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Post by james1977 on Sept 9, 2011 7:08:06 GMT
Surprised this hasn't been mentioned yet. Medge/AMI acquire international media right for NHLQuite what this means for UK (and European) viewers is unknown. ESPN America operates separately from ESPN America on the continent so it may be that ESPN will purchase the rights to show NHL over here or it may be that content goes to another broadcaster (Sky/Channel 5) or goes purely online. Seems the decision to sell to Medge/AMI was driven by the NHL being unhappy with games being bumped by ESPN for rival sports (especially MLB and college football) and a desire to have better coverage but to be honest I can't see coverage improving with this deal. Medge/AMI have been the rights holders to EPL since 1992 which to me means they're likely to approach Sky, an organisation that doesn't really cover itself in glory with regards NA sports coverage. Sky would be unlikely to bump other sports from the schedule to give NHL a regular slot so it would no doubt become another sport that gets aired when World Matchplay Tiddly Winks isn't being shown. To be honest I reckon, at least with regards UK coverage, the NHL have shot themselves in the foot. I'm just glad I have access to NA broadcasts via a Slingbox though it a bit annoying that local transmission blackouts may prevent me watching home games. |
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lee
David Clarke
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Post by lee on Sept 9, 2011 9:23:36 GMT
Espn america shows programmes from all different networks so I'm not sure it will affect it. If to does I'll be cancelling
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Post by james1977 on Sept 9, 2011 11:31:42 GMT
Espn america shows programmes from all different networks so I'm not sure it will affect it. If to does I'll be cancelling Non-NA broadcasters get what are informally called 'piggyback rights' to screen sports. In other words they get to use the feeds off the various networks that broadcast programs within NA. The networks in NA are compelled as part of their contract to release their feed to non-domestic customers of the NHL but only the NHL is authorised to 'sell on' their footage. In other words yes, when you watch NHL on ESPN America it has come from many broadcasters, but they are all controlled under one contract by the NHL. |
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Post by pantherdman on Sept 9, 2011 13:20:11 GMT
NESN all the way
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Post by jono222 on Sept 9, 2011 16:16:49 GMT
that got mentioned before the stanley cup final last year.
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Dan
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Post by Dan on Sept 9, 2011 17:18:17 GMT
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warx
Robert Lachowicz
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Post by warx on Sept 11, 2011 13:50:03 GMT
NHL gamecentre is available in Europe this year.
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lee
David Clarke
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Post by lee on Sept 11, 2011 17:47:25 GMT
So should I keep my espn subscription or not?
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me87
Jade Galbraith
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Post by me87 on Sept 12, 2011 13:42:16 GMT
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lee
David Clarke
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Post by lee on Sept 12, 2011 15:37:25 GMT
Gutted!
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Post by heja on Sept 12, 2011 15:59:17 GMT
It will most likely be back on ESPN or some british channel not long after the season starts as they are still negotiating apparently.
My guess is the people who bought the rights are wanting big sums for it which just are not realistic and when the season starts and they have not sold the rights to a uk broadcaster there demands will fall drastically.
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Post by muppitz on Sept 13, 2011 10:03:38 GMT
I've been doing some reading on this debarcle this morning and it appears that the NHL were unhappy with the coverage ESPN were providing, bumping Hockey games for MLB, NFL and such things, they apparently want more priority so as to reach a wider audience and develop interest in the sport in Europe so I would be very surprised if the games appeared on ESPN at all this season.
We upgraded our package with Virgin purely for Hockey so I think we may be making a call to downgrade/amend it depending on what happens with the coverage!
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Post by mattalfuk on Sept 13, 2011 13:56:32 GMT
I received a reply from an email I sent to ESPN this morning. They are still in negotiations with the company that bought the rights for NHL.
They say they are still interested in continuing their coverage if the right opportunity exists. I would suggest that means if it's cheap enough!
They say they will share more information as it develops.
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lee
David Clarke
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Post by lee on Sept 13, 2011 14:35:08 GMT
if its not on my screen the moment the season starts i'll be cancelling my ESPN subscription, i can always take it back out if they sort something out, and i'd probably get an offer as a new subscriber.  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2011 15:51:16 GMT
I had heard that Sky Sports are interested in Ice Hockey for the long term. The guy I was talking to was referring to British Hockey I think but it wouldn't be a bad move from Sky if that's the case and can pick up the rights cheapish. Would definitely be a bit of a blow to their closest rival to take the rights on.
Obviously this is highly highly unlikely but stranger things have happened.
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lee
David Clarke
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Post by lee on Sept 16, 2011 9:28:39 GMT
I had heard that Sky Sports are interested in Ice Hockey for the long term. The guy I was talking to was referring to British Hockey I think but it wouldn't be a bad move from Sky if that's the case and can pick up the rights cheapish. Would definitely be a bit of a blow to their closest rival to take the rights on. Obviously this is highly highly unlikely but stranger things have happened. can't see sky devoting the airtime to it as much as ESPN America did, if sky got the rights we'd probably end up with on egame per week, rather than 2 per night. |
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Post by optimus on Sept 16, 2011 18:13:11 GMT
Sky did NHL coverage previously and it was rubbish.
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Post by thisiswhere on Sept 22, 2011 18:23:30 GMT
any news on this? Noticed last week that all NHL related pages were removed from the ESPN america site. However, there is an NHL article on there today and wondered if this was an indication of things to come?
I have emailed ESPN america twice about this issue but not received any replies.
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Post by thisiswhere on Sept 22, 2011 19:24:55 GMT
Ignore me just found this on that article....
And finally …
Many of you hockey fans have emailed us and posted on Facebook / Twitter asking about the status of NHL on the channel. Unfortunately, I don’t have a definitive answer, but I have asked the ESPN America management team on behalf of our viewers, readers and social media community. At the moment, I was told, that while negotiations continue the company is only able to say the following:
“We are still in discussions with the NHL’s rights holders about rights in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region and remain interested in continuing our coverage of the league if the right opportunity exists. We still have a valued relationship with the NHL and remain fans of the sport. We’ll share more information as it develops.”
Personally, I know that ESPN America does truly have a lot of hockey fans. The people I asked genuinely understand your questions and concerns, but don’t have an answer at the moment. So I’ll keep asking and share more if anything changes.
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David
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Post by David on Sept 23, 2011 10:42:08 GMT
Ignore me just found this on that article.... And finally … Many of you hockey fans have emailed us and posted on Facebook / Twitter asking about the status of NHL on the channel. Unfortunately, I don’t have a definitive answer, but I have asked the ESPN America management team on behalf of our viewers, readers and social media community. At the moment, I was told, that while negotiations continue the company is only able to say the following: “We are still in discussions with the NHL’s rights holders about rights in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region and remain interested in continuing our coverage of the league if the right opportunity exists. We still have a valued relationship with the NHL and remain fans of the sport. We’ll share more information as it develops.” Personally, I know that ESPN America does truly have a lot of hockey fans. The people I asked genuinely understand your questions and concerns, but don’t have an answer at the moment. So I’ll keep asking and share more if anything changes. How long ago was that message? I want NHL somewhere. Not on internet! It's a sport HD was made for! |
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Dan
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Post by Dan on Sept 23, 2011 18:04:16 GMT
Hockey Streams will have HD streams this year.
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Post by thisiswhere on Sept 25, 2011 14:15:13 GMT
I'm still trying to get answers on this but ESPN are being very cagey about it. Emailed them directly and no answers. Just tried there facebook page where a guy named Rich Smith seems to update all the time and hes very keen for people to contact AMI MEDGE and not ESPNA about this issue. He says they are not a broadcaster but hold all the cards with the rights and until they offer to sell for a reasonable price then its a dead end. I can't see there being an NHL broadcaster for at least the first couple of months this season if not more! Think i'll have to sign up to hockeystreams again which is a shame as ESPN is free on my VIrgin package!
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Post by thisiswhere on Sept 25, 2011 14:36:16 GMT
For anyone else interested the same guy just added this additional info: The third party hold the distribution rights david. They are also not a broadcaster. So why were they awarded them? A press release (early July) outlined their promise to deliver more live nhl over more platforms than ever before however there has been nothing so far and the season starts soon. If anyone wants to know what ami medge are doing with the broadcast rights then I suggest phoning or emailing them and asking them. If you don't get a saisfactory response then draw you own conclusions.
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David
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Post by David on Sept 26, 2011 18:16:05 GMT
I emailed them from their websie and got this reply:
Dear NHL fan / viewer,
Thank you for writing in about coverage of the NHL this season.
Like you, we at ESPN are fans of hockey, and understand the questions that you and others have written in about. At present, unfortunately, there is no definitive answer we can offer in regards to NHL coverage on ESPN America.
However, ESPN is still in discussions with the NHL’s rights holders about rights in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region and remain interested in continuing our coverage of the league if the right opportunity exists. We still have a valued relationship with the NHL and remain fans.
We understand this may not answer your specific query, but we hope that it at least provides some information about the situation. We will definitely share any more developments as soon as we can. Until then, we fully appreciate your concern but are unable to answer any further questions on this subject.
In the meantime, you may like to read our latest “Murph on Ice” NHL blog in which Aaron Murphy looks back at the Cruel Summer suffered by the hockey world.
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Post by optimus on Sept 26, 2011 21:38:55 GMT
No definitive answer = rubbish.
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