Disney and the National Hockey League announced a new partnership Wednesday for streaming and media rights beginning in the 2021-2022 NHL season and running through the 2027-2028 season. The deal will bring NHL coverage to ABC, ESPN, Hulu, and ESPN+.
With the deal, here are the highlights of the coverage we’ll see on Disney-owned networks and apps.
- ABC will have exclusive coverage of the Stanley Cup Final in four of the seven years of the agreement, along with the option to simulcast on ESPN+ and other ESPN networks.
- NHL games will air on ESPN networks with 25 exclusive national regular season games airing on ABC or ESPN.
- 75 national regular season games will stream exclusively on ESPN+ and Hulu.
- Half of the Stanley. Cup Playoffs will air on ABC and ESPN each season.
- The networks will have coverage of the NHL Face-off, NHL All-Star Game, and Skills Challenge.
- Additional NHL special events each season
In addition to exclusive streaming and media rights for those events, NHL’s out of market streaming package (formerly available on NHL.TV) will now be available as part of an ESPN+ subscription.
“This partnership of the world’s top hockey league and the platforms of The Walt Disney Company is a big win for our fans and our game,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “Not only will this groundbreaking, seven-year deal enable the NHL to benefit from the incomparable power, reach and influence of The Walt Disney Company and ABC/ESPN, it sets a new standard in delivering our game to the most passionate and tech-savvy fans in sports in the ways they now demand and on the platforms they use.”