Versus Calls Out DirecTV

On Sept. 1, DirecTV subscribers no longer had access to Versus. Hockey fans who have DirecTV likely didn't panic, figuring the two sides -- comprised of mature, professional adults -- would be able to work out their differences before the NHL season started.

One month later, the NHL season is indeed underway, and we are seemingly no closer to a resolution. In fact, if the talk from Versus is any indication, we might be a long way from DirecTV subscribers being able to watch NHL games on Versus.

While DirecTV has toned down their rhetoric, moving away from calling out Versus' programming, it seems that Versus has had enough of this situation.

Network president Jamie Davis was on a conference call with reporters to preview the NHL season Wednesday, and he offered up strong words about the negotiations with DirecTV.

He accused DirecTV of trying to "cloud the issue" regarding subscriber rate talks. He flatly denied that his network demanded a 20 percent hike in fees from DirecTV. Davis noted that September of 2009 was the "most-watched September in the history of our network," even though the network was not on DirecTV.

"In September of 2008 we were on DirecTV. In September of 2009, we have not been," Davis said.

Davis also claims that DirecTV wants a clause in their deal that allows them to move Versus to a sports-exclusive tier. This tier is called the Sports Pack on DirecTV, and it costs subscribers an additional $12 per month. It includes regional Fox Sports Net channels, as well as well-known networks like NESN, Altitude, and a couple regional Comcast sports networks, along with ESPNU and CBS College Sports. Davis says this move would "permanently" cost Versus some 6 million subscribers.

There have been reports that DirecTV has offered to air the NHL games, presumably taking Versus off the air again once game coverage is complete, while the two sides continue to negotiate.

"It is only due to the massive outcry from the Versus fans, and the NHL fans," Davis said, "that they realize that they made a mistake."

A Versus source told FanHouse Friday that DirecTV is also telling media they offered -- 30 minutes prior to faceoff -- to air the Thursday night NHL doubleheader, but this claim "is absolutely not true."

"They say they're willing to air the games," the source said, "but they never officially offered to do it."

The source became quite agitated when questioned about the possibility of officially approaching DirecTV with a similar offer, saying he wasn't "going to deal in hypotheticals," and reminding FanHouse that Versus "is doing everything we can to get a deal done."

Asked if allowing DirecTV to air only NHL games would potentially bring the sides closer to a full agreement, the source would only repeat that the network is doing all they can, and questioned how wise it would be to let DirecTV flip the feed on for NHL games and off when the games are over. It doesn't sound like Versus is interested in letting DirecTV air NHL games only while the rest of the deal is consummated.

The source also said the network has presented a proposal to DirecTV in the last few days that included a "zero total cost increase" to DirecTV. However, it also would not allow DirecTV to move Versus to a sports-exclusive tier.

Anyone who has followed high-profile negotiations in sports knows that -- in a high percentage of cases -- deals tend to get done when the public rhetoric increases. Time will tell if DirecTV and Versus can come together, but both sides are under pressure from NHL fans to get the deal done.

In the meantime, the fans continue to lose out. As of the end of the day Friday, four "nationally televised" NHL games will have been played, and DirecTV subscribers have had access to exactly zero of them. Whether you are looking at this from the perspective of Versus, DirecTV, or the NHL, this is an unsettling development, and a much more significant problem than anyone in the league seems to think it is.