Sports BIZ Briefs

NHL Revenues To Increase

(Biz Journals) - NHL executives project league revenue will jump 10 to 11 percent to $2.53 billion during the 2007-08 season, according to a presentation to the hockey organization's board of governors Nov. 29. The league's revenue increased more than 6 percent in the 2006-07 season to $2.3 billion. The league anticipated a more conservative increase of 7-plus percent this year based on a hike in average ticket prices, attendance and sponsorship sales. But the strength of the Canadian dollar pushed the projection an additional 3 percent to the $2.53 billion figure.

Comcast Sues NFL

(World Investor) - Comcast has filed a breach of contract suit against the NFL in New York State Supreme Court. Comcast says the NFL has been encouraging its customers to drop the service, essentially “destroying” Comcast's right to put the NFL Channel on the sports tier, which the NFL agreed to in its contract with Comcast. However, there is some dispute over what that contract allows. That suit followed a letter Comcast sent to the NFL Nov. 19 asking it to “cease and desist” from any public communications encouraging Comcast subs to cancel their subscriptions, but still saying it could sue for damages it had already incurred.

Joost Launches NBA Channel

(Reuters) - Joost on Monday launched a National Basketball Association channel on its online video service that will offer highlights from the past and present. The deal comes months after a similar partnership with Major League Baseball. Joost, created by the founders of eBay Inc's Skype Internet phoneservice and file-sharing service Kazaa, also offers a channel from the National Hockey League. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.