Rumors are circulating and have been confirmed by sources that ESPN and the NHL have reached a seven-year broadcasting rights deal, according to Sportsnet.
What’s Happening:
- It is reported that ESPN is believed to have reached a seven-year deal to become one of the NHL’s media partners starting next season.
- The news seems to have been confirmed by numerous league and industry sources.
- The NHL and ESPN have yet to confirm the news, but it is expected that the deal will lock in the rights for ESPN to broadcast four Stanley Cup Finals between 2022 and 2028, plus streaming rights, likely for ESPN+.
- NBC reportedly pays $200 million annually for exclusive rights, but those rights expire this season. The terms of the ESPN Deal aren’t available as of press time, and it is unclear which other media source would be splitting the package with ESPN.
- The New York Post added: “NBC very well could retain half of the package and pick up the other three Cups. In light of the forthcoming NFL deals in which it is expected to double the amount it pays for “Sunday Night Football” to $2 billion per year, Comcast’s CEO Brian Roberts said the parent company of NBC Sports will need to make “tough decisions” on current relationships.”