News In Brief 15 July 2005

NHL Players, Owners Reach Historic Agreement To End Lockout

Players Now Must Pay Owners; Some Media Coverage With 'Please Watch TV'

A tentative labor agreement was reached between The National Hockey League owners and players, pending ratification next week, that appears to end the 301-day lockout, and the longest work stoppage in North American professional sports history.

The 600-plus-page, six-year agreement covers a range of contract and revenue changes, most notably that the players now must pay the owners in order to participate in league-sanctioned games.

Professional sports club owners around the world are stunned with the historic reversal and the new agreement is expected to send waves through other sports as their labor contracts get closer to expiring.

The lockout by the owners, who held a hard line during negotiations, and the player's refusal to compromise, ended up forcing the cancellation of the NHL's 2004-2005 season.

NBC has signed on for a two-year deal for what they call a 'partner-revenue-share' agreement, carrying for Saturday broadcasts seven regular-season games, six playoffs games and up to four Stanley Cup Final games.

NBC will market the NHL games as "Please Watch TV"