Truth & Rumors > NHL

DirecTV dropping Versus network

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11:17 AM ET 08.24 | For the last couple of days, DirecTV satellite television subscribers have been seeing a crawl if they've watched any Versus network programming telling them that as of Aug. 31, DirecTV will no longer carry Versus. For college football and NHL fans who get their television through DirecTV, this could be bad news. Five Pacific 10 Conference games (as yet undetermined) as well as an assortment of Big 12 and Mountain West games, and an NHL package of 54 games could become unavailable to DirecTV subscribers just when those seasons start. The first Pac-10 game on the Versus schedule will be Sept. 26. According to Versus, it is now seen in 75 million homes. Besides college football and the NHL, Versus is the home of the Tour de France, IRL auto racing and cage fighting. Robert Mercer, director of public relations for DirecTV, said: "Versus' overall ratings are poor and have not increased nearly enough to justify what we're paying them, let alone the significant increase they"re asking for."

(Los Angeles Times)

NHL action, AP NHL action, AP
August 24, 2009  11:26 AM ET

Yet another reason the Poison Dwarf should swallow his pride, lose his gigantic misplaced ego and get the NHL back on ESPN. Of course that actually would be good for the League so we won't see it happen.

August 24, 2009  11:30 AM ET

I bet the same number of people are currently watching Vs. as we speak as have commented here...

August 24, 2009  11:33 AM ET
QUOTE(#2):

I bet the same number of people are currently watching Vs. as we speak as have commented here...

You might be right!

August 24, 2009  12:27 PM ET

SON OF GUN!

I had NPG Cable in Arizona not Vs so no NHL Playoffs

Now I have DirectTV so I can get my Hockey...

NOW I am losing VS! HOLY MOTHER! I am so ticked. I refuse to get the NHL network because I am against all these specific channels for our favorite sports blocking us the fans out unless we pay.

August 24, 2009  12:37 PM ET
QUOTE(#4):

SON OF GUN! I had NPG Cable in Arizona not Vs so no NHL PlayoffsNow I have DirectTV so I can get my Hockey...NOW I am losing VS! HOLY MOTHER! I am so ticked. I refuse to get the NHL network because I am against all these specific channels for our favorite sports blocking us the fans out unless we pay.

oops

August 24, 2009  12:39 PM ET

Could also just be a strong-arm tactic by the channel to pressure DirecTV into a contract with terms they are not agreeable to, there are 6 business days before September 1 to negotiate.

August 24, 2009  12:40 PM ET

Nice... And the NHL pulls another "Plax" job...

August 24, 2009  01:11 PM ET
QUOTE(#1):

Yet another reason the Poison Dwarf should swallow his pride, lose his gigantic misplaced ego and get the NHL back on ESPN.

I think this is more ESPN than the Dwarf. Not that I'm giving him a vote of confidence or anything..........

August 24, 2009  01:20 PM ET
QUOTE(#8):

I think this is more ESPN than the Dwarf. Not that I'm giving him a vote of confidence or anything..........

Agreed. Have to suck it up and get NHL Center Ice. It's not cheap ($160 last year) but it is fun getting local broadcasts, including occasionally en francais for Montreal. I wish the US camera teams would learn how to film hockey, the games always look better in CA broadcasts.

August 24, 2009  01:20 PM ET

awh man my friend Ryan has direct tv

him and his brother are screwed when the bruins play games on vs.

August 24, 2009  01:21 PM ET

Whoops. CA as in Canadian, NOT California.

August 24, 2009  01:34 PM ET

i think his brother paid more for an hd revcier

August 24, 2009  01:37 PM ET

GREAT - on the verge of me switching from Cable to Satellie (DirectTV that is) they are now dropping Versus? Complete BS. The reason I am/was going to switch to DirectTV is because the horrible cable provider I have now (Atlantic BB) does not have Versus HD nor NHL Network.

Soooo frustrating.

August 24, 2009  01:40 PM ET

THANK GOD!!!!

Versus had some of the worst coverage I had ever seen in the NHL. On a night where Pittsburgh played Washington, Boston played Montreal and Detroit played San Jose, they covered Phoenix vs Nashville. Only way to watch any of those other games was via internet stream or Center Ice. Thank goodness for sports bars!

August 24, 2009  01:40 PM ET

way to go Bettman

I'm just back from vacation and now I'm rested and I want his job.....
I'll get NHL on real tv...and that doesn't mean ESPN

August 24, 2009  01:41 PM ET

How much longer are the owners going to back this idiot midget?

August 24, 2009  01:44 PM ET

I refuse to pay for 'sports packages'. The cable companys and pro sports already sucking us dry. Don't pay for, or if you have, don't renew these latest means of screwing the public.

August 24, 2009  02:25 PM ET

This was a mistake from the start. C'mon Jewish Napolean.......GET THE NHL BACK ON ESPN!!

August 24, 2009  02:56 PM ET

NHL package in Canada is awesome. I feel sorry for my brothers in the States.

 
August 24, 2009  02:57 PM ET
QUOTE(#16):

How much longer are the owners going to back this idiot midget?

Thats the million dollar question my spiny friend.

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