NHL CLOSE TO TV DEAL

[SABURZFAN]

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/2005/08/09/1165400-cp.html

[Earthquake Enyart]

The deal calls for Comcast to televise two games a week nationally. The cable giant plans to put the games on its on its Outdoor Life Network, which is also available in Canada.
OLN? So hockey would be on the fishing and bobsledding channel?

[lordofgun]

Now they're gonna have to play in the parking lot. :(

[SabreEleven]

If OLN is good enough for Lance Armstrong, it is good enough for me.

[SkateZilla]

they should just launch the NHL network on Cable and sattelite like the NFL did...

[SABuffalo786]

How about Center Ice? Any word on that?

[SabreEleven]

How about Center Ice? Any word on that?
It better be damn cheap this year

[Demon]

OLN is not a bad network. Comcast is the richest cable company out there and they want to make a successful sports station, to compete with ESPN.

I've heard, they already have Tour de France (obviously) locked up for years, and America's Cup, which is popular believe it or not.... also they are bidding for the NFL (for Thursday and Saturday games). No sports station with the NFL will be considered a joke. Not only that, but also they are bidding for the European Champions League, with ESPN, and sopposetly for Formula One.

They are getting real sports on this channel. It's a matter of time til they hire top notch reporters and have good sports shows. NHL would be at the begining of their new era of OLN and who knows how well OLN treats them? With pre, post and highlight shows...

[chubluv]

I'll pay each team $20 each to show their games on my TV !!

[pyrrhonist]

How about Center Ice? Any word on that?

I'm a DISH Network subscriber, and they haven't put their prices up yet for 2005-06. However, DirecTV has, and it looks like the same old $129 for Early Bird subscribers, and then $159 for anyone after that promo expires:

DirecTV Pricing for NHL Centre Ice (http://www.directvsports.com/Packages/NHLCenterIce)