The fine folks at Kabletown had the opportunity to match any bids, and reports say they kept doing so until ESPN gave up. But the package appears to include more than just rights: NBC will build new studios for NHL Network, and the presser is kind of conflicting, saying Versus will remain "the exclusive cable home of the NHL in the United States" but NHL Network has been carrying live regular season games for a couple years now. Also, "It marks the first-ever national distribution of all Stanley Cup Playoffs games, including, for the first time, exclusive coverage starting with the conference semifinals." Given that Versus only has one channel, I'd have to assume that means that some games will have to go to NHLN.
However, the buried lede here is, according to Darren Rovell, Dick Ebersol says "we are no more than 90 days from renaming Versus" and that it will have NBC in the title. >From the twitters, via @mhfight: "Will they rename it NBC Vyrsus?" NHL Presser: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=560238&navid=DL|NHL|home Joe Hass -- TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en
