News has dropped that National Hockey League has signed a seven-year deal with media giant ESPN as part of the league’s new U.S media rights. The league was leaving NBC Sports after this year, but it had not decided who would carry tv games moving forward. Chris Johnston of Sportsnet announced the agreement late Tuesday afternoon.
Sources: ESPN is signing a seven-year deal with the NHL as part of the league's new U.S. media rights package.https://t.co/R7VeixXYq7
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 9, 2021
NHL Signs TV Deal With ESPN
This could be a huge boost for both sides. The NHL will gain the massive reach that ESPN currently holds within the United States. In turn, ESPN gains a foothold in a sport that is growing in relation to the other three major sports. The network will also have a reason to acknowledge hockey more frequently, which is a criticism that has suffered in the years since the NHL left the network’s programming. It’s unknown how much ESPN will pay the league for the broadcast rights, but seven years is a long time.
Per Johnston’s reporting, ESPN will gain the right to broadcast four Stanley Cup Finals between the deal starting in 2022 and its conclusion in 2028. The NHL will also presumably gain access to the Disney+ streaming service. The platform has seen subscribers rise dramatically over the past year with large swaths of the U.S. working from home. It’s a huge opportunity for hockey to gain a larger foothold in the sports landscape.
What Comes Next for the NHL
This deal is for roughly one-half of the NHL’s media rights. There are still a handful of players that could secure the other half. That includes the NHL’s former partner in NBC and its various affiliates across the country. There is also the long reach of Fox Sports and its regional stations. The only thing known for sure is that North American hockey is about to experience a huge financial windfall.
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