The Updated NBC Winter Classic Schedule

In an ominous sign for this year’s Winter Classic and the launch of the new NBC Sports Network, the game’s start has been delayed. This means a shuffle in NBCSN’s much hyped opening day. From a NBC Press Release -

The 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic between the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers from Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, which was scheduled to air tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET, will now start at 3 p.m. ET on NBC to facilitate optimal game conditions, the NHL announced today. NBC Sports will still begin its live Winter Classic pre-game coverage at 1 p.m. ET with live interviews, features and other content.

The NHL said in a statement that the revised start time is based on tomorrow’s weather forecast and should offer optimal game conditions for players and fans.

NBC’s coverage of the Winter Classic will be hosted by Costas, a 22-time Emmy Award-winner. He will be joined by NBC Sports Group studio analysts Mike Milbury and Jeremy Roenick for coverage on NBC and post-game coverage on NBC Sports Network. NBC’s game coverage will be led by Emmy Award-winner Mike “Doc” Emrick (play-by-play) Eddie Olczyk (analyst), and Pierre McGuire (inside-the-glass reporter).

The NBC Sports Network (currently VERSUS) will still launch at 4 p.m. ET with a special edition of NBC SportsTalk leading into a Winter Classic post-game show at the conclusion of the game.

The new NBC Sports Network will continue with hockey-themed programming at 6 p.m. ET with the premiere of Cold War on Ice: Summit Series ’72 produced by Ross Greenburg. The documentary focuses on the hockey series played in 1972 between a team of Canadian NHL all-stars and the Soviet Union national team during the height of the Cold War.

Cold War on Ice will be followed by NHL Live at 7:30 p.m. ET and the Vancouver Canucks hosting the San Jose Sharks at 8 p.m. ET. NHL Live post-game and NHL Overtime will end the NBC Sports Network’s first day.

 

MSG Goes Dark On Time Warner Cable

To no one’s surprise, MSG has gone dark on Time Warner Cable. That leaves most of New York state without access to the Sabres, Rangers, Devils and Islanders. In response, TWC is offering a free view of their sports pack to its customers, although that means little to fans of their local teams. From Multichannel News -

Time Warner Cable, maintaining that a deal had been in reach before the programmer demanded a “whopping” increase and refused to negotiate further, is offering its subscribers a month-long freeview of its sports package in the wake of the removal of MSG and MSG Plus from its lineup.

The nation’s No. 2 cable operator and MSG Media couldn’t reach a new license fee agreement as their contract expired at midnight on Jan. 1 and the two regional sports networks, which carry New York Knicks NBA games, as well as the NHL’s New York Rangers and Islanders, New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres, are not currently available to Time Warner Cable’s 2.3 million video customers in the New York DMA and in upstate New York.

“Despite agreeing to the asked for 6.5% price increase on rates that MSG themselves deemed as fair market rates just last year, MSG reneged on the deal and instead, demanded a whopping 53% increase and refused to negotiate further,” Mike Angus, senior vice president, content acquisition, for Time Warner Cable, in a statement.

“We hate that our customers have been put in this terrible position, and MSG has offered no credible explanation as to why they suddenly need a 53% increase over last year’s rates. Perhaps after renovating the Garden they are looking for New York sports fans to fund renovations of the Forum they recently purchased in Los Angeles. Who knows, but if they have substantial new funding needs, that’s what banks – not our customers – are for. We hope the fans will remind MSG that in these economic times, no one can afford to pay 53% more for their channel.”

In announcing the disconnect on Dec. 31, MSG Media president Mike Bair expressed his own disappointment.
“All we have asked is for Time Warner Cable to value our programming in the same way as other TV providers — nothing more, nothing less. Unfortunately, they rejected every offer we made to them for almost two years. In the end, they were simply not interested in conducting serious negotiations on behalf of their customers and instead spent their time grossly mischaracterizing our positions to the public. We certainly hope Time Warner Cable returns to the negotiating table and reconsiders our good faith proposals.”

Both sides have launched websites to keep customers updated on any future negotiations and for PR purposes. Time Warner has launched www.twcconversations.com/MSG which points out that many games are available on national channels. Meanwhile, MSG has launched two websites. The first one, keepmsg.com focuses on the New York City area, while keepmysabres.com is targeted towards the Buffalo region.

 

Hockey Producer Doug Sellars Dies

Here’s some sad news. Longtime hockey producer and sports television executive Doug Sellars has died. Sellars had been ill for a little while, and if you’ve watched any Fox Sports Net telecast over the past few days, you probably heard the broadcasters mention him and his illness.

From a CBC press release -

The world of sports broadcasting has lost one of its finest and most talented leaders. Doug Sellers passed on Friday and his extended CBC family is mourning the loss.

“While unfortunately I didn’t know Doug personally, I understand he had a wonderful disposition, and his calm and kind way made him a gifted leader, respected by everyone who had the pleasure of working for him. On behalf of Doug’s many friends at CBC, I extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to his family,” said Kirstine Stewart, Executive Vice-President, English Services, CBC.

Doug began his career at CBC in 1985 working on Hockey Night in Canada.

Two years on, he produced the Grey Cup Game at just 27 years of age. In 1989, Doug was promoted to Head of Sports Production, where he oversaw all CBC Sports properties, including several Olympic Games and two Commonwealth Games. A multiple Gemini Award-winner, Doug went on from CBC to Fox Sports, where he worked his way up to Executive Vice-President, Fox Sports Media Group.

Sellars joined FSN in 2000 and was in charge of all production for the various sports networks under the FSN umbrella. In August 2011, Sellars was promoted to EVP of Fox Sports. This expanded role put Sellars in charge of production for all of Fox Sports’ programming. Sellars regularly made it onto The Hockey News’ most powerful people in hockey list. While Sellars wasn’t on this year’s list, he was ranked as high as number 32 in 2006. Condolences go out to his friends and family.

(editors note: The original CBC press release misspelled Doug’s last name as you see from the above quote. They sent out a correct release this afternoon. Apparently this misspelling is common so I have decided to leave it uncorrected due to many people searching for info using that spelling)