Canes Reach New TV Deal With FSN South

WRALSportsFan

Canes Reach New TV Deal With FSN South

By Dane Huffman

Jan 28, 2008

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The Carolina Hurricanes have reached a new television agreement with FSN South, the team announced Monday.

Beginning next season, FSN South will broadcast a minimum of 65 of the Hurricanes' games per season, an increase of 10 games per season from the current agreement.

Jim Rutherford, president and general manager of the Canes, said the deal includes some options but will run at least five years. The current deal that is expering after this season is for five years.

“We’ve had a good relationship with FSN. And we look forward to continuing that," Rutherford said. “We wanted to get more games than our package we presently have that runs out at the end this season. Now we go from 55 to 65 and I’m very pleased we got a multi-year agreement.”

John Forslund and Tripp Tracy will remain in the broadcast both for the Canes.

FSN South will telecast at least 35 of regular-season road games each season, as well as all Hurricanes postseason games exclusively available to local rightsholders. A postgame show with John Forslund and Tripp Tracy will follow the FSN South's telecasts.

FSN South reaches more than 12 million homes in seven states in the Southeast, according to a Hurricanes release.

Most Recent Comments

I hate to say it, but the Canes might not be here in five years. I love the games and was never into hockey until the Canes came to Raleigh. But most people just won't give it a chance. They already have their minds made up about hockey before even watching it. And the fact that the Canes are very inconsistent ever since coming to Raleigh, except in 02 and 06, doesn't help to draw crowds, either. I think the NHL is going to go to fewer teams with most of them up north in the bigger cities like New York, Chicago, Philly, Boston and Pittsburgh.

how come the Canes can't also run their games on WRAL's bonus digital channels? I enjoy the RetroTV Network on 251, but they could also run a game so it almost looks like the Canes have a local broadcaster.

And how much cash do the "poor" hurricanes collect off this deal?

Why not show all the games? I went to tune in the other night and womens basketball was on. I was VERY disappointed. And FSN calls themselves 'the home of the Carolina Hurricanes'. That statement needs an asterisk... * - the home of the Carolina Hurricanes unless we decide to show something else.

I'm a big fan of John and Tripp. I think they do a great job and they add a lot to the viewing experience.

Anyone else have NHL Center Ice? If so, then you've seen broadcasts from other teams' commentators, and you know how lucky Canes fans are. Some teams' broadcasters could put an insomniac to sleep in mere minutes (ahem.... Penguins..)

Gotta love John! I could do without Tripp though, he talks more about random things such as food than he does hockey.

WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan