sjradio 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 During the 2nd intermission of the Hawks/Leafs game, during the second intermission's "Hotstove" segment. On his final comment Al Strachan said that the NHL will be returning to ESPN in the next few years. ESPN is interested, the league is interested, the players are interested. The one that isn't... Gary Bettman. Bettman negotiated the deal on Versus and won't be happy about it. They also said that the NBC deal might end after next season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Earthhuman 8 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 During the 2nd intermission of the Hawks/Leafs game, during the second intermission's "Hotstove" segment. On his final comment Al Strachan said that the NHL will be returning to ESPN in the next few years. ESPN is interested, the league is interested, the players are interested. The one that isn't... Gary Bettman. Bettman negotiated the deal on Versus and won't be happy about it. They also said that the NBC deal might end after next season. Right on. Suck it Bettman. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sjradio 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 Now for my comments, I can't help but think of this as a win for both the NHL and ESPN. The marketing power of ESPN is a thousand times more credible and a million times more available than Versus is. Versus is almost like trying to become ESPN 8 "The ocho". If it's almost a sport it's on ESPN 8. PBR, cycling, Versus came to be only because of the NHL, until the NHL came on board it was still OLN. The fight for versus has always been availability and there just isn't that widespread availability and the flexibility of the ESPN networks. ESPN has NBA, NFL, and MLB. If they are truly the "Worldwide leader in sports," then why not show the NHL. Plus who is to say that if ESPN gets NHL back, then they can't share it with Versus. ESPN shares the NBA with TNT, ESPN also shares MLB with TBS. There is nothing that states that this can't be done with the NHL as well. With the new crop of stars in the NHL and the new high scoring games, the NHL is primed for a return to ESPN. Hopefully this can get done..... Barry Melrose needs a job. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Shoreline Report post Posted November 23, 2008 (edited) Makes no difference to me. I hate Versus, but I don't see ESPN as any better until either gets decent announcers that don't yap about nonsense all ******* game. If the league wanted to do us a favor they'd expand CBC and TSN throughout the U.S (i.e. including California). Edited November 23, 2008 by Shoreline Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eva unit zero 271 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 The only thing Gary Bettman wouldn't be interested in about a return to ESPN is if they tried something like what they did the last time they attempted to negotiate a deal. ESPN tried to negotiate a contract which would see the NHL receive zero guaranteed money, and basically see a percentage of the profit after ESPN's costs had been covered. If ESPN tries a similar proposal, they should expect it to be shot down quickly. If they offer something like they had agreed to with the NHL, then the NHL will likely agree to it without difficulty. It's ESPN's bush league treatment of the NHL that resulted in ESPN losing the NHL, and nothing else. There was no bush league behavior by the NHL and ESPN was not entitled to any contract from the NHL. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
12Newf 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 al strachan is an absolute meathead, dont trust him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DETMURDS 7 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 During the 2nd intermission of the Hawks/Leafs game, during the second intermission's "Hotstove" segment. On his final comment Al Strachan said that the NHL will be returning to ESPN in the next few years. ESPN is interested, the league is interested, the players are interested. The one that isn't... Gary Bettman. Bettman negotiated the deal on Versus and won't be happy about it. They also said that the NBC deal might end after next season. If ESPN picks it back up, there is nothing better that could happen. I don't know if NBC would get back in the picture with ESPN running the American table on the NHL since they are in partnership with ABC for the most part. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 Theoretically going back to ESPN would be good for the league. But in reality, when it's hardly marketed and buried like it was in the old days, or buried on ESPN 13 that's not much of an improvement, is it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rage 24 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 Nothing against the OP, but any idiot could go on TV and say this! Case in point, Al Strachan just did. I don't see the big deal. It will probably happen down the road eventually, but I think we all pretty much figured that much. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T-Ruff 47 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 Ron MacLean was only suggesting the idea that Bettman might not like it because he instrumented the VS deal.... of course Bettman will welcome back ESPN if the money is right (which it will be this time) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrossoverThrash 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 They totally zinged VS and Bettman on this one Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ManLuv4Clears 7 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 The only thing Gary Bettman wouldn't be interested in about a return to ESPN is if they tried something like what they did the last time they attempted to negotiate a deal. ESPN tried to negotiate a contract which would see the NHL receive zero guaranteed money, and basically see a percentage of the profit after ESPN's costs had been covered. If ESPN tries a similar proposal, they should expect it to be shot down quickly. If they offer something like they had agreed to with the NHL, then the NHL will likely agree to it without difficulty. It's ESPN's bush league treatment of the NHL that resulted in ESPN losing the NHL, and nothing else. There was no bush league behavior by the NHL and ESPN was not entitled to any contract from the NHL. How can you blame ESPN? Unfortunately, the NHL is not a tier one sport in America like you make it out to be. It doesn't have a tremendous amount of bargaining power. The NHL needs ESPN more than ESPN needs the NHL. It would be in the NHL's best interest if it is truly confident in it's sport to take any deal with ESPN. ESPN giving a share of the profits is still better than anything Versus can offer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redwings1914 18 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 No, ESPN is crappy 720p...I enjoy NBC and Versus in 1080i =] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
henrik40 76 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 good screw bettman, he was the one who got the NHL on versus, a station that isn't even provided by all standard cable providers. Who cares if the deal espn/abc offered was an insult, if he accepted the deal then the NHL would be better off. If you shun the biggest sports broadcaster then they won't give you any time on their network, bettman is a complete moron. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herr Hockey 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 (edited) No, ESPN is crappy 720p...I enjoy NBC and Versus in 1080i =] Actually, 720p is better than 1080i, despite the number. As a general rule of thumb, 1080p > 720p > 1080i. I only have 1080i though, but I hope to one day have a 1080p. Edited November 23, 2008 by Herr Hockey Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pavyaz19 1 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 Makes no difference to me. I hate Versus, but I don't see ESPN as any better until either gets decent announcers that don't yap about nonsense all ******* game. If the league wanted to do us a favor they'd expand CBC and TSN throughout the U.S (i.e. including California). QFT QFT QFT Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SouthernWingsFan 854 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 (edited) Doesn't matter to me what station hockey is played on. It could be on the Home Shopping Network for all I care, just be on somewhere. I like the NHL on Versus, I'd like it back on ESPN. I just want to watch the sport. Edited November 23, 2008 by SouthernWingsFan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 Doesn't matter to me what station hockey is played on. It could be on the Home Shopping Network for all I care, just be on somewhere. I like the NHL on Versus, I'd like it back on ESPN. I just want to watch the sport. Yeah its the same thing with me, but the only problem with me is that they DON'T show enough hockey. This only on Mondays and Tuesdays aren't going to cut it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ManLuv4Clears 7 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 Yeah its the same thing with me, but the only problem with me is that they DON'T show enough hockey. This only on Mondays and Tuesdays aren't going to cut it. That's more of an arguement for ESPN than anything, ESPN LOVES to promote the sports it has contracts with, and for good reason. If anyone noticed when they picked up NASCAR all of a sudden there was more time talked about it during Sportscenter, it had it's own dedicated daily TV show, and there's always additional advertising on the front page of espn.com (which alone is priceless with the amount of internet traffic that site gets daily). The same can be said for the way they decided to pick up poker. No one knew about Texas Hold 'em until ESPN started braodcasting it non-stop, now everyone and their brother has the occasional game they attend. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
auxlepli 17 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 I've responded here. Nothing's changed. http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/index.ph...=53727&st=0 Wait a second, it has. It's worse. ESPN this morning showed maybe like maybe three seconds of the Wings win last night. That kind of coverage from the so called sports leader is lame. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
j.hoop 64 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 how can you call versus the equivalent of "the ocho"? they were OLN to start.. and espn frequently plays poker (that aint no sport), spelling bees, and worlds strongest man. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ManLuv4Clears 7 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 I've responded here. Nothing's changed. http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/index.ph...=53727&st=0 Wait a second, it has. It's worse. ESPN this morning showed maybe like maybe three seconds of the Wings win last night. That kind of coverage from the so called sports leader is lame. Please explain why ESPN should be obligated to show NHL highlights. They only showcase sports they have a vested interest in. Until they cover the NHL there's no reason for them in a buisness model sense to do so. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 CBC, ESPN, TSN, NBC all carrying hockey would be huge for the NHL in Canada and the States. Even at taking the risk of losing money, the NHL should try hard to get it done. Renew contracts, sign new ones, get more and keep more fans. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted November 24, 2008 Please explain why ESPN should be obligated to show NHL highlights. They only showcase sports they have a vested interest in. Until they cover the NHL there's no reason for them in a buisness model sense to do so. They hardly covered hockey when they DID have it. It's considered some obscure sport meant to headline one of their ESPN # networks and won't merit much more attention than it already has. It'll still be all baseball and football during their offseasons even. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
South Dakota wings fan 7 Report post Posted November 24, 2008 No, ESPN is crappy 720p...I enjoy NBC and Versus in 1080i =] I thought 720p was supposed to be better for sports than 1080i, but both worse than 1080p? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
