NHL Network (American TV channel)

NHL Network is an American sports-oriented cable and satellite television network that is a joint venture between the National Hockey League (NHL), which owns a controlling 84.4% interest, and NBCUniversal, which owns the remaining 15.6%. Dedicated to providing broadcast coverage of ice hockey, the network features live game telecasts from the NHL and other professional and collegiate hockey leagues, as well as NHL-related content including analysis programs, specials and documentaries.

This article is about the American cable channel. For the late 1970s syndicated package, see NHL Network (1975 TV program). For the defunct Canadian cable channel, see NHL Network (Canadian TV channel).
NHL Network
CountryUnited States
Broadcast areaUnited States
HeadquartersSecaucus, New Jersey, U.S.
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format720p (HDTV)
480i (SDTV)
Ownership
OwnerNational Hockey League (84.4%)
NBCUniversal (15.6%)[1]
Sister channelsGolf Channel
MLB Network
History
LaunchedOctober 1, 2007 (2007-10-01)
Links
WebsiteNHLNetwork.com
Availability
Streaming media
DirecTV Now (Grandfathered Plans Only)Internet Protocol Television
Sling TVInternet Protocol Television
FuboTVInternet Protocol Television

History
The network's logo used from 2009 to 2011

Launched on October 1, 2007, the NHL Network was developed out of a joint venture between the NHL and cable provider Comcast, as part of a broadcast rights agreement that resulted in the NBC Sports Network (then known as Outdoor Life Network) acquiring partial cable television rights to regular season, and Stanley Cup playoff and finals games from the National Hockey League. It became the third sports-oriented cable network devoted to programming from and controlled by one of the Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada, following the National Basketball Association-owned NBA TV (which launched in March 1999) and the National Football League-owned NFL Network (which launched in November 2003); Major League Baseball would launch its own sports channel, MLB Network, on January 1, 2009.[2]

On June 1, 2015, The Globe and Mail columnist David Shoalts reported that NHL Network in Canada would cease operations on September 1, 2015; national media rights to the NHL in Canada had been acquired by Rogers Communications beginning in the 2014–15 season, and the Bell Media employees who managed the network's Canadian arm on behalf of the NHL were laid off that July.[3][4]

In August 2015, it was announced that the NHL had reached a six-year deal with Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLBAM) to take over the management of the NHL's digital properties, as well as NHL Network. Operations and production of NHL Network's programming was shifted from Toronto to the Secaucus, New Jersey facilities of MLB Network.[3][5] There has been minor talent sharing between the networks, and MLB Network cross-promoted an NHL Stadium Series game at Coors Field by building a scale hockey rink in its Studio 42 (which itself is designed to resemble a scaled baseball field).[6] For much of the 2015–16 season, NHL Network studio programs originated from redecorated versions of MLB Network's existing studio sets (enabled by a lack of major overlap between the two leagues' regular seasons). In April 2016, coinciding with the start of the playoffs, NHL Network introduced its own 1,200 square-foot set, "The Rink".[7]

The network will continue to operate under the league's new television contract consortium of ESPN and Turner Sports beginning with the 2021–22 season (which excludes NBCUniversal).[8] NHL Network will continue to nationally air selected games not broadcast by either ESPN or Turner.[9]

SiriusXM NHL Network Radio launched in 2013.

Carriage agreements

Comcast, owners of the league's former cable partner NBCSN, is also the largest cable television provider in the United States. The company was contractually obligated to carry NHL Network on its systems by the summer of 2007 at the latest, so it would be available in time for the 2007–08 NHL season.[10] Both Comcast and the NHL had an option to terminate their contract after the 2006–07 season, which would have voided Comcast's obligation to launch a U.S. version of NHL Network, but opted to proceed with the launch.[11]

Since its official launch in the United States, the NHL Network announced on October 8, 2007 that it would begin being carried that month on Cablevision, Charter, Cox Communications, DirecTV, Dish Network, Xfinity and Time Warner Cable through carriage agreements that were struck with each of the providers.[12] DirecTV has aired NHL Network on channel 215 since October 31, 2007.[13][14]

NHL.com announced on January 12, 2009 that AT&T U-verse would begin carrying the channel.[15] This was followed on June 2, 2009 with the announcement that NHL Network and Comcast had reached an agreement to carry the channel on the provider's Digital Classic Tier, which increased subscribership of the channel from the then-estimated two million subscribers in its placement on the "Sports Entertainment" tier to over 10 million on its Digital Classic package.[16]

In 2016, Sling TV became the first over-the-top media service to offer NHL Network.[17]

Carriage disputes

In 2011, AT&T U-verse refused to carry NHL Network over a planned increase in retransmission payments.[18]

Programming
The NHL Network's broadcast set at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver
The NHL Network's broadcast set at the 2015 NHL Winter Classic in Washington, D.C.

Hockey telecasts

The NHL Network originally shared some programming with its now-defunct sister network in Canada, with the main differences in programming between the two networks being the carriage of domestically targeted commercials and live game telecasts. For those live NHL games aired throughout the season, they are primarily simulcasts of feeds from one of the team's regional rightsholders or Canadian rightsholder Sportsnet, including CBC-aired Hockey Night in Canada coverage on Saturday evenings. In 2021, the network introduced its first original broadcasts, the NHL Network Showcase, which is modeled after MLB Network's MLB Network Showcase, and air on weekend afternoons.[19][20]

Until the 2021–22 season, NHL Network also carried selected first round games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.[21]

NHL Network has also aired other hockey leagues and events, such as the American Hockey League,[22] college hockey,[23] and the IIHF World Junior Championship.[24]

Other programs
  • NHL Tonight (formerly NHL on the Fly) – NHL Network's signature show, which covers on- and off-ice NHL news with highlights, interviews and analysis.[25]
  • NHL Now – A program that features interviews with NHL players and insight from NHL insiders. The program also shows viewers voicing their opinions from social media on noteworthy news from the day.[25]
  • On the Fly – A program featuring highlights of the day's games; its current format is modeled after MLB Network's Quick Pitch.
  • Hockey Central – A television simulcast of CJCL Sportsnet 960 Toronto's NHL radio show.[25]
  • Top 10 – A countdown program focusing on hockey-related topics, from great performances to memorable moments.
  • Frozen in Time – A retrospective program that features a look back at the greatest moments in the NHL from players, teams, and special events.
  • Classic Series – A collection of highlights from a past Stanley Cup Playoff series.
  • Vintage Games – NHL Network airs archived broadcasts of past NHL games in their entirety from the game's original broadcaster.
  • Pioneers – A profile series in which NHL legends discuss their groundbreaking careers.
  • NHL Movie Night/NHL Flicks – A movie program that airs hockey-related theatrical films.
  • NHL Network also has the right to air various Stanley Cup films from the winning teams from different years.
  • NHL Network Ice Time - A series designed for young people on the sport of hockey featuring instructions on the game and interviews with NHL Players and is hosted by Jackie Redmond.

On-air staff

Current on-air talent includes:[26]

References
  1. "Comcast" (PDF). Comcast.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 4, 2011.
  3. "The NHL/MLBAM deal is worth $1.2 billion over six years, involves equity, NHL Network shift". Awful Announcing. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  4. Shoalts, David [@dshoalts] (June 1, 2015). "Bad news last week for about 20 staffers at NHL Network Canada. They were told league is closing Canadian operation Sept. 1" (Tweet). Retrieved July 17, 2015 – via Twitter.
  5. "What we know about the NHL on TV, radio and streaming media in 2015-16". Awful Announcing. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  6. "MLB and NHL Networks to cross-promote this weekend's NHL Stadium Series game in Denver". Awful Announcing. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  7. "NHL Network unveils new hockey-themed set "The Rink"". Awful Announcing. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  8. "NHL, Turner Sports reach deal for games on TNT, TBS" (Press release). NHL.com. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  9. "A viewing guide on how to watch NHL hockey on American television or streaming platforms". The Athletic. September 30, 2021.
  10. "Media Week". Mediaweek.com.
  11. "Sports Business Journal". Sportsbusinessdaily.com.
  13. "Packages". Dishnetwork.com.
  14. "CenterIce Package". DishNetwork.com.
  15. "AT&T U-Verse TV channel lineup scores NHL Network and NHL Network HD". NHL.com. January 12, 2009. Retrieved January 19, 2009.
  16. Comcast to Carry NHL Network on Digital Classic Tier, Broadcasting & Cable, June 2, 2009
  17. "Sling TV First Over-The-Top Provider To Offer NHL Network" (Press release). 19 October 2016.
  18. The Puck Stops Here: NHL Net Goes Dark On U-Verse Multichannel News October 1, 2011
  19. "Devils' postponement leads to schedule change for NHL Network Showcase debut". Awful Announcing. 2021-02-03. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  20. "The NHL is shifting weekend games to afternoon timeslots to attract more European fans". Awful Announcing. 2018-10-31. Retrieved 2018-10-31.
  21. "NHL playoff games today: Full TV schedule to watch 2021 Stanley Cup playoff games". Sporting News. July 6, 2021.
  22. "NHL Network to air live AHL action this season". nhl.com. October 16, 2019.
  23. "NHL Network best place to watch college hockey". nhl.com. December 16, 2009.
  24. "NHL Network to air every game of 2021 World Junior Championship". nhl.com. December 16, 2020.
  25. "NHL Network Shows". nhl.com. October 2, 2021.
  26. "NHL Network On-Air Talent". nhl.com. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
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