All afternoon NESN, the Jacobs Family, the NHL, and even ABC were trying to broker an arrangement to allow NESN to carry a then-possible Game 7 in the Boston market only but they needed Hearst Broadcasting which operates 2 ABC affiliates in the Boston market (WCVB and WMUR) to agree.
Hearst ( which also owns 20% of ESPN ) declined which under the contract with the NHL they had every right to do. Local ad revenue is the reason as between WCVB and WMUR roughly $750K just fell into their laps. In the end the suits always win.
I can tell you that Sean McDonough called Jack saying he was heartsick over this.
This is not the NESN signoff anybody wanted.
I am going to drive back by the slightly longer route through the 1000 Islands instead of through Buffalo.
I have to decide on that drive that if the B's lose Game 7 I may well call it quits.
Hearst ( which also owns 20% of ESPN ) declined which under the contract with the NHL they had every right to do. Local ad revenue is the reason as between WCVB and WMUR roughly $750K just fell into their laps. In the end the suits always win.
I can tell you that Sean McDonough called Jack saying he was heartsick over this.
This is not the NESN signoff anybody wanted.
I am going to drive back by the slightly longer route through the 1000 Islands instead of through Buffalo.
I have to decide on that drive that if the B's lose Game 7 I may well call it quits.