In N.Y., Richard Sandomir reports NBC is "continuing to negotiate to keep" the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes "together." The net "renewed its Kentucky Derby rights" through '25 more than a year ago but "has not signed up for the other two beyond this year." NBC Sports Group Programming President Jon Miller said, “We’ve had a lot of ongoing dialogue with them, and we’re hopeful that we’ll reach successful conclusions. We’ve delivered a lot of value to them. We hope to announce something in the near future.” Sandomir noted NBC will "most likely sign extensions to keep both races" because it "craves having the three races united." NBC’s rivals are "not noisily seeking the races as jewels they absolutely must buy" (NYTIMES.com, 5/18).
POWER PLAY: NHL VP/Digital Products & Marketing Nili Doft said that the league has experienced a surge in int’l subscription sales for its streaming product this season. To date, NHL GameCenter Live has seen a 20% jump in subs outside of North America on a year-over-year basis. Doft said that int’l subs now account for more than 30% of total subs. Doft credited a more aggressive marketing approach, paid searches and the re-launch of the free NHL app as driving forces behind the uptick (HJ Mai, SBD Global).
TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN: In Salt Lake City, Scott Pierce writes three years after the Pac-12 Networks launched, it is "closer to being" a version of now-defunct The mtn. "than it is to being the SEC Network or the Big Ten Network -- at least in terms of the number of households it's in." Pac-12 Networks has "a lot more homes" than The mtn. ever had, and the quality of production at Pac-12 Networks is "light years ahead." Still, the number of BTN and SEC Net subscribers "is more than five times the number" of Pac-12 Networks subs right now (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 5/20).
