NBC Deal Gives Hope

            Forget the monster deals Zach Parise and Ryan Suter scored this offseason, the league is more concerned with a much less publicized contract. That contract belongs to the National Broadcasting Company, or NBC, and it may be the catalyst that ends the impending lockout.

            Last year, the NHL and NBC Sports Group agreed to a 10-year deal that would make NBC and NBC Sports Network, formerly Versus, the exclusive homes for NHL action. The partnership extends until the 2020-2021 season.

            NBC and its cable station have aired and will continue to air special events such as the NHL Winter Classic, NHL All-Star Weekend, and “Hockey Day in America” in addition to the “Game of the Week.” The deal also encompassed a provision that stated NBC Universal would televise each game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This contract marked the first time the NHL and its broadcasting partner agreed to air the entire postseason.

The longevity and contents of the deal coupled with the NHL’s history of labor disagreements prompted NBC to stipulate that in the event of a lockout it would still pay the league the $200 million annual payout, though it would require the sacrificed games to be tacked on to the end of the contract. In other words, part if not all of the 2021-2022 season would be played and televised without compensation if there is a work stoppage.

The rate of inflation dictates that for NBC the monetary benefits of a lockout would outweigh the burden caused by the disruption of programming. This is very important for the league as the $200 million paycheck it receives largely contributes to the hockey related revenue that the NHL and NHLPA have battled for rightful shares of in year’s collective bargaining agreement.

November 23^rd marks the first nationally televised game of the 2012-2013 campaign. With this date in mind the money hungry owners may feel the pressure of striking a deal before they start losing the some of the revenue they so desire.