TVEUROPE
Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group) has secured a five-year exclusive media rights agreement to bring National Hockey League (NHL) games to Viaplay in Poland.
Per the deal, up to 1,400 live NHL games every season will stream on the Viaplay streaming service in Poland until 2026. The agreement expands NENT Group and the NHL’s long-term partnership to nine European countries.
Starting with the 2021/2022 season opener on October 12, viewers in Poland can watch all NHL regular-season games live on Viaplay, including every NHL Saturday and NHL Sunday game broadcast, with local-language commentary for select games. Viaplay will also show extensive live coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Stanley Cup Final and other marquee NHL events throughout the season.
Further, NENT Group has secured the exclusive rights to stream Swedish Hockey League games on Viaplay in Poland until 2024.
Peter Nørrelund, NENT Group’s chief sports officer, said: “Our 18-year partnership with the NHL is one of our longest and most important. It showcases NENT Group’s ability to deliver premium sports to new and established fans, both in our Nordic and international markets. The NHL’s quality and drama, together with the successful careers of Mariusz Czerkawski and Stanley Cup-winner Krzysztof Oliwa, have built a loyal Polish following. Viaplay viewers can now enjoy every NHL game as part of Poland’s best streamed sports offering.”
David Proper, NHL’s senior executive VP of media and international strategy, said: “Through our long and expanding partnership with NENT Group, we have been able to deliver our game to more fans in Europe than ever before. This arrangement with NENT Group will allow us to super-serve our very passionate Polish fan base. We look forward to continuing to offer exceptional programming featuring the best players in the world to our Polish fans.”
