The current two-year deal would have ended after this season. A key difference under the new deal is that all the nine "Game of the Week" games will have a flexible scheduling component, in which the network and the NHL choose the lineup, allowing NBC to pick more competitive games, depending on how teams are performing.
NBC will be able to select from a minimum of three games scheduled on Sunday afternoons. NBC will need to announce the change, along with the NHL, 13 days prior to the day when the game was scheduled.
Cable sports network Versus also has a long-term agreement with the NHL, airing regular season games on Monday and Tuesday, with some exclusive games. Both Versus and NBC have rights to Stanley Cup playoff games.
