TVUSA
Turner Sports and the National Hockey League (NHL) have signed a seven-year rights deal that begins with the 2021-22 season.
The deal brings the Stanley Cup Final and Stanley Cup Playoffs to TNT and TBS for the first time. TNT will have live coverage of the Stanley Cup Final in three of the seven years, half of the Stanley Cup Playoffs each year and the rights to up to 72 regular games each season, plus the NHL Winter Classic. The deal includes live streaming and digital rights across WarnerMedia, including HBO Max. Turner Sports will have TV Everywhere rights to deliver multiplatform coverage to authenticated subscribers.
Jeff Zucker, chairman of WarnerMedia News & Sports, commented, “This agreement with the National Hockey League brings one of the most prestigious championships in sports to TNT and fuels our entire Turner Sports and Bleacher Report portfolio with even more premium content for many years to come. We’re delighted to spotlight the world’s best hockey league on our leading networks while continuing to further elevate this marquee property through an ever-expanding array of digital platforms in the years to come.”
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman added, “Turner Sports is known for its outstanding sports coverage, quality and innovation and we are thrilled that this new partnership will provide our fans with the content they love on the platforms and devices of their choice. TNT is a proven and acclaimed destination for sports fans and we will also benefit from the deep connection Bleacher Report has with young digital-savvy fans. Having WarnerMedia join the NHL family as co-rightsholders for the next seven years gives us incredible reach, positions us well for the future as the media landscape continues to evolve, and will fuel continued growth for the NHL and our Clubs.”
