National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman has intervened in talks over San Jose Sharks’ local broadcast rights deal amid fears the long-term agreement is seriously affecting the ice hockey team’s financial position, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
The newspaper said Bettman has taken the “extraordinary step” of becoming involved in the matter, contacting senior executives at Comcast. The US media giant is the parent company of Comcast Sportsnet Bay Area, which broadcasts Sharks games.
Comcast Sportsnet Bay Area’s local rights deal with the Sharks was agreed in 2009 and still has another 14 seasons to run. The contract is said to be worth $7m (€5.1m) per season to the Sharks, which is far behind the value of the deals enjoyed by the majority of the franchise’s NHL rivals.
Sharks chief executive John Tortora confirmed that the Sharks are attempting to alter their agreement with Comcast Sportsnet Bay Area.
“We have expressed some concerns over our TV deal directly with Comcast,” Tortora told the Mercury News. “The deal, over time, has become substantially below the league average. Comcast has expressed a willingness to work with us in finding a creative solution that generates the appropriate value proposition for both sides.”
According to Forbes’ magazine and website, the Toronto Maple Leafs currently receive $41m per season in local television rights, while several other teams – the New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings – bring in more than $30m per season.
The Los Angeles Kings, which won the Stanley Cup on Saturday, and Anaheim Ducks have deals worth in excess of $20m per season, as do the Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils and the New York Islanders.