cbjrocks
Registered User
Gary Buttman said:Maybe the NHL could stay on the NBC/GE team and put games on USA Network. What else do they have on? THey could run a bunch of NHL games, if they wanted to pony up the $$. Although having ESPN was key because theyre one of the few cable networks to do HDTV, and I'd bet ESPNHD is the biggest of the HD cable channels when it comes to how many different providers its on. TNT, maybe? Theyre in HD, as is....um...actually thats it. Damn.
Or...FX? I think theyre launching an FX HD soon. And that would be a Fox thing. Who knows...maybe Spike TV isnt that far off. The more HD the better, though.
It's amazing to me that I went through 108 posts before someone mentioned this.
It's simple...
NBC owns the Olympics
NBC needs NHL players in the Olympics.
Hightest cume rated sport in the 2002 Olympics...hockey
USA Network will probably show the majority of Olympic Hockey (in 2002 it was on CNBC and MSNBC, but that was before NBC bought Universal and acquired USA Network)
USA will have the national cable rights to the NHL, thus serving as a promotional vehicle for the Olympics
NBCs game will also serve as the vehicle.
USA has as many subscribers as ESPN and ESPN2(seperatly, not combined)
Tennis, golf and hockey will be the only sports on USA
Cross promotional opportunities with NBC, MSNBC and CNBC (more reach than the Disney networks)
It's a great plan if Bettman can pull it off..he needs
- Owners to agree to the Olympics
- Players to agree to the Olypmics
- A done CBA