Ice Breaker

Is it time to give the NHL a second chance? Has the heartbreak of the "Lost Season" finally subsided in all of us? The league seems to think so. When the league reopened its operations in 2004 a major decision had to be made on how reaching back the spectators who were deprived of their sport. The league realized they had lost fans, but at the same time wanted this change a "New Face" for the rebuilding sport.

In 2006, the executive producer of NBC Sports, Dick Ebersol believed that hockey needed an opportunity to get back in the national coverage. With that, NBC agreed on rights to broadcasting regular season games, however were not required to purchase broadcasting fees. But, in return, NBC Sports would pay all production costs, including the Winter Classic held every New Years. With networks such as Versus, TSN and CBC (Canada) who are required to pay millions of dollars for coverage,  one can only imagine how long until the league asks for a broadcasting fees from NBC. The contract between NBC and NHL ends this season , and talks with FOX (who televised games up until the late 90's) would attract an offer to the NHL for broadcasting rights.  

Within the past few seasons, the NHL has put on a game on New Year's Day labeled the "Winter Classic" in which two teams would come to a home local city but in a larger venue.  In 2009, Wrigley Field was host of the classic between Detroit and Chicago, for NBC it scored with over four million viewers watching on television. (An NHL viewership record broken after 34 years)  After all the ticket sales, merchandise items and other items were counted for, clearly Gary Bettman, has a strong item here to sell on New Year's Day. However, the big picture is to translate the viewership throughout the entire hockey season.  The viewership is there, but will broadcasting companies take the risk of investing money to the still re-growing process of the NHL?

And if they do, Bettman can continue to rub his magic genie lamp knowing he will continue to prosper the league as he has for the past six years.  Only time can tell, but something tells me the NEW NHL is ready to grow its viewership further.

 Source(s):

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=sbd.preview&articleID=127241 

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090112/SPORTS0103/901120431/1361