strictly US right now. Nothing has been negotiated with the Canadian version of OLN yet.
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Post by jkr on Aug 10, 2005 19:29:52 GMT -5
If it keeps us from having to listen to Bill Clement I'm all for it. Don't you love his Deep Woods Off commercials?  |
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Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Aug 10, 2005 19:46:59 GMT -5
How come this announcement isn't creating a bigger buzz than Bertuzzi's reinstatement?
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Post by MC Habber on Aug 10, 2005 21:53:48 GMT -5
How come this announcement isn't creating a bigger buzz than Bertuzzi's reinstatement? They're using Bertuzzi's reinstatement to cover up the fact that the NHL has been marginalized to the point where the Outdoor Life Network may be it's main broadcaster.  |
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Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Aug 11, 2005 5:52:19 GMT -5
How come this announcement isn't creating a bigger buzz than Bertuzzi's reinstatement? They're using Bertuzzi's reinstatement to cover up the fact that the NHL has been marginalized to the point where the Outdoor Life Network may be it's main broadcaster. And they used the announcent of Gretzky's assumption of coaching duties to cover up the announcement of Bertuzzi's reinstatement. Clever people in the NHL PR department. |
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Post by blny on Aug 11, 2005 6:06:50 GMT -5
If it keeps us from having to listen to Bill Clement I'm all for it. Don't you love his Deep Woods Off commercials? Does Deep Wood make a Clement repellant? ;D |
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Aug 14, 2005 23:11:47 GMT -5
I receive OLN as my standard package and watched Lance race through France. OLN is OK with me. Don't care much if the stock car watchers in Atlanta don't get it.
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Post by hab1fan on Aug 19, 2005 8:50:59 GMT -5
Those same stock car watchers are the same ones who watch OLN's hunting and fishing shows. ;D
I will be happy to catch a few games on OLN and support them. I will be pushing my cable company to pick up the NHL Channel if it comes to fruiation.
I hope some of the younger talent from ESPN decides to go with OLN. I'm sure OLN will give them more freedoms like when ESPN first started broadcasting. It should be fun.
What pisses me off about ESPN is that the NHL did get all the changes they were asking for. Mikes on players and coaches, in game interviews, more access, etc. Then turn their back on a sport they've covered for many years.
If OLN fails, I will always have NHL Center Ice. Of course, if that happens, the cap will fall and a lot of teams will be dumping salaries like there's no tomorrow.
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