NHL and Disney Announce Major 7-Year Rights Deal

 by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

March 10, 2021

Updated March 11, 2021

 

The NHL and The Walt Disney Company announced today a major seven-year deal that brings NHL games to Disney and ESPN platforms.

 

The partnership starts with next season (2021-22) and runs through the 2027-28 season. The Athletic has reported, "ESPN will pay more than $400-million annually to the NHL."

The deal includes the NHL.TV out-of-market subscription service moving exclusively to streaming as part of an ESPN+ subscription. As noted in the NHL’s statement: “ESPN+ subscribers get truly incredible value with more than 1,000 out-of-market games now available digitally only on the industry-leading sports streaming service - making it a must-have for hockey fans.”

 

The deal also features the following:

 

• The NHL Stanley Cup Final on ABC in four of the seven years covered by the deal.

 

• 25 exclusive regular-season games each season on ESPN.

 

• 75 NHL regular-season games streamed exclusively on ESPN+ and Hulu.

 

• Half of the Stanley Cup playoffs on ABC and ESPN each season.

 

• Coverage of NHL opening night games, the NHL All-Star Game and Skills Challenge, and special events each season.

 

This is a major coup for the NHL, with the deal leaving room for NBC to renew with the NHL as well, or CBS or FOX getting in on the hockey action.

 

It’s also a bold, but not unexpected move by Disney on the sports front. Kareem Daniel, chairman of Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution, said, “This is the kind of innovative deal that only The Walt Disney Company and our portfolio of media platforms and businesses can bring to life. The combination of streaming leadership with ESPN+ and Hulu, along with our powerhouse ABC and ESPN networks, will bring the NHL into the homes and lives of millions of passionate fans - and help create new ones.”

 

Disney also is expected to expand its role with the NFL as well, including being in the running, perhaps with Amazon, to grab the NFL Sunday Ticket package.

 

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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the  Pastor Stephen Grant novels and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

Keating has two new books out. Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13ththriller/mystery in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. Past Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is the 14th book in the series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed book at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

 

You also can order his book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  from Amazon or signed books  at RayKeatingOnline.com. His other recent nonfiction book is Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know. 

 

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