Comments on: The problem for Versus: Tour de France and NHL are no SpongeBob Squarepants

By: Tom

Tom — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 22:46:21 +0000

My wife is a big PBR bullriding fan, and their events are exclusive to Versus. She is understandably upset. DishNetwork still carries Versus, but when their contract expires they will probably be in the same situation as DirecTV. We can certainly live without Versus and now would not switch to cable, even if it were available in our area (which it is not).

By: Alex

Alex — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 15:54:19 +0000

Versus does have a monopoly on one thing: coverage of the Tour de France and other pro bicycling events. Sure, no Tour until next July, and cycling isn’t a big spectator sport in the US. But those who love it, really love it . . . and Versus’ coverage is the only place to see it in the US.

Versus (and the previous version of the channel, OLN) was one of the big reasons I liked the DirecTV lineup. Without it, the differences between DirecTV and Dish aren’t quite so big as to justify the difference. We’ll see if Versus and DirecTV come to terms . . . if not . . .

By: Harold

Harold — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:05:19 +0000

Versus does have some hand-me-down college football programming from Fox Sports Net. What did the final game of the Stanley Cup get? 3.0 rating on a network? If the best Versus can offer is hockey, it’s got nothing.

By: craigward

craigward — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:01:03 +0000

What’s everybody’s must-have cable shows or networks? What show would force you to change service if they no longer carried it?

By: Anson Pine

Anson Pine — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:51:27 +0000

I have DirecTv TV and am a huge hockey fan. I watch my local team, Panthers on the local FSN channel and have NHL Network and NHL Center Ice. Versus won’t be missed, most of their games I don’t watch except for the playoffs. I also watch mostly HD and find DircTV’s HD better than Comcast. My parents have Comcast and I don’t like HD channels hidden in some other numbers and I don’t like their quality and lack of the better hd networks like MGMHD and HDNET. Bye bye Versus it was nice knowing you.

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:26:35 +0000

My family are all big hockey fans, and they all have DirecTV. I foresee them switching to ComCast now.

By: Paco

Paco — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:14:16 +0000

This is just one more reason why the NHL should do whatever it takes to get back on ESPN.

By: Mikey

Mikey — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:38:05 +0000

Agree. These negotiations are all about having programming – even just one show – that some people can’t live without.

On an average ratings basis I’m sure there are a ton of channels that have a higher average than AMC, but as long as AMC has Mad Men they’ll have disproportionate leverage.

What does Versus have that people can’t live without? Nothing. Even if you’re a gigantic NHL fan you can more than get by with your regional sports network’s games.