NHL on television in the 2020s

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

NBC Sports's deal with the National Hockey League for U.S. television rights ran through the 2020–21 season, and was replaced in 2021–22 by seven-year agreements with ESPN and Turner Sports to split coverage.

Rogers Communications's 12-year Canadian rights deal expires at the end of the 2025–26 season.

NBC Sports[]

2019–20 season[]

During the 2019–20 season, NBCSN flexed in several Washington Capitals games in February in anticipation of Alexander Ovechkin's 700th NHL goal. Those games used the NBC Sports Washington feed and announcers. In one instance, the February 10 broadcast involving the Capitals and New York Islanders aired nationally on NBCSN (blacked out in the team's local markets) at the expense of its originally-scheduled game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets, which only aired on the team's local markets.[1] In the end, however, NBCSN missed out on covering Ovechkin's 700th goal (which took place on Saturday afternoon, February 22, against the New Jersey Devils), due to a prior commitment with the 2020 Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship. NHL Network aired the game instead.[2]

On February 16, 2020, NBC announced that it had assigned an all-female crew to call the Blues–Blackhawks game on March 8 in Chicago in honor of International Women's Day. The game featured Kate Scott on play-by-play, A. J. Mleczko as booth analyst and Kendall Coyne Schofield as "Inside the Glass" analyst. Kathryn Tappen and Jennifer Botterill were tapped to work the game in the studio.[3]

On October 19, 2020, NBC's lead play-by-play announcer Mike Emrick announced his retirement from broadcasting.[4] Emirck's final assignment for NBC was his call of Game 6 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Finals. As he had been doing throughout the 2020 playoffs, the 74 year old Emrick called the Cup Finals off of monitors from his home studio in Metro Detroit, citing his advanced age as a potential risk for severe illness from COVID-19.[5] Following Emrick's retirement, NBC did not name a presumptive lead play-by-play voice. Instead, they chose to rotate between John Forslund and Kenny Albert on the no. 1 team.[6] On January 18, NBCSN aired a day-night quadruple-header on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, featuring Columbus at Detroit, Boston at New York Islanders, Buffalo at Philadelphia and Arizona at Vegas.[7]

2020–21 season[]

On January 22, 2021, an internal memo sent by NBC Sports president Pete Bevacqua announced that NBCSN would cease operations by the end of the year, and that USA Network would begin "carrying and/or simulcasting certain NBC Sports programming," including the Stanley Cup Playoffs and NASCAR races, before NBCSN's shutdown. Peacock, NBCUniversal's new streaming service, will also carry some of the network's former programming starting in 2022.[8][9] The move was cited by industry analysts as a response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sports and television industries, the acceleration of cord-cutting, as well as formidable competition from rival sports networks such as ESPN and Fox Sports 1.[10]

On the weekend of February 20–21, 2021, the NHL held two contests outdoors at Lake Tahoe. Coverage of the Saturday game between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche began on NBC. Play was suspended after the first period due to ice conditions caused by its exposure to heat and sunlight; the game was resumed at 9:02 p.m. PT (12:02 a.m. ET). It was moved to NBCSN due to the delay. As a result of the Sunday game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins being moved to a 7:30 p.m. ET start time, it too was moved from NBC to NBCSN (with an evening game between the New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals swapped into NBC's afternoon window as a replacement). Mike Tirico provided the play-by-play commentary[11] alongside U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member and color commentator Eddie Olczyk, and ‘‘Inside-the-Glass’’ reporter Brian Boucher. Rutledge Wood meanwhile, served as an on-site reporter in Lake Tahoe.

The end of The NHL on NBC[]

With the NBC Sports contract expiring at the end of the 2020–21 season, the league has explored the possibility of splitting its U.S. national media rights between multiple broadcasters, and over-the-top services (such as DAZN, ESPN+, or NBC's Peacock).[12] In any case, the league aimed to surpass the US$2 billion total that NBC paid over the life of their 2011–12 to 2020–21 contract.[13] On March 10, 2021, the NHL announced that ESPN[14] would serve as one of the new rightsholders under a seven-year contract, which will include packages of regular season games for ESPN and ABC (including opening night, the All-Star Game, and other special events), 75 original telecasts and all out-of-market games on ESPN+, rights to half of the Stanley Cup playoffs (including one conference final per-season), and four Stanley Cup Finals over the length of the contract.[15][16]

On April 26, 2021, Sports Business Journal reported[17] that NBC had officially pulled out[18] of bidding for future NHL rights,[19] meaning that NBC will not televise NHL games for the first time since the 2004–05 NHL lockout.[20] The next day, Turner Sports announced that they had agreed to a seven-year deal with the NHL to broadcast at least 72 games nationally on TNT and TBS[21] (while also giving HBO Max the live streaming and simulcast rights to these games) beginning with the 2021–22 season, which will include three Stanley Cup Finals, the other half of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and the Winter Classic.[22]

ESPN/ABC and Turner Sports[]

On March 10, 2021, ESPN and the NHL announced that the network had agreed to a seven-year agreement to hold half of its new media rights beginning in the 2021–22 season;[23][24]. It was officially announced the following day after 16 years away from the game.[25][23][26]

  • ESPN+ will hold rights to 75 exclusive national games per-season, which will also be available on Hulu, and will not be carried by any linear television outlets.[27]
  • ESPN will hold rights to 25 exclusive national games per-season, which can air on either ESPN or ABC.
  • ESPN will hold exclusive rights to opening night games, the All-Star Game, and other "special events".
  • The NHL's digital out-of-market package NHL.tv will be discontinued in the United States, with all out-of-market games moving to ESPN+ (similar to ESPN's agreement for Major League Soccer's out-of-market package)
  • ESPN and ABC will share in coverage of the Stanley Cup playoffs, holding rights to "half" of the games in the first two rounds, and one conference final per-season. ESPN and ABC will have the first choice of which conference final series to air.
  • ABC will exclusively air the Stanley Cup Finals in four out of the seven seasons of the contract. ESPN will have the ability to air simulcast coverage with alternate feeds on its other channels and platforms.
  • ESPN will produce a weekly studio program dedicated to the NHL, and hold various highlights and international rights.

On May 10, 2021, Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reported that Ray Ferraro and Brian Boucher had signed with ESPN to become ESPN's top hockey analysts.[28][29] On May 17, Marchand announced that ESPN hired Leah Hextall to be a regular play-by-play announcer on NHL broadcasts, making her the first woman in league history to hold that role. Hextall worked for ESPN for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. [30]

On June 9, ESPN announced that current New Jersey Devils defenseman P.K. Subban would be a studio analyst for the remainder of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, making his debut on SportsCenter that day.[31] The same day, Craig Morgan, Arizona-based reporter on the Arizona Coyotes and NHL Network correspondent, reported that ESPN had added Ryan Callahan and A.J. Mleczko to their analyst roster, and that Kevin Weekes, who also worked for ESPN during the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, was in talks to return to ESPN as a reporter.[32] Marchand later reported that Weekes had signed a deal with ESPN, and that Bob Wischusen, who currently calls play-by-play for ESPN's college football and basketball broadcasts, would also work NHL broadcasts.[33] On June 24, ESPN officially announced that six-time Stanley Cup Champion Mark Messier had signed a multi-year deal to join ESPN in a studio analyst role;[34][35][36] on June 28 Marchand reported that Chris Chelios would also join ESPN as a studio analyst.[37][29] The same day, The Athletic reported that current Hockey Night in Canada reporter Cassie Campbell-Pascall would also join ESPN.[29][38]

ESPN formally confirmed its commentator teams on June 29, 2021. Sean McDonough will be ESPN's lead play by play voice; Steve Levy will be the network's lead studio host and contributes occasional play-by-play commentary. Joining Hextall and Wischusen as play-by-play commentators is John Buccigross while Messier, Chelios, Boucher, Ferraro, Campbell-Pascall, Weekes, Callahan, Mleczko, Melrose, Rick DiPietro, and Hilary Knight contribute analysis. Reporters include Blake Bolden, , and Greg Wyshynski. Cohn continues her duties hosting In the Crease. ESPN also confirmed that Spanish language coverage of the NHL would air on ESPN Deportes; Kenneth Garay, and will be the main play-by-play commentators while and contribute analysis and color commentary.[29]

On April 27, 2021, Turner Sports agreed to a seven-year deal[39] with the National Hockey League to broadcast at least 72 games[40] nationally on TNT and TBS beginning with the 2021–22 NHL season. The deal is reportedly worth $225 million and will include three Stanley Cup Finals, half of the first two rounds of playoff games, conference finals, first and second round playoff games, and the Winter Classic.[41][42]

On May 5, 2021, Richard Dietsch of The Athletic reported that Kenny Albert and Eddie Olczyk would serve as the lead broadcast team respectively for Turner Sports, retaining their lead roles from the previous season on NBC.[43][44][45][46][47] On May 25, the New York Post's Andrew Marchand reported that Wayne Gretzky would be a lead studio analyst on Turner.[45][46][48] Turner confirmed the hiring of Albert, Olczyk, and Gretzky in these roles the following day.[45][47]

References[]

  1. ^ "*PROGRAMMING ALERT* – "GR8NESS: OVI'S CHASE FOR 700" – NBC SPORTS ADDS CAPITALS GAME TOMORROW AT 7 P.M. ET ON NBCSN" (Press release). NBC Sports. February 9, 2020. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  2. ^ "NBC SPORTS PRESENTS ROUND THREE OF 2020 GUINNESS SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP RUGBY THIS WEEKEND" (Press release). NBC Sports. February 20, 2020. Archived from the original on February 23, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  3. ^ "ALL-FEMALE CREW TO BROADCAST AND PRODUCE NBC SPORTS' COVERAGE OF BLUES-BLACKHAWKS IN HONOR OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY ON MARCH 8 ON NBCSN" (Press release). NBC Sports. February 16, 2020. Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  4. ^ "Doc Emrick ending career as voice of hockey". ESPN.com. 2020-10-19. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
  5. ^ Best, Neil (September 9, 2020). "Doc Emrick will call Islanders-Lightning series starting in Game 4". Newsday. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  6. ^ "NHL: Kenny Albert and John Forslund will share NBC's regular season load; Full list of all teams' TV/Radio voices". Sports Broadcast Journal. January 20, 2021. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  7. ^ "NBC SPORTS TO PRESENT FIRST-EVER NHL QUADRUPLEHEADER ON MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY" (Press release). NBC Sports. January 15, 2021. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  8. ^ Pallotta, Frank (January 22, 2021). "NBC Sports Network to shut down by the end of the year". CNN. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  9. ^ Flint, Joe; Rizzo, Lillian (January 22, 2021). "Comcast's NBCUniversal to Shut Down Sports Cable Channel NBCSN by Year-End". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  10. ^ Hayes, Dade (22 January 2021). "Cable Network NBCSN To Go Dark By Year-End, With Live Sports Telecasts Shifting To USA Network, Peacock". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  11. ^ "NHL OUTDOOR GAMES AT LAKE TAHOE PRESENTED THIS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY ON NBC AT 3 P.M. ET". NBC Sports Group Press Box. February 17, 2021. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021.
  12. ^ Deitsch, Richard (November 14, 2019). "Media Mailbag: The latest on the NHL's TV contract talks, Thursday Night Football's future, on CBS landing the Champions League". The Athletic. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  13. ^ Adgate, Brad (January 15, 2019). "Hockey's Big Pay Day Is Coming". Forbes. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  14. ^ Lucia, Joe (March 11, 2021). "Winners and losers of the NHL's TV deal with ESPN". Awful Announcing. Archived from the original on March 11, 2021.
  15. ^ "NHL back on ESPN with 7-year multiplatform deal". ESPN. March 10, 2021. Archived from the original on March 11, 2021.
  16. ^ "ESPN officially announces new TV deal with NHL, featuring 25 games on ABC or ESPN, 75 exclusive games on ESPN+ and Hulu, new studio show". Awful Announcing. 2021-03-10. Archived from the original on March 11, 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-11.
  17. ^ Ourand, Burns, John, Mark J. (April 26, 2021). "NBC pulls out of bidding for remaining NHL rights package". Sports Business Journal. Archived from the original on April 26, 2021.
  18. ^ Rigdon, Jay (April 26, 2021). "Turner reportedly "likely" to land remaining NHL rights as NBC withdraws from the bidding". Awful Announcing. Archived from the original on April 26, 2021.
  19. ^ Steinberg, Brian (April 26, 2021). "WarnerMedia Poised to Pick Up NHL Package as NBC Exits Hockey Rights". Variety. Archived from the original on April 27, 2021.
  20. ^ Reedy, Joe (April 26, 2021). "AP sources: Turner Sports gets rights to second NHL package". AP News. Archived from the original on April 26, 2021.
  21. ^ Daniels, Tim (April 27, 2021). "NHL, Turner Sports Reveal 7-Year Contract Featuring Stanley Cup, Winter Classic". Bleacher Report.
  22. ^ "The NHL Comes to Turner".
  23. ^ a b "NHL back on ESPN with 7-year multiplatform deal". ESPN.com. 10 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  24. ^ "ESPN officially announces new TV deal with NHL, featuring 25 games on ABC or ESPN, 75 exclusive games on ESPN+ and Hulu, new studio show". Awful Announcing. 2021-03-10. Retrieved 2021-03-11.
  25. ^ "NHL, ESPN, Disney reach groundbreaking seven-year rights deal". NHL.com (Press release). 10 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  26. ^ "The Walt Disney Company, ESPN and National Hockey League Reach Groundbreaking Long-Term Agreement". ESPN Press Room U.S. 2021-03-10. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  27. ^ "Winners and losers of the NHL's TV deal with ESPN". Awful Announcing. 2021-03-11. Retrieved 2021-03-16. [Y]ou'll not only need a cable or satellite subscription to access your team's RSN and ESPN, but you'll also need a subscription to ESPN+ or Hulu. 75 games will be streaming exclusive in this TV deal, and while you previously got everything you needed with the cable sub, you now will need to jump into the streaming waters to see every game.
  28. ^ Marchand, Andrew (2021-05-10). "ESPN adding Ray Ferraro, Brian Boucher as NHL analysts". New York Post. Retrieved 2021-05-17.
  29. ^ a b c d "Dynamic, Diverse and Accomplished Team to Present ESPN's NHL Coverage to Fans". ESPN Press Room U.S. 2021-06-29. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  30. ^ Marchand, Andrew (2021-05-17). "ESPN signs Leah Hextall in historic NHL play-by-play hire". New York Post. Retrieved 2021-05-17.
  31. ^ "Subban of Devils debuts for ESPN as NHL analyst". NHL.com. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  32. ^ Bucholtz, Andrew (June 9, 2021). "ESPN is set to add Kevin Weekes, AJ Mleczko Griswold and Ryan Callahan to NHL coverage, with Turner adding Anson Carter". Awful Announcing.
  33. ^ Marchand, Andrew (2021-06-09). "Kevin Weekes joining ESPN as an NHL analyst". New York Post. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  34. ^ Gardner, Steve. "ESPN adds Hockey Hall of Famer Mark Messier as NHL analyst". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
  35. ^ "NHL great Messier joins ESPN as studio analyst". ESPN.com. 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
  36. ^ Ciccotelli, Jenna. "Mark Messier Joining ESPN as NHL Studio Analyst Starting with 2021-22 Season". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
  37. ^ Marchand, Andrew (2021-06-28). "ESPN hiring Chris Chelios to join Mark Messier in NHL studio". New York Post. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
  38. ^ Shapiro, Sean. "ESPN to hire Chris Chelios, Cassie Campbell-Pascall for NHL broadcasts: Sources". The Athletic. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  39. ^ Koo, Ben (April 28, 2021). "Five questions that still need to be answered after the NHL's TV deal with Turner". Awful Announcing.
  40. ^ Lucia, Joe (April 27, 2021). "Turner's NHL deal will include "up to 72" exclusive national games each season, half the Stanley Cup Playoffs, HBO Max streaming". Awful Announcing.
  41. ^ Knoll, Andrew (April 27, 2021). "N.H.L. and Turner Sports Reach 7-Year Media Rights Deal". The New York Times. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  42. ^ Hayes, Dade; Pedersen, Erik (April 27, 2021). "Turner & NHL Ice Seven-Year Rights Deal Including Some Playoff & Stanley Cup Final Games, HBO Max – Update". Deadline. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  43. ^ Deitsch, Richard (May 5, 2021). "Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk to join Turner's NHL broadcasting team: Sources". The Athletic.
  44. ^ Rigdon, Jay (May 6, 2021). "Turner will reportedly pair Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk as lead NHL broadcast team". Awful Announcing.
  45. ^ a b c "The Great Move: Gretzky will be part of Turner's NHL studio". AP NEWS. 2021-05-26. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  46. ^ a b ""The Great One" Wayne Gretzky, Kenny Albert & Eddie Olczyk Join the Turner Sports NHL Team". Pressroom. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  47. ^ a b "Gretzky, Albert and Olczyk to be part of Turner's NHL coverage". Newsday. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  48. ^ Marchand, Andrew (May 25, 2021). "Wayne Gretzky joining TNT's NHL coverage after leaving Oilers post". New York Post.
Retrieved from ""