NHL Extends Contract with NBC

NEW YORK, April 24: NBC
Sports and the National Hockey League (NHL) have extended their partnership
through the 2008-09 season.

As part of the agreement,
NBC will continue to broadcast the NHL Sunday Game of the Week during the regular season, highlighted by flexible
scheduling. Under the flex policy enlisted this season, NBC can select from up
to three games on Sunday afternoons, and at least 13 days prior to the
scheduled games, the network, in agreement with the NHL, selects one of those
games as the “Game of the Week” to be broadcast during the window. NBC will air
eight of its nine Sunday afternoon games at 12:30 p.m., and will also offer
coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Stanley Cup Final.

"We're thrilled to be
able to continue our relationship with the NHL," said Dick Ebersol, the
chairman of NBC Universal Sports & Olympics. "There have been positive
signs for the league, both on and off the ice. Ratings were up this year, the
Winter Classic in Buffalo was a huge success, advertising sales were healthy
and the product on the ice has never been better, led by young, marketable
stars such as Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. We believe this is a sport that
will continue to grow."

Gary Bettman, an NHL
commissioner, added, "This is great news for the NHL and its fans. NBC has
been a great partner and its innovations to the broadcasts have helped bring
fans inside the game like never before."

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski