Staff reportIn the afterglow of the Olympic gold-medal hockey game, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman talked about the future and defended the league's TV deal with Versus in an interview Tuesday on "The Mully & Hanley Show" on WSCR-AM 670.
"We think Versus is doing a terrific job for us," Bettman said. "They're giving us the most promotion and attention that we could ask for from a cable and TV partner and, quite frankly, we are the most important property that they have."
Bettman said he is hopeful the cable network will resolve the issues that have kept Versus off DirecTV.
Photo: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is bullish on the league's deal with Versus. (Daniel Acker/AP)
"I believe that it will work out and we will be back in the 16 million
home that we were on in the DirecTV universe once they work this out,"
he said. "And I am hopeful that the sides will work this out in advance
of the playoffs. But in terms of the coverage we get and the treatment
we get, we couldn't be treated better by anybody else."
Bettman also expressed surprise with the media attention given to whether the NHL will allow its players to compete in the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia. And he took umbrage with a column by Tribune columnist Steve Rosenbloom suggesting that the NHL could improve its caliber of play by folding 14 franchises.
"It's remarkable to me that we can come off a stunning Olympic tournament, the great gold-medal game we had, and there are some in the media who either want to focus on if we are going (to the Olympics) in 2014, or making an inane comment like we should fold half the league," Bettman said. "I mean, did people think we should fold the Blackhawks when the United Center was half-empty? Give me a break with this."
Bettman also expressed surprise with the media attention given to whether the NHL will allow its players to compete in the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia. And he took umbrage with a column by Tribune columnist Steve Rosenbloom suggesting that the NHL could improve its caliber of play by folding 14 franchises.
"It's remarkable to me that we can come off a stunning Olympic tournament, the great gold-medal game we had, and there are some in the media who either want to focus on if we are going (to the Olympics) in 2014, or making an inane comment like we should fold half the league," Bettman said. "I mean, did people think we should fold the Blackhawks when the United Center was half-empty? Give me a break with this."
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Gary, get your head out of the igloo. You have a great opportunity to keep some of our new hockey fans by offering wider viewing coverage. Get out of the Versus deal. I can't watch my local NHL teams. All games are blacked out even when they play on the west coast. Why can I watch my local football and basketball teams, withput buying high priced cable packages, but not my local hockey teams?
I could not disagree more on the league contraction issue. It would increase the talent level for all teams,and that would lead to more fans overall. As far as I can tell the only fans attending games in some markets like Florida are fans from other cities either visiting or having migrated south. Watch the stands and you will always see way too many out of town fans wearing the opposing teams jerseys.
As far as Vs is concerned they are OK with me. I have Direct TV for NHL/NFL/MLB but subscribe to Verizon FIOs to get the rest of my programing.
I have DirecTV and Center Ice. Other than the playoffs I couldn't care less if NHL is on Versus most of their games I wouldn't watch if I had Versus. If they want to charge me more for Versus I can live without them.
I hate you Gary Bettman!!!! I can't belive you are so niave about this Vs deal. I pay you sorry people 180 bucks a year for the NHL package and I can't see all the games because of Directv's crying about Vs pricing. If you really cared about the sport and it's fans you would help to try to fix this BS. You think this will be resolved before the playoffs, ha fat chance. If they couldn't figure it out in the last seven months, what makes you think they will figure it out now. As soon as the regular season ends I'm finding a new provider. Oh yeah, how come if i pay for the nhl (doesn't deserve caps) package, games are blacked out and if I try to find it on nhl.com I have to pay another 180 bucks? Riddle that Batman.
Sorry Commish, but you don't get it. Just like all the people who don't get Versus and it's not just Directv subscribers. There are many other cable companies that don't carry it. As far as what Rosie said, maybe that's a little extreme but there are at least 8 teams out there in financial difficulty. Remember, the the UC was half full, the Wirtz's always broke even. How many NHL teams can say they will do that this year?
Versus Sucks
mainly because they priced themselves off of my DirecTV
you mean to tell me I have to go out to a bar to watch
Versus playoff games? that's B.S!
-NHL get it together and get back on ESPN.
Sorry, Mr. Bettman, but, Versus is NOT doing a good job for you or, more particularly, the Blackhawks. Their booth team leaves a lot to be desired! Their coverage is stilted and lacks the ability to do justice to one of the, if not the best team in the league. Why this deal couldn't have kept Pat and Eddy in the booth escapes me. It's the one reason the TV was turned down and the radio up (not that they're that good, but they're loyal), anytime I had to watch the kids on Versus.
Dump Vs. the first chance you get, Gary,
"They're OUR kids, damnit!"