NHL on verge of U.S. cable deal

[mcguppy]

SOURCE<
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>Report: NHL on verge of U.S. cable deal <
>Canadian Press<
>8/9/2005 2:50:27 AM<
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>PHILADELPHIA (CP) - The NHL is on the verge of signing off with a new U.S. cable TV partner, according to a report in the Philadelphia Inquirer.<
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>Comcast has formally submitted a two-year bid in excess of $100 million US to televise NHL games beginning this fall, sources directly involved in the discussions told the Inquirer in Tuesday's edition.<
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>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.<
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>Comcast submitted its bid over the weekend, according to the Inquirer. The NHL could act on it by this weekend. The company is a major owner of the Philadelphia Flyers.<
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>Comcast spokesperson Tim Fitzpatrick declined Monday to comment on the network's interest in the NHL. The NHL also declined when reached by the Inquirer.<
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>If the NHL approves the deal, the contract will be forwarded to ESPN. In April, ESPN opted not to renew its $70-million option to televise the NHL for 2005-06 and 2006-07, but ESPN retains the right to match the new offer, a source told the Inquirer. ESPN has carried NHL games in the United States since 1985.<
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>The NHL also has a national
oadcast deal with NBC but needed a new cable partner after ESPN withdrew in April.<
> "Dont' try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring, besides that, they're facist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic." - Crash Davis in Bull Durham <
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[Nakor BlueRider]

I figured they'd manage a new deal, but I would never have guessed anybody would want to air it on OLN. o_o ESPNs commentators never impressed me, but who knows whom Comcast will be able to find. <i>There are many rules of<
>physics that govern our world.<
>There is only one exception.<
>His name is Nakor.</i><
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>--Nakor, the Blue Rider<
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[NOAImawario]

I was never a big fan of them either. Gary Thorne and Bill Clement often mispronounced many player's names. I've always disliked that. <
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[mcguppy]

Well if I ever played sports they never be able to say my last name until after awhile If I pestered them enough. They'd be like how in the hell is an "o" supposed to sound like a "u" and an "a" to sound like a "y". "Dont' try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring, besides that, they're facist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic." - Crash Davis in Bull Durham <
><i></i>

[Nakor BlueRider]

ESPN has now shown interest in matching the offer. No word beyond that, but their deal does give them the right to match any such deal made by the NHL. <i>There are many rules of<
>physics that govern our world.<
>There is only one exception.<
>His name is Nakor.</i><
><
>--Nakor, the Blue Rider<
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><i></i>

[frog hopping kilik]

I don't even care as long as Fox Sports Net airs their normal Blue Jackets coverage. That's all I need, 5p00ny. <
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>"When someone beats you with a flashlight, you shine light in all directions."<
>Ph33r flashlights.<i></i>

[mcguppy]

Fox Sports Net shows Avs games here. So I am satisfied all the time. "Dont' try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring, besides that, they're facist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic." - Crash Davis in Bull Durham <
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[Nakor BlueRider]

Sportsnet gets most of the Canuck games. TSN and CBC split the rest. It's all good, though I prefer the SNet commentators by a long shot.<
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>The deal with Comcast is complete by the way, for $50M US per year. ESPN still has the right to match it. <i>There are many rules of<
>physics that govern our world.<
>There is only one exception.<
>His name is Nakor.</i><
><
>--Nakor, the Blue Rider<
><
><i></i>

[frog hopping kilik]

I wonder if I even get the channel on normal cable TV that the games'll end up on if ESPN doesn't match the deal. <
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>"When someone beats you with a flashlight, you shine light in all directions."<
>Ph33r flashlights.<i></i>

[mcguppy]

I know because we don't get OLN here on our cable. "Dont' try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring, besides that, they're facist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic." - Crash Davis in Bull Durham <
><i></i>

[frog hopping kilik]

I forget, where do you live again? Well, wherever it is, I probably don't get that channel here in Ohio, either. Blah. <
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>"When someone beats you with a flashlight, you shine light in all directions."<
>Ph33r flashlights.<i></i>