NBC and Versus outbid ESPN for NHL’s television rights

19 April 2011 | Posted in Broadcast, Ice Hockey | By Tom Love

Various media outlets are reporting that the National Hockey League (NHL) is on the verge of announcing a renewal of its multi-year broadcast deal with American television network NBC and cable television channel Versus.

Though financial details of the multi-year television rights agreement were not released, Sports Business Journal (SBJ) reports that NBC will pay US$187 million annually over a ten-year period. Included in the arrangement is the network's promise to broadcast every Stanley Cup playoff game on NBC, Versus and at least one other national cable channel.

According to SBJ, while ESPN was both the favourite choice amongst various NHL executives and interested in acquiring the television rights, remaining in the bidding until the final stages of the process with an offer of up to US$170 million, the NHL reportedly never came back to sports network with a final bid. 'Sources said it was too difficult for the NHL and ESPN to work around NBC and Versus’ matching rights'.

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When announced, the new deal is expected to be the NHL's largest to date and will greatly exceeded the annual US$120 million sum that EPSN paid between the 1999 and 2004 seasons.

The NHL's previous deal with the two Comcast-owned organisations saw Versus paying US$77.5 million annually while the NBC deal worked on a revenue sharing basis generated from advertising.

An official announcement is expected from NHL commissioner, Gary Bettman, and NBC chairman, Dick Ebersol, at 1pm ET 19th April.

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