Despite flat national ratings, Comcast exercised a $72.5 million option for the 2007-08 season and then extended its deal for three more seasons at an undisclosed price.
For the 32 games this season, Versus averaged a 0.2 household rating, level with last year's regular-season NHL numbers and its 2006 primetime average.
Comcast had hoped the NHL rights would make Versus a contender for other Major League rights such as the National Football League and Major League Baseball. But the NFL chose to award its final eight-game package to its own NFL Network, while Turner Broadcasting System won the remaining cable package of regular and post-season baseball contests.
