26
From Wednesday's Globe and Mail — One insider calls it a domino effect.
When NBC makes a decision on its future with the NHL, the other pieces related to U.S. television will fall into place.
NBC has a window of about two months to say yes or no to next season. And its decision could determine whether ESPN will return as a carrier of NHL games.
Will NBC renew for 2008-09?
The case for NBC renewal is to maintain a relationship with the NHL and keep hockey on the network as a lead-up to coverage of the Winter Olympics hockey tournament in 2010.
The argument against includes low ratings. NBC's numbers at this point last season weren't good. After two games, the average was 1.1 (percentage of the potential household tuned in). After two games this season, not counting the Buffalo outdoor game, the average has dropped to a remarkably poor 0.8.
NBC isn't losing money in its profit-sharing deal with the NHL, but it could be earning more by airing something else on Sunday afternoons.
Losing NBC, a network broadcaster, would be a setback for the NHL. But a resumption of its relationship with ESPN, after a four-year estrangement, would be a boost.
With ESPN involved, the league would receive wider exposure on cable television and also get more air time on SportsCenter.
Without NBC, the NHL would revert to being a cable TV league, but one small benefit would be avoiding media scrutiny of embarrassingly low broadcast ratings. Cable ratings are not as closely monitored as those on network television.
An ESPN deal with the NHL would probably consist of ESPN2 airing regular-season and playoff games, with ESPN coming in for a share of the Stanley Cup final, assuming NBC decided to pull out.
However, for ESPN to return to hockey, consent would be needed from Versus, which owns exclusive NHL cable rights in the United States.
The big issue for Versus would be competing with ESPN for NHL advertising dollars. Right now, Versus has the cable market to itself.
In 2005, ESPN balked at renewing an NHL deal that would have paid the league $60-million (all currency U.S.) a year. The NHL turned to Versus, which now is paying $72.5-million annually for rights.
An ESPN deal with the NHL would likely require a substantial rights fee and compensation for Versus.
Some people inside ESPN believe a deal is already done and will be announced in the next few weeks.
But ESPN's return would not necessarily mean NBC's departure. Insiders believe the NHL will do everything it can to keep the broadcast network involved.Neo rockers
The idea of Bruce Springsteen or Jon Bon Jovi rockin' on a new NBC show called Rock Star Curling might be a bit of a stretch.
Toronto-based Colin Campbell, the creator of the show, says he hadn't even heard of their possible participation.
Here's what the concept of Rock Star Curling does involve: Non-curling, athletically inclined Americans trying out for a men's and a women's curling team.
The ultimate prize will be a trip to the Vancouver Olympics as the U.S. representatives in the curling tournament.
To achieve that goal, of course, these teams will need to win U.S. regional qualifying events and then prevail in the Olympic trials.
What is interesting and somewhat controversial about Rock Star Curling is the notion that non-curlers can receive intense training over six to eight months and emerge as nationally ranked, even world-class competitors.
The show is slotted for Saturday afternoons, beginning in the fall of 2009, and will consist of nine 30-minute episodes and a one-hour finale.
Ferguson on TV
Former Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Ferguson doesn't appear to have a personality made for TV, but we'll see. TSN has hired him as a guest studio analyst for two NHL telecasts and the network's trade deadline coverage on Feb. 26. His first appearance will be tonight, Toronto at Buffalo Sabres, at 7:30 p.m. (all times EST).
