I don't keep close enough eye on the NHL to know for sure, but this renewal seems to change nothing about the existing situation between the NHL and NBC. It implies split of Stanley Cup Finals games with Versus. Perhaps someone with more NHL knowledge than I have will spot differences.
via press release:
NHL & NBC ANNOUNCE MULTIYEAR EXTENSION
Innovations Such as Winter Classic, Inside the Glass and Ratings Milestones Highlight Partnership
NEW YORK – July 15, 2009 – The National Hockey League and NBC Sports today announced an extension through the 2010-11 season of their successful revenue-sharing partnership -- one that has achieved viewership milestones, programming and production innovations, awards and critical acclaim. The joint announcement was made by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Ken Schanzer, President, NBC Sports.
"The NHL/NBC partnership has been terrific. Our association has led to such technical innovations as the 'Inside the Glass' reporting and to such programming advancements as the extremely popular Winter Classic," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final was broadcast television's most-watched hockey game in 36 years, which makes clear the NHL and NBC are building an audience, are building momentum and are perfectly positioned to continue growing the game."
Schanzer said: "We're thrilled to be able to continue our relationship with the NHL and build on all the positive momentum on and off the ice. Together, we have attained viewership milestones not seen in more than three decades. And the Winter Classic, in just two years, has become one of the highlights of the sports calendar. We strongly believe this is a league that is poised for continued growth."
RECORD VIEWERSHIP: NBC Sports has achieved a number of ratings milestones including broadcasting the most-watched regular season game in 34 years (2009 Winter Classic) and the most-viewed NHL game overall in 36 years (Game 7 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Final).
INNOVATIVE PRODUCTION: NBC Sports and the NHL have introduced many innovations to help grow the game, including the "Inside the Glass" analyst position, which has revolutionized the way hockey is covered and of which USA Today said "is as close to the action as TV gets."
AWARDS: NBC Sports received a Sports Emmy Award for its promotion of the 2009 Winter Classic and the inaugural event garnered a Sports Business Journal Sport Business Award as Event of the Year.
ACCOLADES: NBC's NHL production has received critical acclaim, earning praise for innovations such as "Inside the Glass," a reporter position between the teams' benches first introduced by NBC hockey producer Sam Flood. The Toronto Star called "Inside the Glass" invaluable. ESPN.com said of NBC's hockey coverage, "the NHL has never looked or sounded better in its free, on-the-air history." The Hockey News called "Inside the Glass," "the biggest innovation to hit televised hockey in recent years." " Hockey has found a network that will let the sport be the sport," said the San Jose Mercury News.
NBC Sports' 2010 NHL coverage begins on New Year's Day with the third annual NHL Winter Classic.
NBC Sports will also continue to broadcast games throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs and up to five Stanley Cup Final games.
NHL & NBC: The successful partnership, which was announced in May 2004, launched in January 2006 and previously extended in 2007 and 2008, has been highlighted by innovations, awards and ratings milestones. NBC Sports' NHL coverage is produced by Sam Flood, the originator of the Inside the Glass position. Emmy award nominee "Doc" Emrick, Eddie Olczyk (analyst), Pierre McGuire (Inside the Glass analyst) and Mike Milbury comprise NBC's NHL broadcast team.
I’m surprised they didn’t extend the Stanley Cup finals to air all its games on NBC. I don’t like the split and doubt the NHL does either(2 of its most high profile games on Versus, a second rate cable network?), and I believe NBC must be happy with the results anyways considering the state of their primetime lineup. Their might be a conflict with the versus contract which would explain small extension.
I expect ESPN to pick up the cable contract at a discount(The NHL would do that to get the game in more homes) after the versus contract runs out.
dave, having all the Stanley Cup Finals on the same network does make sense. Sadly, a press release will never get into reasons why things that don’t make sense are the way they are
The complication in giving NBC all the Stanley Cup games may be in the deal that the NHL signed with Versus, which was re-upped earlier this year through to the end of the 2010-11 season.
That beings said, if NBC really wanted to air all the games, I’m sure they could work out some sort of deal to simulcast the Stanley Cup games aired on Versus and come up with a formula to share the additional ad revenues.
I think the NHL’s biggest mistake is having the fianls played in June.
The ratings would be much better if the finals happened in May.
It’s like the promo dept. was striving to come up with material when the ratings were actually good. NBC won a few nights with the NHL!!!
As to the NHL’s desparation U.S. TV contracts, that’s another story. Exactly what is the NHL making in dollars to bring the nightly victories to NBC. It shows that the NHL is still in desparation mode with regard to its U.S. not-TV strategy.
While it has admittedly had some success with Versus…and Lord knows, there needs to be some competition for the pathetic ESPN sports virtual monopoly…the NBC deal is a travesty of professsional sports dealing.
The NHL Board of Governors ought to have Gary Betteman’s head!
Versus got the rights to broadcast 2 games of the finals as part of the 6 year, $70 mill per year package signed with Versus coming out of the lockout
ESPN declined the one year, $60 mill option it held at that time in ’05. and the head of ESPN at that time in ’05 was unwilling to even cover the Sidney Crosby draft sweepstakes until he got flooded with calls and emails. ESPN has continued to treat hockey like crap, even though it was the NHL that was the first major sport to be shown reg on ESPN, and basically gave the network credibility in the early days when it began as a tiny operation.
what would you take in ’05 as NHL exec? a $420 mill offer from Versus, or a zero offer from ESPN with no rights fees, no guarantees, just revenue sharing crumbs ??
the answer is obvious, and THAT is why they are on Versus
lol let’s just say NBC should keep the NHL under their belts becuz the Stanley Cup finals draws in a lot of ppl….especially 4 Versus too.