ESPN Considering New NHL Rights Deal

(From Sports Business Daily)

Despite comments to the contrary made by ESPN OFFICIALS this week, the network is "still willing to pay a rights fee, just not the $60 MILLION option it dropped" in May for rights to the 2005-2006 season, according to GROSSMAN AND EGGERTON of BROADCASTING AND CABLE.

ESPN Executive Vice President/Programming And Production MARK SHAPIRO said he has spoken to NHL Commissioner GARY BETTMAN and added not paying a rights fee "isn't the panacea, it just has to be something that reflects the situation."

Shapiro -- "I don't know exactly what we would pay yet. But it is definitely SOUTH of $60 MILLION. But we would pay a fee, at least it would give them something."
[Never say never I guess...]

ESPN in May opted NOT to pick up its broadcast option with the NHL, but PILSON COMMUNICATIONS President NEAL PILSON said, "There's certainly a likelihood that they will renegotiate their deal with ESPN. Perhaps at a lower number and probably with fewer games."

SPORTSCORP President MARC GANIS said that the NHL "has no other viable option" for a cable partner.

Ganis -- "There really is not much of a choice here, not necessarily because of the money they'll make off the game broadcasts, but rather the promotional exposure that ESPN will offer."

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF POPULAR TELEVISION Director BOB THOMPSON said, "Losing ESPN is like you suddenly lost a major American seal of approval. The fact (the NHL) was on ESPN brought you a certain amount of viewers just because they're watching ESPN."

In MINNEAPOLIS, JUDD ZULGAD notes that ESPN, SPIKE TV and USA NETWORK "all have had discussions with the league" concerning cable rights.

NHL Group Vice President/Communications BERNADETTE MANSUR said, "We are not confirming the outlets we are talking to other than to say we are talking to several groups." Zulgad writes USA "might be the most logical landing spot" for the NHL, as the net is owned by NBC UNIVERSAL. NBC has a two-year revenue-sharing deal in place as the league's network broadcaster.

In TORONTO, CHRIS ZELKOVICH writes with fewer games televised nationally, franchises will earn "extra money from their more lucrative regional packages."

Pilson -- "It will substantially offset any loss in revenue from the national package."

THE NHL DRAFT on July 30th is the "first of many hockey-related events" planned by TSN, and TSN COMMUNICATIONS Manager ANDREA GOLDSTEIN said that the net "could play a role in the lottery."

Goldstein -- "We've been doing a lot of work behind the scenes. There will be several announcements throughout the summer for production elements as well as marketing and PR campaigns we will be putting in place."

ROGERS SPORTSNET President DOUG BEEFORTH said, "My gut feeling is that hockey in CANADA is such a part of our national identity, it will not take long for CANADIAN HOCKEY FANS to be back at the level of interest they were at before. I'm not so sure that will be the case in the U.S."