With ESPN declining to pick up NHL TV contract for next season if there is one
no games will be on regular TV. NBC which is televising the Stanley Cup Finals may show a couple of regular season games. The only way to watch hockey games will be A: Live in Canada, B: Live in a city which has a hockey team,
watch on the local cable outlet. C: Pay for a hockey package on Direct TV or cable if you have a digital box. ESPN was hockey's lifeline and now it's gone. No network is going to pay 60 million for rights and no network will ever televise as many games as ESPN did.
I guess the NHL could crawl back to ESPN and beg them to take games at a much lower rights fee. Bettman said he won't.
Why should the books take a risk and continue to book a sport which will have little or no TV coverage. The only action they get would be from sharps or bettors in Canada. The recreational bettor has to be able to see the game on TV.
no games will be on regular TV. NBC which is televising the Stanley Cup Finals may show a couple of regular season games. The only way to watch hockey games will be A: Live in Canada, B: Live in a city which has a hockey team,
watch on the local cable outlet. C: Pay for a hockey package on Direct TV or cable if you have a digital box. ESPN was hockey's lifeline and now it's gone. No network is going to pay 60 million for rights and no network will ever televise as many games as ESPN did.
I guess the NHL could crawl back to ESPN and beg them to take games at a much lower rights fee. Bettman said he won't.
Why should the books take a risk and continue to book a sport which will have little or no TV coverage. The only action they get would be from sharps or bettors in Canada. The recreational bettor has to be able to see the game on TV.