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RALEIGH — The NHL is about to enter an exclusive renegotiation period with its two U.S. media rights holders, ESPN and TNT Sports, and will be doing so from a period of historic viewership strength.
Speaking before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Hurricanes and Golden Knights, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said those talks will begin next year with the two networks and their respective parent companies, Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery. As it does so, it will lean into a recent audience heater that has seen double-digit percentage viewership growth in every round of the playoffs, and at many points has hit all-time highs since the deals with the two networks were signed in 2021.
“I am excited about those prospects [in rights renegotiation], based on how well we’re performing,” Bettman said in response to a Front Office Sports question. “While there have been some casual discussions [with ESPN and TNT Sports], we’re not at the point where we’re in firm negotiations. We’ll respect the rights that are in the contracts, and if things materialize sooner, great. If not, we’re more than prepared to go through the usual routine.”
The current seven-year national deals with ESPN and WBD, running through the 2027–28 season, are collectively worth about $4.5 billion over the full term. Bettman did not detail new financial targets in the rights deals, but it stands to reason that the NHL will be in line for a big increase—particularly in the wake of a 12-year English-language Canadian rights deal with Rogers Communications signed last year worth $7.7 billion.
A potential complicating factor, however, is the NFL’s separate move to exercise opt-outs in its domestic rights deals and begin new talks as soon as this year. Those conversations will also involve Disney and CBS Sports parent company Paramount, currently in the process of acquiring WBD. As the NFL, the most-watched programming in U.S. television, soaks up more money from the sports rights market, that will likely give other leagues such as the NHL a chance to claim what they can.
Succession Planning
Bettman, meanwhile, said there have been some discussions within the league and among its team owners about a succession plan. Nothing has been formalized and fully implemented, however, and Bettman indicated that he plans to remain in place for the foreseeable future.
“I do acknowledge that I can’t do this forever, but … there’s nothing happening imminently,” said Bettman, celebrating his 74th birthday on Tuesday. “Reports of my demise or retirement are greatly exaggerated.”
The NHL’s fairly loose situation on this topic differs from that of Major League Soccer, which has much more actively planned for the next era after current and longtime commissioner Don Garber.
Contract Matters
The Golden Knights received a dose of support from Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly regarding the ongoing situation regarding former coach Bruce Cassidy. Vegas fired the 2023 Stanley Cup winner in March and brought in John Tortorella, who has led the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final.
Cassidy, however, remains unable to interview with other teams for their openings as he remains under contract with Vegas through next season. As that has continued, Cassidy has called the situation “upsetting,” but the league officials said the Golden Knights remain fully within their rights under the terms of the existing contract.
“When you sign and insist upon a long-term contract, there are certain policies and consequences of that, and so where we find ourselves is completely reasonable,” Bettman said.
Added Daly, “There are contracts that exist in the league that would not allow for this to happen. This was not one of them.”
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