NHL extends television contract with Versus

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jan. 22  

NEW YORK - The NHL and Versus have agreed to extend their contract by three years, the cable network confirmed Tuesday.

"We're very pleased to continue our association with them," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly wrote in an e-mail Tuesday. Terms of the deal were not immediately available.

The network, formerly known as OLN, began televising NHL games during the 2005-06 season. It paid US$65 million for the first year, $70 million for the second, and exercised a $72.5 million option for this season.

Ratings for NHL games on Versus are up this season. Through 29 games, average viewership has increased 34 per cent from 195,666 to 261,760. Versus is airing 57 regular-season games this season.

261,760 and only 57 games....sad very very sad