NBC Exercises Option To Broadcast NHL Games In '08-09 Season
NBC has exercised its option to carry the NHL next season, including 10 "Sunday Game of the Week" telecasts and up to 15 playoff games. NBC officials made their decision, in part, because regular-season ratings increased 11% this year, thanks largely to the popular Amp Energy Winter Classic. NBC Universal Sports & Olympics Chair Dick Ebersol: "Ratings were up this year; the Winter Classic in Buffalo was a huge success; advertising sales were healthy; and the product on the ice has never been better, led by young, marketable stars such as [Penguins C Sidney] Crosby and [Capitals LW Alex] Ovechkin." There had been speculation that NBC may pass on the option, opening a window for ESPN to grab the package. Ultimately, NBC decided to exercise its option for another year (John Ourand, THE DAILY). USA TODAY's Michael Hiestand reports "new wrinkles" of the deal include regular-season games getting a consistent time slot at 12:30pm ET on Sunday. Issues yet to be worked out include "time slots for Stanley Cup Finals games and whether there will be another outdoor game" (USA TODAY, 4/23).
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New Year's Day Amp Energy Winter Classic
Contributes To Increased NHL On NBC Ratings |
COMING TO TERMS: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Matthew Futterman reports under the new deal, the NHL and NBC will "continue to share revenue, rather than the network paying a rights fee to broadcast the games." Nielsen Media Research numbers indicate NHL ratings on NBC this season "have risen 11[%] to 1.0 from 0.9" last season, reaching roughly 100,000 more HHs. Ebersol: "There have been positive signs for the league both on and off the ice" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/23). In Toronto, William Houston writes although NHL ratings on NBC "have been modest, the partnership is viewed as advantageous to both sides. The telecasts have given the NHL a national presence on a broadcast network." NBC has received "major-league content without the cost of a rights fee," while the NHL and the net "have been sharing revenue and expenses" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 4/23).
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