NEW YORK, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- The Outdoor Life Network has become the National Hockey League's new home on the television dial.
The New York Times reports ESPN refused to match OLN's offer. The network agreed to $65 million for the upcoming season, $70 million for 2006-2007 and $72.5 million in 2007-2008, carrying games on Monday and Tuesday nights.
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Comcast, which owns the network, and OLN could extend the contract for up to three years.
George Bodenheimer, president of ESPN and ABC Sports, told the Times the long strike and the NHL's poor television ratings made the league a bad financial bet.
"No financial model even remotely supports the contract terms offered," he said.
