Tue Aug 05, 2008 10:19 am EDT
It's complicated, but Russia's KHL will appear on U.S. television
Buried at the bottom of a KHL press release, that dealt mostly with the Alexander Radulov/IIHF flap and the formation of a Russian "youth league" farm system for 17 to 20 year olds, was this info about the new league's television deal:
The Board of Directors also announced the signing of a broadcast agreement with the Sport TV-channel for the coverage of the Kontinental Hockey League Championship. Sport TV is the only free sports broadcast television station in Russia, with approximately 2.5 million viewers. Sport TV can also be seen on RTR Planeta outside Russia and can be found online at sportbox.ru.
RTR Planeta will carry what amounts to the Stanley Cup finals of the KHL, whatever format that championship round takes on. This is a huge deal for the first-year League according to spokesman Shaun McBride, because "from how it has been explained there is an expectation that the KHL Championship will enjoy the benefits of RTR Planeta's distribution."
Which means U.S. hockey fans will have a chance to watch the KHL championship next season. Sort of.
RTR Planeta has been, or is being, picked up by domestic digital cable operators like Verizon FiOS, where it will become one of those channels in the high 400s you skip over while flipping to the HD feeds. (Please note that, as of now, it's possible that a first-year Russian hockey league will appear on FiOS before the NHL Network and Center Ice do.) It's also available on DirectTV for $14.99 a month. Of course, with the KHL's contract with Sport TV, even more coverage of the League will be available online -- including from RTR Planeta.
So it's not convenient or, in satellite's case, cost-efficient, but the KHL's championship round will be available in your living room.
This really shouldn't be of any concern to the NHL, because the accessibility to KHL hockey for American viewers makes Versus look like NBC; and because the broadcasts will be completely in Russian, rather than delightful "is moose and squirrel!" Russo/English. But what if the KHL ever makes a deal with, say, Fox Sports and slaps on a pair of English-language announcers calling games from a TV set in Connecticut?
At the very least, it'd be another TV to keep on eye on at the local soccer pub.
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Greg Wyshynski
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18 Comments
1 - 18 of 18
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Good riddance Center Ice package!
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Who cares what language it is in? I am fluent in hockey. I, like most true fans, am entirely capable of turning off the sound and not missing anything. Hmmm, unlikely to be caried on Comcast I am sure.
If the NHL keeps going the way of the NBA, this could be the best alternative for true fans of hockey.
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Those are the words of a younger man. As a 36 year old, I look and her and my first thought is " I bet she never shuts the hell up!"
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I look at her and think, "C'mon, honey, where's the sweater? You're at a hockey game."
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She's got spunk. Loads of pun inteneded.
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I love you this whole thread has become about the puck bunny in the photo!
Very funny posts, by all.
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should be *how.
Gotta stop texting the wife and playing on message boards at the same time.
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In seriousness, however, I will try to find some of these games on the box.
I really hope the Russian league gets rid of the salary cap and the draft, however. I would love for all the young talent in europe, and even here, to start signing very lucrative contracts and entering developmental leagues (or the top clubs) before the NHL gets a chance to draft them.
The KHL could be the answer to those 5 questions about what the league should do to improve.
HEY WYSHYNSKI, need a paid KHL correspondent?
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and you think her clothes are odd? my girlfriend wears flip flops to hockey games.
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Nothing beats cheering hockey chicks
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You could get your wish. The NHL draft only ensures that a given player can only sign with a given NHL club. It does not constitute any type of contract with the NHL or a any NHL teams. That is why players who have been drafted in the NHL can still play in college. There is no "declaring for the draft" like in other sports. Players can be drafted without their knowledge or permission. So even if a player is drafted, they still can sign with any team in any league not affiliated with the NHL. The KHL is a very real possibility for unsigned NHL Draft picks.
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But the NHL has done nothing but go backwards since the first lockout. Something has to give. I believe they should have inscribed 'SORRY, FANS' in the ice instead of 'thank you, fans' after the lost season.
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It all come down to a simple comparison. With the NHL running as it is, hockey fans are embarassed and have no hope for their sport. With the introduction of the KHL, fans now have hope. Although I am dubious of any operation in the organized crime ridden Russia, there is the chance that the KHL will respect the sport hockey or force the NHL into a situation where their operations begin to respect the sport of hockey. Either way, there is hope for the sport.
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1 - 18 of 18