intanto, una
immane tragedia

si sta consumando alle spalle dei fans della NHL...è altamente probabile che il grande Hockey su Ghiaccio Nordamericano non sarà più trasmesso da ESPN America...
a partire dalla prossima stagione e per i prossimi 5 anni, infatti, la NHL non gestirà più direttamente la commercializzazione dei diritti per Europa, Africa e Medio-Oriente (EMEA), bensì ha deciso di affidarsi ad un'agenzia di intermediazione ed a un distributore "esterni"...
questa la tragica e funesta notizia ufficiale, direttamente dal sito dei nuovi distributori...
"Medge Consulting and AMI (Advisers Media International) acquire the international media rights for the NHL (National Hockey League)
Medge Consulting together with its partner Advisers Media International (AMI) have signed an agreement to represent the international media rights for the NHL in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The contract spans a period of five years from the season starting in 2011 and ending in 2016
The agreement establishes a long-term and strategic cooperation to expand, develop and strengthen the NHL brand and presence in international markets. The agreement includes the live HD broadcast rights for up to 480 NHL games per season, including playoffs, Stanley Cup Final and the NHL Winter Classic amongst others and a range of highlights programming and NHL support programming.
“This as a long term partnership to further develop the NHL's presence and products in Europe and beyond”, says Peter Liljestrand from Medge Consulting. Robert Pickles of AMI adds, “We look forward to working with the NHL to increase their distribution and popularity internationally.” Medge Consulting and AMI will also assist the international development of NHL properties, including new events. This partnership signals new renewed and strategic focus on the European and other international markets for the NHL. ”Reconnecting the NHL and its many star international players with their home country fan base is the first important step in a renewed strategy for growing the game and business outside of North America,” said John Collins, NHL COO. ”Working closely with Medge/AMI we will deliver more NHL games and highlights to our international fans across more platforms and devices than ever before.”
About NHL
The National Hockey League, founded in 1917, is the second-oldest of the four major professional team sports leagues in North America. Today, the NHL consists of 30 Member Clubs, each reflecting the League’s international makeup, with players from more than 20 countries represented on team rosters. According to a Simmons Market Research study, NHL fans are younger, more educated, more affluent, and access content through digital means more than any other major professional sport. The NHL entertains more than 250 million fans each season in-arena and through its partners in national television (VERSUS, NBC, TSN, CBC, RDS, RIS, ESPN America, ASN and NHL Network™) and radio (NHL Radio™, Sirius XM Satellite Radio and XM Canada). Through the NHL Foundation, the League’s charitable arm, the NHL raises money and awareness for Hockey Fights Cancer™ and NHL Youth Development, and supports the charitable efforts of NHL players.
About AMI
AMI is one of the leading independent distributors of premium sports rights and has distributed the English Premier League since its launch back in 1992. With particular strength in Central and Eastern European media markets, AMI’s acquisition of NHL adds to an increasing list of premium sports rights including English Premier League, FIA Formula One World Championship, FA Cup, England International football matches and World Rally Championships.
About Medge Consulting
Medge Consulting is a European-based media company with offices in Stockholm and London, owned by Peter Liljestrand and Timothy Smart. Medge Consulting specializes in the development of sports rights and strategic advisory services in the European and African media market. Medge Consulting is the current owner of English Premier League rights for the Nordic markets."
Secondo questi soggetti, la NHL così avrà occasione di espandere i propri orizzonti e di promuoversi meglio sui mercati Europei, che ormai sono considerati di rilevante importanza stante la presenza di un folto e rappresentativo numero di giocatori originari del Vecchio Continente...peccato che in Paesi "hockeyisticamente sfigati" come il nostro, dove non c'è di sicuro la fila di Tv interessate a questo meraviglioso sport, si passerà dalle 10/12 partite (minimo) a settimana di ESPN America a, ben che vada, 1 o 2 partite su chissà quale Network (perchè, a questo punto, mi pare logico pensare che anche il contratto con Sky sia terminato con la stagione appena conclusa o comunque a rischio di rinegoziazione/rottura come quello con il Baseball MLB)...
sono preoccupato, molto preoccupato...

...tendente al pessimismo cosmico, molto più del solito (già non sono ottimista di natura

)...speriamo che ESPN America decida almeno di intavolare una trattativa con i nuovi distributori, per lo meno per la versione "Europe" del canale (quella che vediamo noi tramite Sky), che copre Paesi (come il nostro) dove l'Hockey Ghiaccio non è tradizionalmente al centro degli interessi mediatici...