> Bring back NESN.  I can only watch one Maine game from Boston this year due to this rule and the "lucrative" deal that BU TV (FSNE) has in airing prcatically every BU game.  I have a better chance of watching a WCHA game than a HE team I want to see.  Have Joe B. do a HE fan opinion poll, after all, we are the ones who are watching.  FSNE's coverage of "all" of Hockey East is narginal, at best.


> From: Deron Treadwell <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 2002/11/13 Wed PM 10:18:34 EST
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Mahoney on HE TV Package
>
> By Larry Mahoney, Of the NEWS Staff e-mail Larry
> Last updated: Wednesday, November 13, 2002
> Too many conflicts in HE TV deal
>
>
> Hockey East could be heading in a new direction when it comes to television
> broadcasts.
>
>
> The current contract with Fox Sports Net New England winds up after this
> season.
>
> And, for the second straight year, the Hockey East championship game won't
> be shown live due to a Boston Celtics telecast. It will be tape-delayed.
>
> Fox Sports Net New England's contract with the Celtics is much more
> lucrative and, let's face it, there are a lot more people interested in the
> Celtics than in college hockey.
>
> Media relations director Noah Smith said the fact that the championship game
> won't be shown live and that Fox Sports Net New England enjoys cable
> exclusivity to Hockey East broadcasts are two major sticking points.
>
> Fox Sports Net New England enjoys two exclusivity deals with the league.
>
> Games in Hockey East rinks can't be shown on another cable network and,
> secondly, games played on the same night as a Fox game can't be aired on any
> station. Period.
>
> So WABI-TV of Bangor (CBS) can't show a Maine game the same night Fox is
> airing another Hockey East game.
>
> "What has happened is the league has gotten a bigger profile so some of the
> schools are finding more opportunities to get their own games on [and they
> want to explore them]," explained Hockey East commissioner Joe Bertagna.
>
> Schools in urban areas aren't going to be able to get a deal with a local
> network station like the University of Maine does with WABI-TV, so they have
> to seek cable affiliates.
>
> Bertagna and Smith want to have their cake and eat it, too.
>
> In a perfect world, they would like to keep their Fox affiliation and have
> several other games shown on other networks.
>
> As well they should.
>
> There will be 39 league games already in the books before Fox Sports Net New
> England begins its game-of-the-week coverage on Jan. 4.
>
> The whole TV regular season schedule helps set up the post-season drama.
>
> The Hockey East Tournament solidifies or weakens teams' NCAA Tournament
> aspirations.
>
> Hockey East isn't going to change the time of its championship game to
> appease Fox.
>
> It shouldn't have to.
>
> Smith said the league has a "very amicable" relationship with Fox and
> certainly the exposure the league has received from a network in 3 million
> New England homes has been invaluable.
>
> One possibility, according to Bertagna, is following the WCHA's lead.
>
> "The WCHA markets their tournament and lets each team go after its own
> regular-season package," explained Bertagna.
>
> That's not a bad idea, either.
>
> The deal with Fox, according to Smith, is that the network gives the league
> free advertising in exchange for exclusivity.
>
> So what kind of compromise can be reached?
>
> Fox should retain exclusivity on the nights it televises Hockey East
> regular-season games but not in the postseason.
>
> Schools should be able to develop their own TV packages, including
> postseason games.
>
> And the league should be allowed to work out deals with other cable
> networks.
>
> Games should be shown in November and December and that won't happen with
> Fox.
>
> Why can't NESN show a Maine-New Hampshire game in November?
>
> Hockey East has established itself as, arguably, the best league in the
> country.
>
> It deserves a better TV deal.
>
> Larry Mahoney can be reached at 990-8231 or 1-800-310-8600. His e-mail
> address is [log in to unmask]
>