Fox is "likely to pass" on ABC's bid for NHL TV rights,
according to USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke, who writes that "both
major media corporations can find positives in the
situation." Details of the bid have ABC televising four to
seven regular-season games, a weekly playoff game and "five
to seven" of the NHL Finals, in prime time after the May
ratings sweep. Although ABC's offer averages $50M a year
-- a 61% increase from Fox's current $31M annual deal -- Fox
will pay $45M in its final contract year, so ABC's "boost
would only be [$5M] to begin the new contract." On the
cable side, Martzke writes that ESPN's five-year $350M deal
is a "whopping" 400% increase, and while it is "steep,"
ESPN's package was "underpriced." ESPN2 will increase its
game coverage from 75 to more than 100 in the new deal by
adding "some West Coast late-night games." Martzke notes
that Fox has regional deals with 19 of 20 U.S. teams, and
that the net lost $1M a game during the regular season and
$11-15M last season alone on its coverage (USA TODAY, 8/12).
