Comments on: The NHL extends contract with Versus…a good decision?

By: Versus inks deal with United Football League...Is ESPN worried? | Sports Business Digest

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:40:54 +0000

[...] Versus inks deal with United Football League…Is ESPN worried? March 11th, 2009 • Related • Filed Under The NHL extends contract with Versus…a good decision? [...]

By: Don Prior

Don Prior — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:17:12 +0000

This deal with versus is bad for the fans that cannot afford the extra cost of purchasing versus over ESPN.

By: Hockey corporate sponsorship...Now on goalies! | Sports Business Digest

Hockey corporate sponsorship...Now on goalies! | Sports Business Digest — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 07:14:35 +0000

[...] The NHL re-upped with Versus! [...]

By: RotoNation » Thursday’s Fantasy Sports Tidbits

RotoNation » Thursday’s Fantasy Sports Tidbits — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 18:54:46 +0000

[...] NHL Expands its Deal with Versus (Sports Business Digest) – Interesting discussion as to whether this a good deal for the NHL or for Versus [...]

By: Monthly Wrap-Up (January 2008) | Sports Business Digest

Monthly Wrap-Up (January 2008) | Sports Business Digest — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 18:53:58 +0000

[...] -The NHL will continue to be seen on the versus network for at least 3 more years. Huh? What do you mean you didn’t know it came on the Versus Network in the first place? (The NHL extends contract with Versus…a good decision?) [...]

By: 1/31 - Quick Links | Behind the Jersey

1/31 - Quick Links | Behind the Jersey — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 22:30:35 +0000

[...] Sports Business Digest argues that the NHL is not making enough money from this deal to make it worthwhile to stick with Versus. Unfortunately, I don’t think the NHL even had a say in the matter as Versus picked up its contract option. The initial deal between the NHL and Versus only had each team receiving $2 million per team from television revenue. This extension, based on reports, seems to be nothing more than a contract extension with an inflation increase. Seeing as how half of the teams in the NHL currently have an operating income in the red, it seems as though at the very least they should have been seeking a price increase with Versus (they really should had been taking strides to get back on ESPN, but at the very least, get more money from Versus!). I don’t really understand how this doesn’t put the NHL in a disadvantageous position for the next three years. Yes, they’ve seen revenue increases recently, but this is based mostly on an increase in ticket prices, and teams are still operating at a loss…so why would you not try to get a more lucrative contract? [...]

By: emmettjones

emmettjones — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 23:26:54 +0000

My sentiments exactly.

By: Sportsattitude

Sportsattitude — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:10:54 +0000

In my opinion, the NHL just sealed their fate as being a bottom-feeder on the national sports scene. Versus handles a hockey game like Britney Spears handles fame. This is a disaster for the league. They need to be on ESPN, even in a “subordinate” role. The network is so all-powerful that to be truly relevant they had to go in that direction. I guess some accountant is working a budget sheet and thinking they’re making money, so stick with it. In my mind, this undoes the goodwill generated by the Winter Classic January 1st. They are idiots.