Report: NHL, NBC to Renew TV Deal

Since the NHL returned from the 2004-05 lockout it has had only one broadcast television partner, NBC. The league has not been paid for the broadcast rights to NHL games -- despite getting money from Versus -- and if a report from the Globe and Mail is true, these trends are going to continue.

So whether or not you like NBC's coverage get used to it because we are likely stuck with it for another two seasons. That means potentially another two years of awkward intermission exchanges between Mike Milbury and Pierre McGuire as well as, hopefully, more great Winter Classic moments.

One of the best things to come out of the NHL's deal with NBC -- and no I'm not talking about Milbury, whom I still have trouble watching on TV as hockey's version of Matt Millen -- has been the Winter Classic. The network pushed for it the last time the contract was up after the 2006-07 season. As you have probably heard, those have been a huge success and should continue for at least the next two seasons, as that's how long Bruce Dowbiggin reports the league and the network will re-up for.

Now, NBC and the NHL are set to announce an extension to their relationship for another two years, past the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and Stanley Cup playoffs.

It will likely be a continuation of the no-money-down/split-revenues-after-costs arrangement that has existed since the two sides fell into each other's arms after the NHL lockout in 2004-05.

As Dowbiggin notes, the league has not been paid for rights to the games by NBC. The two have an agreement where NBC reoups all of its costs from televising the games and the remaining revenue is split 50/50 between the two.