Change is happening in the NHL. Not only is the league leaving longtime U.S. broadcast partner NBCUniversal for ESPN and Turner Sports, it’s also embracing streaming like it never has before. In a seven-year, $ 200 million deal, Turner owner , the company has secured the streaming rights to 72 regular season games, including the league’s annual outdoor game. As of the 2021-2022 season, Warner is licensed to broadcast these matches live on HBO Max.
In a conference call with reporters, Jeff Zucker, president of sports news and activities at WarnerMedia, noted that the company will focus on developing NHL programming for TNT and TBS first before moving on. focus on HBO Max. “We have the ability to put games there, but the focus will initially be on the Turner networks,” he said, . “As the consumer continues to skate to where the puck is, we’ll be there. But it is not imminent and it will not happen this year. “
Adding live hockey games to HBO Max is obviously a big win for WarnerMedia, but it’s not much of a surprise to see the NHL trust the company for the streaming rights. Turner Sports co-manages the digital division of the NBA, which includes the NBA League Pass. With the help of players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic, the platform saw a 15 percent increase in international subscriptions.
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