NHL Returns To ESPN For Seven-Year TV Broadcast Rights Deal Starting In 2022
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By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
Thirsty for non-game day arena revenue, the National Hockey League has a new seven-year TV deal with ABC, ESPN, ESPN+ and Hulu
Deal highlights:
- The Stanley Cup Final and Stanley Cup Playoffs coming to ABC and ESPN; 100 exclusive regular-season games per season across ESPN’s networks and streaming platforms
- Streaming is a key element in the landmark agreement; exclusive national games stream live on both ESPN+ and Hulu; more than 1,000 out-of-market games available to all ESPN+ subscribers
- Deal also includes digital, highlight and international rights
The Stanley Cup Final will be on ABC in four of the seven years of the agreement, with the ability to simulcast/megacast on ESPN+ and additional ESPN networks;
It also marks he return of live NHL action to ESPN, with 25 exclusive national regular-season games on ABC or ESPN.
The deal includes 75 national regular-season games per season produced by ESPN that will stream exclusively on both ESPN+ and Hulu, with half of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on ABC and ESPN each season.
Additionally, the NHL’s out-of-market streaming package will have more than 1,000 games (formerly on NHL.TV), will now be available for fans to stream only as part of an ESPN+ subscription.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman did not say how much the TV deal is worth.
This is a return to ESPN for the National Hockey League, which had a deal with the Connecticut-based sports network in the 1990s and early 2000s.
The agreement includes extensive highlight rights and coverage on the ESPN App and social media. International media rights – including in Latin America, the Caribbean and parts of Europe – are also part of the agreement.
