On the network:”While Versus is trying to ramp up the drama on the eve of the hockey season, we all have to take a step back and look at the fact that only four percent of the regular season games are on Versus, while the other 96 percent are on DIRECTV and Center Ice. And Versus is not exactly in the running for a Stanley Cup in the ratings race. For example, for the second quarter of 2009, the channel was rated 61st out of 74 ad-supported networks in the DIRECTV Universe (this is based on Nielsen ratings just within DIRECTV households and does not include pay channels like HBO and Showtime) and that was with the benefit of the Tour De France. For the last full month that we have info on, August 2009, they actually ranked 72 out of 74 networks in the DIRECTV Universe with an average of 7,000 Households (at any given time during the month of August, an average of 7,000 Households were tuned in to the Versus network). “

According to SNL Kagan, Versus gets 18 cents per subscriber per month in carriage fees from cable and satellite distributors.

A spokesman for DirecTV said although the network will have spikes in viewership from its major sporting events, such as the National Hockey League, it has as much as 10 hours a day of infomercials. "It's a ratings loser," he said.

A story in Media Daily News in February ("Cable Sports Nets Pay More To Play," Feb. 27) noted that Versus was one of the highest in the cost per household rating -- some 25 cents per subscriber for each household rating point -- of any cable network. It was ranked fifth-highest in 2008. The highest was the NFL Network, at 52 cents per subscriber. Other sports networks were also high on the list.

In addition to the NHL, Versus carries the Tour de France bicycle race, collegiate sports from the Pac-10, Big 12, Mountain West and Ivy League conferences. It also airs the Professional Bull Riders (PBR), World Extreme Cage fighting and the Indy Racing League.

The news that DirecTV would be dropping Versus has resulted in limited public outrage, according to DirecTV officials.

"Regardless, we will continue to negotiate with Versus to try and reach a fair settlement, but if they continue to make demands that do not reflect reality, we will have no choice but to live without the channel," said a DirecTV press release.

said by robjlevin:

You're examples are bad because baseball is pretty low in ratings just like hockey. Like I said, let's see a provider drop ESPNs & see the backlash of the "minority."

said by Hayward:

DTV doesn't do that... it was just surprise everyone... and also just channel gone no we are fighting for your bottom line you should call VS and bitch about this.... just GONE... no explainantion no whats going on, now here is how you can help.

said by Hayward:

As to Cheap Charlie in the 8 years I have had it... NO CHANNEL has gone away I cared about and they absolutely won the VIACOM BS thing.