• Loading stock data...
Sunday, August 24, 2025
The biggest names in sports media. All in one room. Buy tickets now!

Back To The Future: ESPN Finalizing NHL TV/Digital Deal

  • New 7-year deal would enable Walt Disney Co. networks to show 4 Stanley Cup Finals.
  • ESPN televised NHL games from 1992-93 through the 2003-04 season.
Hockey
Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

The smartest way for a major sports league to maximize media rights fees is to play multiple networks against each other in negotiations. That’s what the NFL, NBA, and MLB do — and that’s what the NHL is poised to do as well.

NBC Sports, the league’s current U.S. rights holder, is about to have company. The NHL is finalizing a new seven-year broadcast deal with ESPN that will enable Walt Disney Co. networks to televise four Stanley Cup Finals between 2022 and 2028, according to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston. The deal could be announced this week.

The agreement includes streaming rights for Disney, wrote Johnston. That means ESPN will use live NHL games to lure loyal hockey fans to its ESPN+ streaming service. 

Similar to the NFL and NBA, ESPN would likely choose to televise the Stanley Cup Finals on sister Disney broadcast network ABC, said sources.

Front Office Sports previously reported ESPN wanted back in on NHL TV rights after getting its foot in the door with ESPN+, which costs $5.99 a month or $59.99 a year.  

Over the past decade, NBC has paid the NHL $200 million a year for exclusive U.S. TV rights. During that award-winning run, NBC created innovations like the popular “Winter Classic” outdoor game.

But NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman wants a hefty overall rights increase for the league’s next media rights deal, which begins with the 2021-22 season. The quickest way to achieve that is to split up TV/digital rights among competing bidders.

Sportsnet said ESPN’s pending deal represents only half of the NHL’s U.S. media rights package.

That means NBCUniversal could be finalizing its own deal to retain half of the NHL’s U.S. media rights for its own brands, including the NBC broadcast channel, USA Network and Peacock streaming service.  

Don’t count out other bidders such as former NHL TV partner Fox Sports, inventor of the “glowing puck,” Amazon, which is poised to win the NFL’s “Thursday Night Football,” or CBS Sports. 

The NHL, ESPN and NBC all declined to comment for this story.

The pending deal represents a back-to-the-future moment for ESPN. 

The sports cable network broadcast NHL games from the 1992-93 season through the 2003-04 season. But the NHL lockout wiped out the 2004-05 season. ESPN declined to pick up its option for the 2005-06 season — or to match NBC/Comcast’s bid. 

ESPN has a cadre of hockey TV veterans ready and willing to cover the NHL, including “Monday Night Football” play-by-play announcer Steve Levy, anchors Linda Cohn and John Buccigross, and analyst Barry Melrose. 

This season, ESPN+ will stream 68 NHL games. Cohn and Melrose also anchor “In the Crease,” a nightly show exclusively on ESPN+ during the NHL season. 

During an interview with Front Office Sports, Levy said he’d love to move directly from football season to calling NHL games again.

“Absolutely, bring it on,” Levy said.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

The Honey Deuce Effect: How Tennis Perfected the Signature Cocktail

Sold every 1.5 seconds, they total more than $12 million in sales.
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up as the Texas Longhorns prepare to play the Clemson Tigers in the first round of the College Football Playoffs at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.

Schools Are Hesitant to Allow PE Into Their Athletic Departments

Regardless of budget, schools don’t believe the risk is worth the reward.
Oct 2, 2024; Rosemont, IL, USA; Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti speaks with the media during the 2024 Big Ten Women’s Basketball media day at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.

‘Not Ready to Jump In’: Power 4 Commissioners Aren’t Sold on PE

Top leaders in college sports have yet to see a satisfactory proposal.
Nov 23, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin looks at quarterback Drew Allar (15) during the first quarter against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium.

Private Equity Enters College Sports—Without the Equity

As college football starts, lending agreements have become PE’s best way in.

Featured Today

Sep 8, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants running back Eric Gray (20) returns a kickoff against the Minnesota Vikings during the first half at MetLife Stadium.

‘Fauxbacks’ Throw Back to a Retro Uniform That Never Existed

Many throwback jerseys are brand-new designs or “Franken-Unis.”
August 17, 2025

‘Labubu Gang’: The Creepy-Cute Dolls Sweeping Pro Sports

The creepy-cute doll is the hottest collectible—and fashion statement.
Middle Tennessee wide receiver Cam'ron Lacy (86) catches a pass and carries the ball during the season final home football game against New Mexico State on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024.
August 15, 2025

How Middle Tennessee State Added $668,000 to Its NIL Budget

The Blue Raiders are creating a new blueprint for cutting costs.
Bridgewater American 12U Little League player Micah Poulter holds a District 7 pin during a send-off rally to the New England regional tournament in Bristol, Connecticut, from Legion Field on Friday, August 2, 2024.
August 14, 2025

Inside the Little League World Series Pin Trade

The rare little collectibles fuel a frenzy in Williamsport each summer.

Fox Enters Streaming Wars With Leaner, Sports-Heavy Approach

A different strategy marks the arrival of the network’s streaming service.
August 20, 2025

Bundesliga Bets on YouTube Creators for Live U.K. Game Streams

Bundesliga is the top German soccer league.
HAPPY GILMORE 2. (L to R) Quin Stiller as Will Zalatoris Caddie, Will Zalatoris as Himself, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio as Oscar Mejias and Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore in Happy Gilmore2.
August 21, 2025

‘Happy Gilmore 2’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched U.S. Movie Debut

The Adam Sandler, golf-themed movie sets more streaming records.
Sponsored

Building A Pro League From Scratch

Front Office Sports and Gainbridge® spotlight what it takes to build a professional women’s soccer league.
Jey Uso and Pat McAfee look at each other after Uso’s win Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, during the WWE Royal Rumble at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
August 20, 2025

WWE Will Leave Peacock for ESPN 6 Months Early

Peacock’s final show will be “Clash in Paris” on Aug. 31.
August 20, 2025

NFL Preseason Games Are Popping Up on YouTube’s Sunday Ticket

The $2 billion out-of-market package covers only the regular season.
August 20, 2025

Inside ESPN’s ‘Industry Shaping’ DTC Plan, What’s at Stake

Many bundle offers and opaque metrics mark the high-profile launch.
Kyle Busch talks with Nexstar Media Group, Wednesday February 14, 2024 during Daytona 500 Media Day at Daytona International Speedway
August 19, 2025

$6.2B Nexstar-Tegna Deal Could Create Local Sports Juggernaut

CW parent company Nexstar looks to acquire its rival in a major deal.