
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, September 10, 1994                   TAG: 9409140049
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

FOX REACHES 5-YEAR DEAL WITH NHL

The Fox Broadcasting Co., which outbid CBS in December for National Football Conference games, topped the rival network again with a reported $155 million deal with the National Hockey League.

Fox and the NHL released a joint statement Friday saying they ``have reached an agreement in principle on a five-year relationship covering broadcast television and other broadcasting opportunities.''

The New York Times, citing unidentified sources, reported in today's editions that Fox will pay $155 million to broadcast games in up to 20 dates, starting with 11 this season. The Times said CBS, which lost the NFC when Fox bid $1.58 billion over four years, offered the NHL $150 million.

``We placed a value on the property and we were not willing to go any higher,'' CBS Sports spokeswoman Susan Kerr told the newspaper.

The statement from Fox and the NHL said the contract is subject to approval by the NHL Board of Governors and that details will be spelled out at a news conference in Manhattan on Tuesday.

``We decline further comment,'' Fox spokesman Vince Wladika said. ``That's all there is.'' NHL officials were unavailable for comment.

The Times said Fox's coverage will start with the All-Star game Jan. 21 and include up to three Stanley Cup final games, all in prime time.

Aside from NBC airing the All-Star game since 1990, the league has been without a regular broadcast network deal for years.

In September 1992, the NHL entered into a five-year, $80 million deal with ESPN to televise games on cable. ESPN, which is 80 percent owned by CapCities-ABC, bought time on ABC each of the last two seasons to air a half-dozen games.

by CNB