Hello Mountain Network...Good Bye Versus?

There is a report circling around on Monday, that DirectTV is in contract negotiations to renew its agreement with the Versus Channel (previously the Outdoor Life Channel). However if a deal can't be made by September 1st, when the contract runs out on their deal with Versus, DirecTV is prepared to drop the channel from its lineup all together. Versus currently airs MMA, NHL, PAC 10, MWC games and coverage of the Tour de France

Versus is considered the fastest growing sports channel with it being shown in 75 million homes up from 62 million homes just three years ago. Coverage of the Tour de France was up 137% in the demographic age group from 18-49 year olds. The biggest bone of contention, according to research firm SNL Kagen, Versus currently earns .18 cents per viewer and they are looking to increase that number.

If DirecTV holds to their guns, viewers could miss out on some big games. DirecTV added the Mountain West Sports Network in the past year to start covering MWC games but Versus is scheduled to show three college games with top 20 teams in them during September, highlighted by Texas vs. Wyoming on September 12. The NHL season starts three weeks after that. Versus had this to say about the situation, "Since our last deal with DirecTV, Versus has added many marquee properties and has become the fastest growing sports cable network in the country. Despite this tremendous momentum, we are offering DirecTV the ability to carry Versus the same way it does today at market price for the network."

Continue to check http://www.directv.com/, http://www.versus.com/ , http://www.ballhype.com/ and of course here for further updates.