Akuma Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 Report: NHL on verge of U.S. cable deal Stanley Cup Final Canadian Press 8/9/2005 2:50:27 AM PHILADELPHIA (CP) - The NHL is on the verge of signing off with a new U.S. cable TV partner, according to a report in the Philadelphia Inquirer. Comcast has formally submitted a two-year bid in excess of $100 million US to televise NHL games beginning this fall, sources directly involved in the discussions told the Inquirer in Tuesday's edition. The deal calls for Comcast to televise two games a week nationally. The cable giant plans to put the games on its on its Outdoor Life Network, which is also available in Canada. Comcast submitted its bid over the weekend, according to the Inquirer. The NHL could act on it by this weekend. The company is a major owner of the Philadelphia Flyers. Comcast spokesperson Tim Fitzpatrick declined Monday to comment on the network's interest in the NHL. The NHL also declined when reached by the Inquirer. If the NHL approves the deal, the contract will be forwarded to ESPN. In April, ESPN opted not to renew its $70-million option to televise the NHL for 2005-06 and 2006-07, but ESPN retains the right to match the new offer, a source told the Inquirer. ESPN has carried NHL games in the United States since 1985. The NHL also has a national broadcast deal with NBC but needed a new cable partner after ESPN withdrew in April. http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=132876 Thoughts: honestly, i didn't know OLN even existed before i read (it might have been here) that Stevens was on it for some fishing show in Canada...and i'm not sure its part of basic cable packages so how does this cut into viewership? and if ESPN already declined to $70 million renewal (then again that was during the lockout), will they want to match or exceed a deal of over 100? and i don't know too much about comcast so its an interesting situation... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voros19 Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 I get OLN!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brodeurfanatic Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 I hope ESPN will get the deal so I get to finally watch Hockey! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueNJ97 Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 I'm glad to see it for the NHL's sake but I won't be able to watch the games. I'm a Cablevision subscriber and Dolan has already said there is no way he puts OLN on his network. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redruM Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 Not sure I get OLN, this could suck... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJayDevil Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 I hope my apartment at psu gets this stupid channel. I don't remember seeing it when I was there acouple weeks ago. Outdoor Life?! The fvcking arenas are played underneath a ROOF! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aylbert Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 Im a bit scared... I dont get Comcast Sportsnet, because Cocmast refuses to grant its right to satellite services, but I do get OLN. Does this mean Comcast will start pulling OLN away from DirecTv too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MantaRay Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 Get at least on USA Network or Spike, OLN is a joke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devils744 Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 i'm pretty sure i don't get outdoor life network on cablevision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostondevil11 Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 When I finally get cable again I have to get Comcast since my stupid landlady won't let me get Directv so I guess I will be fine. Doesn't really matter cuz I will also have Center Ice. I really don't wanna give a dime to Comcast thou. I guess I should be just happy I get to watch the NHL again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbdf Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 arrgghhh the NHL needs to be in Hi-Def Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteyNice Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 Wow, to me this means that Comcast is serious about putting together an ESPN Competitor made up of its regional sports Networks. That is certainly good news for everyone as competition is good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mddevsfan Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 arrgghhh the NHL needs to be in Hi-Def <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Exactly. That's the main reason I'd like to see ESPN get it again. Then maybe (please, please, oh please) they'd put a few games on ESPN HD! Either way I'm getting Center Ice, so I should see all the games regardless of who's covering them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Diablo Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 OLN = The Lance Armstrong Network -showed the Tour for the past several seasons. I get it thru DirecTV basic package. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akuma Posted August 9, 2005 Author Share Posted August 9, 2005 I'm not sure about this deal, sounds good for the cable industry, and for the NHL in adding competition as Petey said but without cablevision thats a loss of of something like 3 million tri-state viewers...however, there is a deal in the works for Time Warner or possibly Comcast (even though the first deal to buy the network was done by Time Warner but according to some articles i read they aren't going to go ahead with that until they have the deal for Adelphia fully worked out) to eventually buyout cablevision, now Time Warner does carry OLN (at least in my area) so then it wouldn't matter so much...however until that deal is completed thats still 3 million people without weekly NHL coverage and i don't know how many more around the country with services that don't offer OLN as a part of a basic package like ESPN is generally in...this sounds good for the NHL in the short term financially but as far as viewership goes and lack of HD (which hockey really REALLY needs) and long-term marketing strategies etc., i'm not too sure... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MantaRay Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 This is a mistake. There is no distribution, I would have thought that NBC could offer some of their properties CNBC/MSNBC on weekends or even Friday night Hockey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
br_hockey Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 does anyone know where devs games are gonna be shown? probably a few are gonna be on msg, but other than that, is YES network the new FSNY? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundstrom Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 with regards to the HD issue, i believe that there will be several options. channels like hdnet and inhd will show some games. that contract is seperate from all the other cable contracts. and at least locally, i'm fairly certain that you'll see devils home games in HD from MSG and FSNY as cable companies take over other channels for those games (like they already do with YES, MSG, and FSNY). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jdub Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 I still think the devils should have joined forces with the Mets to get their own channel.. just my opinion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Wensink Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 If it goes OLN you can see it on Cablevision Digital. It's part of the sports pack. It's an extra $4.95 per month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueSkirt Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 Yes, Devs Home games (and the eight Away games versus the Rags & perhaps even more Away games like Philly) will be in HD. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2004 Devils' Broadcasts to Continue on FOX Sports Net New York East Rutherford , NJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbdf Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 with regards to the HD issue, i believe that there will be several options. channels like hdnet and inhd will show some games. that contract is seperate from all the other cable contracts. and at least locally, i'm fairly certain that you'll see devils home games in HD from MSG and FSNY as cable companies take over other channels for those games (like they already do with YES, MSG, and FSNY). <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Ahh, there is a catch though sunny, Comcast refuses to pay the extra fee to Cablevision to get the HD versions of those channels, so although everything out of the arena or msg is broadcast in HD, only Cablevision customers can see it. The majority of NJ is Comcast country, so, although we have to pay extra for the hd package, and pay extra for FSNY, we still don't get FSNY in HD. I've been complaining to them for the last year and a half in anticipation of the upcoming season, hoping for them to add it, to no avail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mddevsfan Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 with regards to the HD issue, i believe that there will be several options. channels like hdnet and inhd will show some games. that contract is seperate from all the other cable contracts. and at least locally, i'm fairly certain that you'll see devils home games in HD from MSG and FSNY as cable companies take over other channels for those games (like they already do with YES, MSG, and FSNY). <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Ahh, there is a catch though sunny, Comcast refuses to pay the extra fee to Cablevision to get the HD versions of those channels, so although everything out of the arena or msg is broadcast in HD, only Cablevision customers can see it. The majority of NJ is Comcast country, so, although we have to pay extra for the hd package, and pay extra for FSNY, we still don't get FSNY in HD. I've been complaining to them for the last year and a half in anticipation of the upcoming season, hoping for them to add it, to no avail. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> And is there any hope for us DirecTV customers that are way the heck out of the Devils local broadcast area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akuma Posted August 9, 2005 Author Share Posted August 9, 2005 That is great news on the devils FSNY games, if only for cablevision customers...damn i need an HDTV...and to get back in jersey We still need HD national coverage though...I just read on OLN's affiliate site that they are going to offer a Video on Demand network in HD...maybe this is a preview of their main channel coming to HD broadcasts? Hopefully a deal from Time Warner will come in for cablevision and there will be some cooperation between them and comcast...but thats probably a ways away if it ever happens, so for now it seems comcast customers in NJ are stuck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyFan42 Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 Here's a thought: NHL Center Ice HD. It probably won't happen for a few years, but the thought of it makes my brain melt in ecstasy... and I don't even *have* HD! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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