At The Drop Of A Puck, Fox Jumps At Coverage

Now, it’s time for NHL executives to meet with Fox.

The NHL and its union cleared the way for a likely 48-game season and full playoffs, which also clears the way for Fox to begin its first season of NHL broadcasts.

“What we are most happy about is that the fans … will have the opportunity to enjoy our presentation of hockey,” Fox Sports spokesman Vince Wladika said.

“We look forward to giving the NHL the broad exposure it deserves.”

Last year, Fox signed a five-year, $155 million contract for broadcast rights to NHL games.

This year, Fox planned to launch its hockey coverage with the AllStar game, followed by two regularseason regional broadcasts and nine playoff games, including Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals, if necessary. All games would be televised Sunday afternoons.

The All-Star game already has been canceled, but that apparently is all Fox will lose.

ESPN, meanwhile, renegotiated its NHL cable contract last year and was to have been televising NHL games all along. ESPN would like to begin televising games as soon as the league begins play, probably a week from Friday.