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In Surprise Deal, ESPN Lands U.S. Broadcast Rights To World Cup Of Hockey In '16

ESPN has "won the U.S. broadcast rights for the World Cup of Hockey, beating out NBC and Fox," according to TSN's Rick Westhead (TWITTER.com, 2/3). SPORTING NEWS' Sean Gentille noted this is "a little unexpected," as for the "first time since 2004 -- save a random KHL game during the 2012-13 lockout -- professional hockey will air on ESPN." Hockey fans are "going to have to amend one of their most overdone complaints." Gentille: "ESPN is carrying your sport now, guys." It also is "surprising, if only because of the continued relationship between the league and NBC." The Canadian "leg of the World Cup deal, auctioned off to Rogers," will net the league and NHLPA a reported $30M. ESPN "almost certainly didn't approach that figure" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 2/3). In Chicago, Nina Falcone noted NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman last month said that the "goal of the event is to help grow the game, and a deal with ESPN could help push those efforts even further" (CSNCHICAGO.com, 2/3). SB NATION's Pat Iversen noted since losing NHL rights to NBC, ESPN has "come under fire from fans and media for a perceived lack of hockey coverage." Now it "appears ESPN will get a shot to mend those bridges" (SBNATION.com, 2/3). AWFUL ANNOUNCING's Josh Gold-Smith wrote ESPN getting the rights to the event is a "shocking development." It also is "interesting that Fox submitted a bid, considering they haven't been a rightsholder" since '99. ESPN getting the rights is "good news for American fans." More voices are "always better, and the return of pro hockey to ESPN is huge, even if it's not technically the NHL" (AWFULANNOUNCING.com, 2/3).

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