AHL extends national TV deal with Rogers Sportsnet
Published on June 24, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL) News Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ... The American Hockey League and Rogers Sportsnet announced today a three-year extension on their broadcast agreement, which will showcase the AHL nationally in Canada through the 2006-07 season.
Rogers Sportsnet, Canada's only 24-hour regional sports network, will televise at least 12 regular-season games per season over the next three years, as well as the AHL's annual All-Star Classic â including the Skills Competition and the All-Star Game â in 2005 (Manchester, N.H.), 2006 (Winnipeg) and 2007 (site to be determined). Sportsnet will also have the option to carry games during the Calder Cup Playoffs.
"We are proud once again to be joining with Rogers Sportsnet in providing Canadian hockey fans with increased access to the excitement and high-level play of the American Hockey League," said David Andrews, President and CEO of the AHL. "With players who are one step away from the NHL, our teams truly form one of the premier leagues in all of hockey."
As part of the agreement, Sportsnet will also provide a full marketing package consisting of promotion of the AHL telecasts and of ticket sales for the league's four Canadian-based franchises.
"Sportsnet is excited about our continued relationship with the AHL," stated David Akande, Vice President of Programming for Rogers Sportsnet. "The AHL package is one piece of an already solid hockey broadcast offering on Sportsnet. We expect that the audience performance shall continue to grow."
Rogers Sportsnet provides sports fans across Canada with distinct and entertaining sports programming in four regions: Sportsnet East (Quebec and the Maritime provinces), Sportsnet Ontario, Sportsnet West (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories) and Sportsnet Pacific (British Columbia and Yukon).
Entering its 69th season this fall, the AHL serves as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. The 2003-04 season saw 28 teams compete for the coveted Calder Cup, and more than 6.6 million fans attending AHL games across North America for the third straight year. Over 80 percent of all players to compete in the NHL in 2003-04 were AHL graduates, and more than 400 players took the ice in both leagues.
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