After several years of sinking ratings, the NHL all-star game may be making  its last appearance for a while on broadcast television.
   The rumor is that the NHL's television contract with ABC either won't be  renewed or will be switched to an ESPN-only deal because of severe ratings dips since ABC started carrying the league in the 1999-2000  season.
   The league's current five-year $600 million deal, 140 percent more than former hockey carrier Fox had been paying, is expected to be slashed significantly if ABC does  re-up. Spike and the Turner networks are considered possible contenders  for the contract should ABC pass.
   Ratings for the all-star game, which should be one of the hockey season's most  popular events, as it is in the NBA, have reflected the lack of NHL interest.  Sunday's game on ABC will probably rate about the same as last year, as it's  been three years since the game limped above a 1.8 household rating.
   Last year's game tied a ratings low, averaging a 1.7 household rating and 4 share.  That was down 6 percent from the previous year and off 37 percent from 2000, the  first year ABC carried the game.
   In 1996, after the 1995 game was canceled by a lockout, the game averaged a  4.1/7, the only one to rate above a 2.8 in at least 13 seasons.
  During Fox's four seasons of airing the all-star game, from '96 to '99, it  averaged a 2.95, 49 percent better than ABC's 1.98 average the past four  years.
   Ratings for NHL regular-season games and postseason have dipped, too, in this time. Regular-season games on ABC were down 21 percent last year. This year  ESPN games are averaging a 0.5 household rating, off 17 percent from last year,  while ESPN2 has held steady at 0.2.
  Last year's Stanley Cup finals ratings dipped more than 30 percent in the first four  games before rebounding slightly in games five, six and seven.
  In other sports television ratings news, the Bob Hope Classic on CBS last weekend was up 9 percent on Sunday over the previous year. It helped the network  to the highest Sunday rating for the event since a 5.5 on NBC in 1998.