DirecTV willing to deal with Versus – for the right price

7pm Caps at Bruins
10pm Sharks at Avs
Unless there is some 11^th hour deal done tonight’s NHL Opening night double header on Versus will not be seen on DirecTV.
Yesterday afternoon I had a chance to speak with DirecTV Director of Public Relations Robert Mercer to get the satellite service side of the dispute with Versus and here is what he had to say:
On the network:”While Versus is trying to ramp up the drama on the eve of the hockey season, we all have to take a step back and look at the fact that only four percent of the regular season games are on Versus, while the other 96 percent are on DIRECTV and Center Ice.  And Versus is not exactly in the running for a Stanley Cup in the ratings race.  For example, for the second quarter of 2009, the channel was rated 61^st out of 74 ad-supported networks in the DIRECTV Universe (this is based on Nielsen ratings just within DIRECTV households and does not include pay channels like HBO and Showtime) and that was with the benefit of the Tour De France.  For the last full month that we have info on, August 2009, they actually ranked 72 out of 74 networks in the DIRECTV Universe with an average of 7,000 Households (at any given time during the month of August, an average of 7,000 Households were tuned in to the Versus network). “
On the hockey fans:”We get that there are passionate fans out there who want to see this dispute settled, but we also know they don’t want to pay more for their programming because we caved into Comcast’s outrageous demands for a 20 percent price hike.  We’re simply looking for a fair deal.”
On Comcast:”It should come as no surprise that our largest competitor is determined to jack up our rates and force our customers into an economic penalty box.”
On working out a deal with Versus:”Nonetheless, we are open to putting the games on for our customers while we continue to negotiate.”
·         At this point industry sources tell me that it was Versus that would not allow DirecTV to continue to air the network while a new deal was being worked out. Something that Versus disputes.
Both sides are talking but DirecTV is very clear they are in no hurry to sign a deal that they do not think is a fair one.
For those who missed my conversation with Versus president Jamie Davis click here to see their side of the issue.
I continue to maintain that Versus needs to do a deal with DirecTV because the NHL can’t lose the 18 million subscribers they bring to the table. It is is in the best interest of all sides if a deal can be done soon.     
Dish Network will be offering Versus and they also are having some opening night Caps parties at the following locations around town.