The NHL is splitting its next national TV deal into two separate contracts. Last month, the league reached a seven-year deal with ESPN to carry half of its nationally televised games. At the time, it was assumed NBC, which currently holds the NHL’s national TV rights, would get their own deal done. That doesn’t seem so certain now.
Saturday, Hockey Night in Canada reporter Chris Johnston said that it now appears FOX has emerged as the frontrunner to land the NHL’s “B package”. He also said that Apple may be a part of the deal as well.
Richard Deitsch gave Johnston plenty of credit. The Athletic reporter reminded his Twitter followers that Johnston has a history of getting media deals right.
Without anymore detail, it is hard to say what the driving factor is for the NHL. It is possible that the answer is as simple as FOX is offering more money. It is hard not to wonder if NBC’s plans to shutdown NBCSN, where most of the NHL’s nationally televised games have aired, is playing any sort of role.
The NHL has already proven that it is not afraid to see so many of its nationally available games be streaming exclusives. The news that Apple is involved comes one month after it was revealed that the bulk of ESPN’s NHL coverage will go to ESPN+. Surely the idea of so many games being on Peacock isn’t a problem.
It is important to remember that at this point, nothing is a done deal. If NBC wants to keep hockey on its air, there is still time to work out a new deal.
