Jeffrey93
Registered User
- Nov 7, 2007
- 4,335
- 46
Yup...they own all the rights to their events. I give them credit for that. Are they properly taking advantage of that? I'm not sure. I don't think they're idiots though....I'm not arrogant enough to assume the IOC is full of baffoons that have no clue what they are doing.You really shouldn't give the IOC more credit than that -- they don't deserve it. I see that you are Canadian, do you notice that whenever a network like TSN tries to show highlights from the Salt Lake City Olympics, all they can show is pictures? That's because of the IOC, rather than making their content available to everyone (and get people thinking olympics more than once every 2 years), they engage in highly restrictive broadcast deals to squeeze as much money as possible out of the networks. They are consistently operating on antiquated business models.
The Winter Olympics have been happening since 1924....so in that 87 years I figure they have been doing something right.
How do you know they are not prepared to do it? From what I read they said they won't pay money......they didn't say they wouldn't give up things that earn money....did they? Honest question...I haven't read everything or researched it myself.We also know, that they are unwilling to pay the NHL for using NHL players, so while the business case you have made is correct, the fact is, they're not prepared to do it.
They might not be prepared to go as far as what I suggested....but that is what negotiations are for. If they give the NHL a portion of the TV rights to the hockey games...and maybe the arena advertising. Whatever...there are countless ways to get the NHL some money without the IOC cutting them a cheque.
Directly paying to have some athletes attend the Olympics would be awful in my opinion. I'd rather go back to watching our 'National Team' go to the Olympics if that is the case. I'll watch either way and the hockey will be entertaining either way.....I don't need Sidney Crosby, Jarome Iginla, Rick Nash, Steven Stamkos, etc., etc. to be playing to watch a team that represents my country play the game I love.
I'm sure even if the NHL doesn't go the IOC will still be able to get some decent coin from TSN, Sportsnet, CBC or whoever in Canada.
Aside from that....didn't the NHL originally go to the Olympics to 'grow the game'?? Why are they know demanding money? Isn't the "exposure" the NHL gets a great "investment" for the league??