Fox "is looking at matching" Disney's offer to more
than double TV rights fees for the NHL, according to sources
of Stephen Battaglio of the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Fox has
until August 14 to retain the broadcast rights, and
Battaglio writes that if Fox "does decide to go after the
cable component," it could put national games on FX or FSN
and "shut ESPN and ESPN2 out of a major source of product in
the first half of the year" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 8/7). The
N.Y. TIMES' Richard Sandomir put the broadcast portion of
Disney's total offer at "about" $250M -- the number Fox has
to match by August 14 (N.Y. TIMES, 8/6). In Toronto, Rob
Longley writes, "Don't expect Fox to abandon the NHL
immediately," because even though its RSNs have regional TV
rights to 19 NHL teams, "it would like to maintain a
national presence" (TORONTO SUN, 8/7).
NO INCREASE: ESPN spokesperson Mike Soltys said if the
network's bid is successful, ESPN "will not impose an NHL
surcharge" on cable operators: "There was one report saying
we have a clause in our affiliate contracts that permits us
to increase fees when we pay higher rights fees for sports
programming. There's no such clause" (NEWSDAY, 8/7).
WHY SO MUCH? In N.Y., Richard Sandomir writes, "You
must wonder what Disney's strategy is beyond guaranteeing
that hockey will stay on ESPN and ESPN2 for five more years.
Clearly, this is heavily a cable play. ... But adding ABC to
the mix is dumbfounding. Does ABC, a struggling network,
need more low-rated programming? Wouldn't its affiliates
prefer an eighth-run flick to a Saturday or Sunday night
game that gets a 1.4 rating?" Sandomir writes that ABC "is
stepping into a quagmire. ... Yet, Disney sees benefits to
making a blockbuster bid. The Mouse Kingdom's target for
such spending is questionable enough, but why do it at a
time when big losses are expected from the stupendous N.F.L.
deals?" Sandomir: "Perhaps it will come down to corporate
egos ... Maybe Disney opted to overpay to make sure it swept
Fox from hockey" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/7). USA TODAY's Michael
Hiestand defends the bid, noting that it "would likely
include international NHL TV distribution as well as footage
from old games for ESPN's Classic Sports Network" (USA
TODAY, 8/7). NEWSDAY's Steve Zipay: "On the surface, paying
up to $120 million a season for the NHL ... seems wildly out
of line. ... Will the deal be a money-loser? Probably. But
ABC could use some winter sports programming." He also adds
that Disney needs to secure future programming for ESPN2,
which will soon be in 60 million homes (NEWSDAY, 8/7).
