McNall Says NHL TV Deal Is Near
Bruce McNall, owner of the Kings and chairman of the NHL Board of Governors, said Wednesday that a five-year, $80-million television contract with ESPN is almost ready to be signed.
“I’m ecstatic,” McNall said. “If we can get this concluded, it’ll give us some great exposure in the United States. . . . It’s not just the money, but the kind of exposure we really need.”
The average of $16 million per year is $1 million less than the league got during its contract with SportsChannel America from 1988-91. The NHL signed a one-year deal with SportsChannel last season that was worth only $5.5 million.
ESPN, which reaches 60 million American homes, refused to discuss the negotiations, other than to say they were ongoing.
Jeff Ruhe, SportsChannel America president, said he was unaware of any deal between the NHL and ESPN.
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