Major Changes Coming For NHL TV Rights

The NHL currently holds a number of Canadian broadcasting partnerships, including Sportsnet, TSN, and CBC. However, NBC Sports holds the largest TV deal with the NHL. There are major changes coming to this arrangement.

Years ago, the NHL promised fans that regional blackouts would be over. However, fans remain frustrated as they remain subjected to regional blackouts. It has been reported that NBC Sports will be shutting down after the 2021 Toyko Summer Olympics. The NHL is currently shopping their TV rights but are demanding that games are given national exposure and are not hidden behind a paywall. The steaming service Peacock is rumored to be in talks with the NHL, but its too early in the process to confirm any final deal. 

Mike Babcock is hired by NBC Sports and within one week they announce the closure of the program? I don't want to point fingers, but..... (it's a joke, everyone).

NBC has told distributors and some sports leagues that it plans to shut down its NBCSN sports channel by the end of the year. Story coming in SBD

— John Ourand (@Ourand_SBJ) January 22, 2021

It’s Christmas Eve... I’ll let you guys and gals out early. As originally reported by @sbjsbd, NBCSN is likely to be shut down at the end of the Tokyo Olympics, in favor of moving NBCs sports properties over to Peacock, the struggling streaming service... (1/2)

— NHL Rumors (@NHLRumorsDaily) December 24, 2020

(3/3) it is to my understanding that while the NHL has not broken off talks with NBCUniversal, the league would prefer to maximize their traditional TV exposure in their next deal, and not put a significant slate of games behind a paywall.

— NHL Rumors (@NHLRumorsDaily) December 24, 2020