Significant murmurs surfaced Tuesday that the NHL has sewn up one-half of its new U.S. media rights package.
ESPN is believed to have reached a seven-year deal to become one of the league's media partners starting next season, according to multiple league and industry sources.
There was no confirmation from the NHL on an agreement that is expected to see ESPN get the rights to broadcast four Stanley Cup Finals between 2022 and 2028, plus streaming rights for Disney.
Financial terms of the deal weren't immediately available, nor was it clear which other media company would split the package with ESPN.
NBC currently pays $200 million annually for exclusive U.S. media rights that expire after this season.
The Walt Disney Company, ESPN and the National Hockey League have reached a historic and innovative seven-year television, streaming and media rights deal, taking the new partnership from the beginning of the 2021-22 season through the 2027-28 season.
The visionary, first-of-its-kind agreement brings the NHL back to Disney and ESPN platforms and illustrates the unique position of The Walt Disney Company to bring the best hockey in the world to millions across its unparalleled collection of media platforms.
It is highlighted by: exclusive coverage of the Stanley Cup Final on ABC in four of the seven years of the agreement, with the ability to simulcast/megacast on ESPN+ and additional ESPN networks; the return of live NHL action to ESPN networks with 25 exclusive national regular-season games on ABC or ESPN; 75 national regular-season games per season produced by ESPN that will stream exclusively on both ESPN+ and Hulu; half of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on ABC and ESPN each season; and coverage annually of NHL's Face-off (opening night games), the NHL All-Star Game and Skills Challenge, plus other NHL special events each season.
Additionally, the NHL's out-of-market streaming package, with more than 1,000 games (formerly on NHL.TV), will now be available for fans to stream only as part of an ESPN+ subscription.
The agreement also includes extensive highlight rights that will add to coverage across ESPN's year-round news and highlights programming, and to 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.
"This partnership of the world's top hockey league and the platforms of The Walt Disney Company is a big win for our fans and our game," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "Not only will this groundbreaking, seven-year deal enable the NHL to benefit from the incomparable power, reach and influence of The Walt Disney Company and ABC/ESPN, it sets a new standard in delivering our game to the most passionate and tech-savvy fans in sports in the ways they now demand and on the platforms they use."
Last edited by sureLoss; 03-10-2021 at 12:07 PM.
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Huge news for the NHL in the States. Curious to hear what the money figure is like.
Wonder if they can get Gary Thorne, who was let go by the Orioles as their play-by-play guy in January.
Edit: looks like this will be a split rights situation, sort of like how the NFL rotates the Super Bowl between Fox, NBC, and CBS
Quote:
Significant murmurs surfaced Tuesday that the NHL has sewn up one-half of its new U.S. media rights package.
ESPN is believed to have reached a seven-year deal to become one of the league's media partners starting next season, according to multiple league and industry sources.
There was no confirmation from the NHL on an agreement that is expected to see ESPN get the rights to broadcast four Stanley Cup Finals between 2022 and 2028, plus streaming rights for Disney.
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This is good for the NHL as you need ESPN on your side to get mainstream attention in the USA. If you go to their site the NHL is buried with WNBA, CFL, golf, tennis, WWE, etc. Hopefully the money is good as well.
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What is interesting to me is that there will be another media company involved. So there may be a split as to which games will be available on ESPN and the other media company.
Can we stream on NHL on Disney in Canada? that would solve a lot of my cord cutting problems.
You can probably do that with the usual blackout restrictions for local games, similar to the options we have now, which as a Flames fan, is pretty much useless. I have a buddy who's a Kings fan, and for him, he's cut the cord years ago.
It's long been rumoured that they were looking for a deal that's similar in structure to the NBA's, where ESPN gets some games, TNT gets some, and ABC has a few -- including the Finals.
For the NHL, it will likely be ESPN and USA Network (after Comcast announced they're shutting down NBCSN and moving their sports properties to USA) carrying the bulk of the games and NBC maintaining a similar level to what they currently have.
The big question is money. If they can get a total deal somewhere near $1 billion per year, that will go a long way towards offsetting the revenue losses this past year and getting the cap growing again.
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I just checked the Singapore version of ESPN and NHL is below such luminary sports as shooting and chess on their menu bar, but above MLB! Haha (I guess)!
Gary Thorne and Bill Clement in the old days was glorious
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I remember the year because we heard these new songs "Limelight" and "Spirits In The Material World" on the radio. I was so happy to see a game not involving the usual Canadian teams.
Gary Thorne and Bill Clement in the old days was glorious
Yes and yes.
NHL finally back on ESPN after such a long time away is great news. Surprised that it seems like it'll likely be an equal partnership between ESPN and NBC with the alternating Stanley Cup Final broadcasts. Thought that either one of them would maintain exclusivity over that property.
ESPN reaches 7 year ~$2.8-billion US broadcast deal with NHL
