ESPN, along with many former fans, have jumped ship and bailed on the National Hockey League.
The cable sports network declined its one-year, $60 million option to broadcast NHL games in the league’s “potential” 2005-06 season. The NHL cancelled its 2004-05 season earlier this year after locking out the players.
ESPN’s option on the NHL for 2005-06 expired Wednesday. According to several news reports, the network was willing to pay a reduced fee to carry the league’s games, but the league did not budge from the $60 million figure.
The end of ESPN’s option will open bidding from other U.S. cable networks, but with no guarantee that any games will be played come fall, it figures to be a buyer’s market.
Credit: Zap2It
