Well, my hopes are definitely higher after hearing some encouraging words from
WABU-TV in Boston and WNDS-TV in southern New Hampshire.
 
Sources at WABU say that NESN's recent decision opens the door for them to
cover the amount of games they really wanted to all along. They say BU hockey
is one of their firmest commitments. The number of telecasts next year should
be significantly higher.
 
WNDS reiterates those sentiments with UMass-Lowell. They felt "hosed" by this
years schedule. The decision to decrease the number of Lowell hockey games this
year was not in their hands. NESN's "exclusive rights" contract prevented both
WABU and WNDS from carrying any HockeyEast game on the same night that NESN was
covering one. This, coupled with Maine's sanctions, left WNDS with a very
limited selection.
 
WNDS is considering several other options. First of all, they'll sit down with
Lowell over the summer and negotiate a new contract with the University. The
current one expires at the end of the season. Secondly, they're going to get in
touch with Hockey East. They think that the fact that they reach more
households than NESN will be a factor in a possible contract with HockeyEast.
Lastly, they're aware of the satellite aspect and will also be contacting Prime
and something about Midwest which I assumed to be the channel that covers
Minnesota.
 
So, as far as the New England area is concerned, it looks like these two
channels could conceivably pick up most (if not all 14 games ) of the slack.
The issue of satellite coverage remains to be seen, but its possible to have
some in place before next season starts anyways. At least its more conceviable
then waiting for HockeyEast to get its own production crew.
 
- Paul.
 
HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.