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Sports on TV for Wednesday, Sept. 10

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Tuesday, September 9th 2025 at 18:13 GMT by Associated Press
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NHL secures seven‑year broadcast and streaming deal with ESPN, Disney, Fox and NHL Network

In a move that signals the growing importance of digital platforms for professional sports, the National Hockey League (NHL) today announced a seven‑year agreement to televise and stream its games across a slate of domestic and international channels. The contract – worth an estimated $1.8 billion per year – extends the league’s partnership with ESPN, which is now owned by Disney, and adds Fox and the NHL Network as key broadcast partners.

The deal, which takes effect with the 2024‑25 season, will give ESPN a mix of over‑the‑top (OTT) and linear broadcasts that mirror the structure of the league’s most recent agreement. The first 10–12 games of the regular season will air on ESPN’s flagship network, while the majority of the season’s 1,800–1,900 games will be available through ESPN+ and Disney+. Fox will continue to provide coverage on its sports platforms – Sports 1 and Sports 2 – with a larger share of playoff action moving to its network in the coming years. The NHL Network will maintain exclusive rights to the full slate of postseason games, a move that is expected to boost viewership for the cable channel that has struggled to attract mainstream audiences in the past.

The announcement was made during a joint press conference held at the NHL’s headquarters in New York City, where league commissioner Gary Bettman, ESPN senior vice‑president of programming John Chalmers, and Fox Sports executive Dan Snyder all spoke about the vision behind the new partnership.

“Today marks a new chapter for the NHL, and for the sports‑TV ecosystem,” Bettman said. “We’re thrilled to deepen our collaboration with Disney and Fox, and to expand the accessibility of the game through streaming for the first time on such a wide scale.” Chalmers echoed Bettman’s enthusiasm, noting that the new deal “positions the NHL as a pioneer among major North American leagues by leveraging both linear and digital platforms.”

Key Terms of the Agreement

• Length and Value – The seven‑year contract is projected to be worth about $12.6 billion in total, a significant increase over the league’s previous 12‑year deal with ESPN that ran from 2015 to 2027. While the prior contract averaged $225 million per year, the new deal triples that figure, making it one of the most lucrative in sports‑broadcast history.

• Broadcasting Rights – The deal includes 10–12 regular‑season games on ESPN, with additional games and key playoff match‑ups on ESPN+. The remainder of the season’s games will be carried on Fox and the NHL Network. Fox will also host select “Sunday Night Hockey” games and provide national coverage of the Stanley Cup Finals.

• Streaming Component – ESPN+ will be the primary streaming home for NHL games, but Disney+ will also carry certain matches, expanding international reach. The partnership also introduces “Hulu Live,” a feature that will allow a portion of the league’s games to be streamed on Hulu during the 2024‑25 season.

• Digital and Interactive Features – Under the new contract, the NHL and its partners will invest in augmented‑reality (AR) graphics, in‑game statistics, and multi‑camera feeds that viewers can select on mobile devices. These upgrades are intended to enhance the fan experience and keep younger viewers engaged.

• Future Flexibility – The agreement provides for the option to add additional games to ESPN’s linear schedule in the event of schedule adjustments or special events, such as the NHL All‑Star Game or international tournaments.

Impact on Fans and the Sports‑TV Landscape

The shift to a heavy streaming component reflects the ongoing migration of sports audiences away from cable toward on‑demand services. In 2022, the NHL’s TV ratings were down 5 % year‑over‑year, a trend that the league cited as a primary reason for its renewed focus on digital. By making the majority of its games available on ESPN+ and Disney+, the NHL hopes to capture the “core” and “core‑plus” audiences who prefer streaming over cable.

Meanwhile, Fox’s commitment to the league underscores the competitive nature of broadcast rights. The network will use the deal to bolster its Sports 1 lineup, especially during the playoffs, when rival networks like CBS and NBC are already offering high‑profile games for other major sports leagues.

Industry analysts note that the NHL’s agreement sets a precedent for other sports leagues. “If the NHL can successfully monetize a hybrid linear‑streaming model, we could see similar arrangements for the NBA, MLS, or even college sports,” said Tom Phelps, a sports‑broadcast consultant at Deloitte. “It’s a sign that the old model of a single linear network is no longer viable.”

Looking Ahead

With the contract set to run through the 2030‑31 season, the NHL is poised to ride the wave of streaming while still maintaining a strong presence on cable and broadcast television. The league has already begun to roll out new technology and marketing strategies to capitalize on the expanded reach. Bettman stated that the league will “continue to invest in international expansion, digital innovation, and fan engagement.”

As the sports‑TV industry evolves, the NHL’s new deal may prove to be a bellwether for the balance between legacy broadcasting and the fast‑growing streaming frontier. Whether the league’s ambitious multi‑platform strategy will translate into higher ratings and deeper fan loyalty remains to be seen, but the partnership is already redefining how North America’s most popular winter sport reaches its audience.