simonus Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 (edited) http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/index...uestTimeout=900 he NHL and ESPN are in discussions about bringing the league’s games back to ESPN2 as soon as the 2008-09 season. ... Sources say the conversations are happening at the highest levels and include NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and ESPN executive vice president of content John Skipper. ... The move would mark a change at Versus, as well, which is open to giving up its cable exclusivity if it can tap into ESPN’s marketing prowess. Over the past two years, Versus executives have complained privately that ESPN ignored their network. They are hoping for a situation that mirrors the NBA, where ESPN and TNT push viewers to each network’s games. Edited July 31, 2007 by simonus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huzer Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 I would be thrilled with that. Not that it was the greatest show ever, but I miss having NHL 2Night around. Thanks for the link, it was an interesting read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fanpuck33 Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 I doubt NHL 2nite would be back, they were already planning on canceling it before they stopped carrying games. I like the idea of having games on both ESPN and Versus, because I like the Versus coverage and wouldn't want to lose it completely, since ESPN2 would probably show only a couple games a week, the same as Versus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonus Posted July 31, 2007 Author Share Posted July 31, 2007 i really hope this goes down. Versus would be morons not to release the exclusivity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMMR Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 The NHL should have never left ESPN. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonus Posted July 31, 2007 Author Share Posted July 31, 2007 The NHL should have never left ESPN. too true, although I have heard some versions where ESPN walked away from NHL. Even then (at least in hindsight) it would have been better for the NHL to offer an AFL-like profit share agreement with ESPN. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre the Great Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 best news ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMMR Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 too true, although I have heard some versions where ESPN walked away from NHL. Even then (at least in hindsight) it would have been better for the NHL to offer an AFL-like profit share agreement with ESPN. Or just give them the VS deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fanpuck33 Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 Or just give them the VS deal. You do realize that ESPN refused to offer as much as Versus did, right? ESPN got outbid and didn't want to step up to the plate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre the Great Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 yes they refused to up. But the thing is I don't think Bettman figured ESPN's m.o. from then on was to make fun of and overall try to kill the sport like they have done so far. If Bettman read up on his ESPN history he should have seen this coming. Same thing happened in Nascar after Nascar left ESPN. ESPN wasn't even allowed on the grounds of the track. so what did ESPN do on their 'journalistic shows' (ATH, PTI) they kidded and made fun of. (Notice that's what they do today with the NHL) Now those shows can't do enough of Nascar and even sugar coat everything (like Nascar's falling ratings). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 NHL on ESPN definitely adds more credibility to the league (then again ESPN does show the freakin' spelling bee champonships :| ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.