The NHL To Start Shopping Media Rights In Europe, the Middle East and Africa

NEW YORK (May 16, 2011) – The National Hockey League (NHL) is inviting tenders for its International Media Rights of live NHL games throughout Europe, Middle East and Africa covering the 2011-12 through 2014-15 seasons.

The tender process will be conducted in an open and transparent manner. Evolution Media Capital (EMC) will manage the process in its role as an independent advisor to the NHL.

Beginning on May 17, 2011, interested parties will receive via email the Invitation to Tender Document which includes an outline of the available Rights Package, a description of the Bidding Process as well as the Bid Form. The deadline for the bids is June 8, 2011.

The NHL’s appeal to international broadcasters has never been higher. With 26 percent of its players coming from outside of North America, the League is truly global, drawing millions of fans and viewers from around the world, including in the 142 countries and territories where NHL games are broadcast. Since 2007, the NHL has staged more than 35 exhibition and regular season games in Europe attended by over 400,000 fans.

Demand for NHL video content is very strong among NHL’s international fans. International visitors to NHL.com have grown 32 percent year-over-year. They account for 20 percent of all traffic to the League’s website and consume video on NHL.com at more than twice the rate of North American fans (up 116 percent year-over-year).

Advertisement

Bridesmaids Star, Co-Writer Sells Stanley Cup Heist Comedy to Paramount

This has potential to it. I saw “Bridesmaids” over the weekend, and this woman stole the film entirely. Yet another hockey-themed picture gets sold. Via Deadline:

Mike & Molly star Melissa McCarthy and Annie Mumalo have sold to Paramount Pictures an untitled pitch that will be written as a star vehicle for McCarthy. McCarthy and Mumalo star in the Judd Apatow-produced Bridesmaids, which Mumalo wrote with Kristen Wiig. Lorne Michaels and John Goldwyn produce. The laffer was hatched by McCarthy’s husband, Ben Falcone (also in Bridesmaids). The premise: When your husband is ill and his doctors are out of ideas, piling in the minivan with your pals to steal the Stanley Cup is one way to go. Falcone, Mumalo and McCarthy all came from the Groundlings comedy troupe. McCarthy is repped by CAA and The Schiff Co.

Ratings For the 2011 Conference Semis on VERSUS, Night-by-Night and Series-by-Series

By Night

Thursday, April 28

8:30 p.m. Hockey Central – 82,000 viewers
9:00 p.m. Nashville vs. Vancouver, Game 1 – 484,000 viewers
11:41 p.m. Hockey Central – 209,000 viewers

Friday, April 29

6:30 p.m. Hockey Central – 127,000 viewers
7:00 p.m. Tampa Bay vs. Washington, Game 1 – 724,000 viewers
9:52 p.m. Hockey Central – 536,000 viewers
10:00 p.m. Detroit vs. San Jose, Game 1* – 608,000 viewers
1:03 a.m. Hockey Central – 301,000 viewers

Saturday, April 30

8:30 p.m. Hockey Central – 115,000 viewers
9:00 p.m. Nashville vs. Vancouver, Game 2 – 582,000 viewers
1:06 a.m. Hockey Central – 127,000 viewers

Sunday, May 1

6:30 p.m. Hockey Central – 198,000 viewers
7:00 p.m. Tampa Bay vs. Washington, Game 2 – 1,261,000 viewers
10:05 p.m. Hockey Central – 497,000 viewers

Monday, May 2

7:00 p.m. Hockey Central – 280,000 viewers
7:30 p.m. Boston vs. Philadelphia, Game 2 – 1,699,000 viewers
10:48 p.m. Hockey Central – 428,000 viewers

Tuesday, May 3

6:00 p.m. Hockey Central – 58,000 viewers
6:30 p.m. Washington vs. Tampa Bay, Game 3 – 511,000 viewers
9:00 p.m. Vancouver vs. Nashville, Game 3 – 591,000 viewers
12:17 a.m. Hockey Central – 173,000 viewers

Wednesday, May 4

6:30 p.m. Hockey Central – 85,000 viewers
7:00 p.m. Philadelphia vs. Boston, Game 3 – 1,234,000 viewers
9:39 p.m. San Jose vs. Detroit, Game 3 – 786,000 viewers
11:13 p.m. Hockey Central – 344,000 viewers

Thursday, May 5

8:00 p.m. Hockey Central – 169,000 viewers
8:30 p.m. Vancouver vs. Nashville, Game 4 – 702,000 viewers
11:19 p.m. Hockey Central – 330,000 viewers

Friday, May 6

6:30 p.m. Hockey Central – 251,000 viewers
7:00 p.m. San Jose vs. Detroit, Game 4 –  944,000 viewers
9:45 p.m. Philadelphia vs. Boston, Game 4 – 836,000 viewers
10:49 p.m. Hockey Central – 278,000 viewers

Saturday, May 7

7:30 p.m. Hockey Central – 199,000 viewers
8:00 p.m. Nashville vs. Vancouver, Game 5 – 627,000
11:00 p.m. Hockey Central – 251,000 viewers

Sunday, May 8

7:30 p.m. Hockey Central – 257,000 viewers
8:00 p.m. San Jose vs. Detroit, Game 5 – 1,627,000 viewers
10:40 p.m. Hockey Central – 600,000 viewers

Monday, May 9

7:30 p.m. Hockey Central – 168,000 viewers
8:00 p.m. Vancouver vs. Nashville, Game 6 – 679,000 viewers
10:55 p.m. Hockey Central – 283,000 viewers

Tuesday, May 10

7:30 p.m. Hockey Central – 197,000 viewers
8:00 p.m. San Jose vs. Detroit, Game 6 – 1,021,000 viewers
10:30 p.m. Hockey Central – 382,000 viewers

Thursday, May 12

8:30 p.m. Hockey Central – 226,000 viewers
9:00 p.m. Detroit vs. San Jose, Game 7 – 1,251,000 viewers
11:56 p.m. Hockey Central – 277,000 viewers

By Series (*-Exclusive in home markets)

Eastern Conference

#5 Tampa Bay vs. #1 Washington

Game 1* (4/29/11): 724,000 viewers
Game 2* (5/1/11): 1,261,000 viewers
Game 3 (5/3/11): 511,000 viewers

#3 Boston vs. #2 Philadelphia

Game 2* (5/2/11): 1,699,000 viewers
Game 3* (5/4/11): 1,234,000 viewers

Western Conference

#5 Nashville vs. #1 Vancouver

Game 1* (4/28/11): 484,000 viewers
Game 2* (4/30/11): 582,000 viewers
Game 3 (5/3/11): 591,000 viewers
Game 4 (5/5/11): 702,000 viewers
Game 5* (5/7/11): 627,000 viewers
Game 6 (5/9/11): 679,000 viewers

#3 Detroit vs. #2 San Jose

Game 1 (4/29/11): 608,000 viewers
Game 4* (5/6/11): 944,000 viewers
Game 5* (5/8/11): 1,627,000 viewers
Game 6 (5/10/11): 1,021,000 viewers
Game 7 (5/12/11): 1,251,000 viewers