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Friday, February 21, 2025

PHF, ESPN Agree on Two-Year Media Rights Extension

  • The deal keeps the Premier Hockey Federation on ESPN networks through 2023-24.
  • March’s Isobel Cup championship was the first-ever linear broadcast of professional women’s hockey.
Boston Pride

North America’s only women’s professional hockey league is staying with the Worldwide Leader.

On Wednesday, the Premier Hockey Federation and ESPN announced an extension of their broadcast partnership that will keep the league on the network through the 2023-24 season.

The new two-year deal will see ESPN+ stream the PHF regular season, special events, and the Isobel Cup playoffs in the United States. The agreement also includes international rights for games, such as those for ESPN partner TSN in Canada.

In March, the Isobel Cup championship — a 4-2 victory for the Boston Pride — was broadcast live on ESPN2, marking the first-ever linear telecast of professional women’s hockey.

When PHF begins its 2022-23 season — the schedule of which has not yet been announced — it will be with a new team in the fold.

In July, the league announced an expansion franchise in Montreal that will begin play this year.

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