Versus and NHL do 3-year extension

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/sports/hockey/23versus.html?_r=1&ref=sports&oref=slogin

I don't think this is a D_B.

 

Joy.

 

Oh for crying out loud. Thank god for the NHL Network, Versus gets a major league on its network and does sod all with it except for games and 30 minutes of highlights after.

If it is, as you say, your marquee property, how about a nightly highlight show? Or more doubleheaders so we can see some of the great teams in the western conference? Or are we going to be confined to Northeastern and Atlantic division showdowns from here to eternity?

 

Anybody? Anybody? Bueller?

 

Hey, Cameron was a huge Red Wings fan.

 

The fact that Versus (well, OLN) had so much more hockey-related programming in the first year and now has dropped the vast majority is pretty telling. The whole "marquee property" thing doesn't seem to apply anymore.

 

Bettman owes it to the league to work out a deal with ESPN, and soon.

 

This is horrible, horrible news.

 

I'm puzzled by this. Does the NHL want to become a major sport again?

 

Here's the thing; In February, Versus shows 9 games. NHL Network U.S. has 10.

Versus has one double-header. NHLN has two.

I don't care I have to pay $2.95 extra a month for the sports tier. NHLN is absolutely worth it.

For the networks' 'marquee property', Versus is doing a terrible job.

 

Yeah, but Versus does have rodeo and cage fighting sandwiching its 'marquee property.' What other network can boast that?

 

Spike TV?