NHL signs $100 million deal with Comcast

Sports Ticker ^ | 8/9/2005

[pepperhead]

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) - The NHL apparently has landed on his feet regarding a national television deal.

According to a report by the Philadelphia Inquirer, the NHL and cable giant Comcast have agreed to a two-year, $100 million deal to televise games beginning this season.

The deal reportedly is pending approval by the NHL's Board of Governors, a process widely believed to be just a formality.

The agreement, which concluded 10 days of negotiations, includes one- and three-year options for Comcast, but the NHL reportedly has the right to end the partnership after the initial two years. The company will be required to air two games per week nationally, presumably on its Outdoor Life Network, according to the Inquirer.

Once the deal is approved, the NHL will forward it to ESPN, which elected not to renew its two-year option to televise games in April. ESPN, which had carried the NHL since 1985, reportedly has the right to match any offer.

The NHL completed a five-year deal with ESPN worth $600 million.

NBC, which inked a two-year deal with the NHL prior to last year's lockout, will air seven regular-season games, six playoff contests and all but the first two games of the Stanley Cup Finals.

[pepperhead]

Guess 2 games a week is better than nothing.

[softwarecreator]

As a Comcast subscriber I find this to be VERY good news!!

[pepperhead]

It is good news for those of us who have directv too since we get the Outdoor Life Network.

[SoothingDave]

This smacks of the great Sportschannel deal made in the 80s. Will Comcast actually distribute the programs to other companies, or will it use it as bait to try to get more people to subscribe to Comcast cable?

I have Dish network, and I am not going to change to cable in order to see NHL games. I wonder if the geniuses at the NHL thought of this?

SD

[softwarecreator]

It is good news for those of us who have directv too since we get the Outdoor Life Network

Well, color me green with jealousy.

[pepperhead]

Will Comcast actually distribute the programs to other companies, or will it use it as bait to try to get more people to subscribe to Comcast cable?

If you get the Outdoor Life Network on Dish Network you can get the games.

I wonder if the geniuses at the NHL thought of this?

They had to do this deal since ESPN dropped their NHL coverage. ESPN is also cutting back on their MLB coverage.

[PAR35]

two-year, $100 million deal

The NHL completed a five-year deal with ESPN worth $600 million.

ESPN might meet the offer. $50 million a year is a lot less than the $120 million that they have been paying.

[Purple GOPer]

The NHL apparently has landed on his feet regarding a national television deal.

Yeah and they only had to get a contract with 1/2 the payment and 1/10th the viewers.

[airborne]

It's a start.

The NHL needs to make every effoer to get TV exposure, regardless of whether it's a financial widfall.

Do what's best for the game for a change.

[airborne]

Hockey ping!

[airborne]

Good news for Penguin fans!

---

PENGUINS ACQUIRE GOALTENDER JOCELYN THIBAULT FROM CHICAGO FOR A FOURTH ROUND CHOICE IN 2006 DRAFT
08/10/2005

PENGUINS SIGN THIBAULT TO A MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT

PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired goaltender Jocelyn Thibault (TEE-boh) from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a fourth round pick in the 2006 Entry Draft, it was announced today by General Manager Craig Patrick. Patrick also announced the Penguins have signed Thibault to a multi-year contract. In accordance with club policy, terms of the contract were not announced.

Thibault, 30, has appeared in 536 NHL games with Quebec, Colorado, Montreal and Chicago, posting a 227-217-68 record with a 2.69 goals against average and 36 shutouts.

Thibault has played in over 60 games in four of his last five seasons, including a career-high 67 games with Chicago in 2001-02. Thibault posted a career-high in wins during that season with 33. In 2002-03, Thibault posted a career-high eight shutouts and a 2.37 goals against average in 62 games with the Blackhawks and appeared in the 2003 NHL All-Star Game.

“Jocelyn is a very talented and experienced goaltender and we’re excited to have him in our organization,” Patrick said. “Jocelyn brings a wealth of experience to our goaltending corps and will help us tremendously as we move forward.”

The 5-11 and 169-pound native of Montreal, Quebec was drafted by Quebec in the first round (10th overall) of the 1993 Entry Draft.

Thibault played in 57 games with Quebec/Colorado in parts of three seasons (1993-95), posting a 23-19-7 record with a 2.96 goals against average. He was traded to Montreal from Colorado with Andrei Kovalenko and Martin Rucinsky for Patrick Roy and Mike Keane on December 6, 1995. In 158 games with Montreal (1995-98), Thibault posted a 67-56-24 record with a 2.73 goals against average and seven shutouts.

[retrokitten]

He's a good goalie. Many, many nights he was the only thing keeping the Hawks from being annilated.

[airborne]

Every day brings more good news for the Pens.

I'm looking forward to a great year.

With Crosby, the Igloo will probably sell out all 44 home games this year!

[Betis70]

Shouldn't be a big deal since it is on Outdoor Life Network which Dish carries.

I might get the Center Ice package this year, otherwise I won't be able to see many teams in the East play this year (including Pittsburgh) unless they are on OLN.

Or ESPN if they decide to use their option to make a counter-offer.

[ConservativeStatement]

I am flying to Las Vegas October 5 -- which just so happens to be opening night of the NHL. :-)

[Betis70]

With a name like that, how do you sleep without getting Gomer Pile'd (full metal jacket) every night?

[ConservativeStatement]

Liberals are open-minded, you know. (sarcasm) :-)

[Betis70]

Well, maybe, but Bruins fans aren't. ;-)

[Hat-Trick]

Concur...I'm gonna wait and see what ESPN does before deciding on the Center Ice package.

NBC coverage is a joke. Must like the rest of that network.