The NHL's website has a page titled "HOW TO WATCH AND STREAM" that is relatively convoluted for a major professional sports league.
For games in the U.S., here's how the league breaks it down:
National Games
ESPN+ Broadcasts: Stream in ESPN+ and Hulu
TNT Broadcasts: Watch on TNT >> Stream in the Watch TNT and HBO Max apps
ESPN Broadcasts: Watch on ESPN >> Stream in the ESPN app
ABC Broadcasts: Watch on ABC >> Stream in the ESPN app
Regional Games
Fans in Local Market: Visit the Local Broadcast Information by team page for details
Out-of-Market Fans: Watch on NHL Center Ice >> Stream in ESPN+
NHL Network will broadcast certain regional games throughout the season outside of the Local Markets. These games will not be available in ESPN+.
For context, the other three major professional sports leagues make it relatively simple to stream for out-of-market fans. The MLB has MLB.TV, the NFL has NFL+, and the NBA has NBA League Pass.
These Global Series games are on the NHL Network, as well as SportsNet Pittsburgh in-market. That means that Penguins fans in-market can stream the games on the Penguins' SNP360 platform. But if you're out of market and want to stream? Tough luck. It's not on ESPN+. Either pay for the channel, or ... find less-than-legal options.
It's understandably a source of frustration for fans throughout the year. So, I asked Gary Bettman about it before the Penguins' game against the Predators to kick off the Stockholm Global Series here.
For full context, here's the full exchange:
Haase: "The NHL doesn't have one streaming platform. If fans want to watch every game, they have to buy multiple platforms. I know there's a lot of frustration back home that this game can't be streamed. Is that something you're OK with, the current streaming setup? Are there plans to change it? Just what are your thoughts on it?"
Bettman: "Our out-of-market streaming package is in one place, on ESPN+. We do respect what the clubs do locally in their own markets. If you want to stream, including in Europe, well on DAZN. So, I'm. not sure. I'm either not understanding the question, or we need to do more homework together on what exactly ..."
Haase: "I can clarify -- if game is on TNT or NHL Network, you can't watch it on ESPN+."
Bettman: "Well, because those are exclusive national games."
Haase: "Right. So that's something you're OK with? Multiple streaming platforms? You're not --"
Bettman: "We think having a linear presence on major networks is important. Probably 1,100 of our 1,312 regular-season games are available on ESPN+. And then the national games, in terms of our following, it's important to be on ESPN, ABC, TNT, those are important outlets to get us the greatest possible distribution."
So, there you have it. If you're in the U.S. and can't watch these games in Sweden because you aren't in-market and rely on ESPN+, well, that's part of ensuring the NHL gets greater distribution -- just not to you, specifically.
THE ASYLUM
Bettman: No issue with NHL's streaming setup
The NHL's website has a page titled "HOW TO WATCH AND STREAM" that is relatively convoluted for a major professional sports league.
For games in the U.S., here's how the league breaks it down:
National Games
Regional Games
For context, the other three major professional sports leagues make it relatively simple to stream for out-of-market fans. The MLB has MLB.TV, the NFL has NFL+, and the NBA has NBA League Pass.
These Global Series games are on the NHL Network, as well as SportsNet Pittsburgh in-market. That means that Penguins fans in-market can stream the games on the Penguins' SNP360 platform. But if you're out of market and want to stream? Tough luck. It's not on ESPN+. Either pay for the channel, or ... find less-than-legal options.
It's understandably a source of frustration for fans throughout the year. So, I asked Gary Bettman about it before the Penguins' game against the Predators to kick off the Stockholm Global Series here.
For full context, here's the full exchange:
Haase: "The NHL doesn't have one streaming platform. If fans want to watch every game, they have to buy multiple platforms. I know there's a lot of frustration back home that this game can't be streamed. Is that something you're OK with, the current streaming setup? Are there plans to change it? Just what are your thoughts on it?"
Bettman: "Our out-of-market streaming package is in one place, on ESPN+. We do respect what the clubs do locally in their own markets. If you want to stream, including in Europe, well on DAZN. So, I'm. not sure. I'm either not understanding the question, or we need to do more homework together on what exactly ..."
Haase: "I can clarify -- if game is on TNT or NHL Network, you can't watch it on ESPN+."
Bettman: "Well, because those are exclusive national games."
Haase: "Right. So that's something you're OK with? Multiple streaming platforms? You're not --"
Bettman: "We think having a linear presence on major networks is important. Probably 1,100 of our 1,312 regular-season games are available on ESPN+. And then the national games, in terms of our following, it's important to be on ESPN, ABC, TNT, those are important outlets to get us the greatest possible distribution."
So, there you have it. If you're in the U.S. and can't watch these games in Sweden because you aren't in-market and rely on ESPN+, well, that's part of ensuring the NHL gets greater distribution -- just not to you, specifically.
Don't expect it to get better anytime soon.
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