The NHL and NBC yesterday announced an extension of their revenue-sharing partnership through the ’11 Stanley Cup Final. The net’s coverage of the ’09-10 season will begin with the January 1 Flyers-Bruins NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park. NBC will continue to broadcast games throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs and up to five Stanley Cup Final games ( NBC ). On Long Island, Mark Herrmann wrote the extension "isn't the kind of agreement that would make the [NFL] jealous, nor will it make NHL teams rich." But it is a "plus for hockey that one of the broadcast networks still wants the sport" ( NEWSDAY.com, 7/15 ). The GLOBE & MAIL's Bruce Dowbiggin wrote, "Once again, NBC will get the NHL's rights at no cost and will split revenues with the NHL after taking out its production costs. It's not an ideal situation, but with no other conventional network bidding for hockey it at least gives the NHL some presence for its playoffs and special games" ( GLOBESPORTS.com, 7/15 ). The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's James Hibberd notes NBC Sports' NHL coverage has "introduced innovations to help grow hockey's TV viewership," including its "Inside the Glass" analyst position, "where a reporter is stationed between the teams' benches." This feature has been "lauded as a breakthrough in covering the sport" ( HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 7/16 ). UP FOR GRABS : The GLOBE & MAIL's Dowbiggin notes after criticism from Blackhawks Chair Rocky Wirtz last April "over the lack of an ESPN all-sports cable channel presence for the NHL, the league is attempting to have all its non-Canadian broadcast contracts up for renewal at the same time in two years." The rights currently held by NBC, Versus and Fox regional networks "will all become available in 2012 -- possibly for one buyer." That "would allow the NHL to sell all its worldwide rights to its broadcasts and other platforms at the same time, exercising leverage to maximize the returns." The league would also "seek to extend the footprint of its own NHL Network." Sources indicated that NHL COO John Collins has been "instrumental in helping guide the league to a more coherent broadcast strategy" since he joined the league in '06 ( GLOBE & MAIL, 7/16 ). FOREIGN EXCHANGE : Int'l entertainment broadcaster Modern Times Group (MTG) has acquired the live broadcast rights to the NHL in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark. MTG's coverage of the NHL will start in October. NHL games will be broadcast on Sweden's only dedicated ice hockey channel, Viasat Hockey, which launches in September. The games will be broadcast on Viasat Sport in Norway and on Viasat channels in Finland and Denmark ( MTG ).
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