NHL reaches agreement with partner after bankruptcy declaration
Earlier this year, Bally Sports, who is the NHL's regional broadcaster for some of their teams, declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy after their owner revealed that the company is over $8 billion in debt.
The move to declare bankruptcy left 11 of the NHL's franchises scrambling to find new ways to broadcast their games locally, but now, it appears that the league and Diamond Sports Group, who owns Bally Sports, have reached an agreement.
According to ESPN, the NHL and Diamond Sports Group have reached an agreement for Bally Sports to remain the local broadcaster for 11 NHL teams for the remainder of the 2023-24 season. Once the season concludes, the local TV rights for those 11 organizations will be returned to the National Hockey League.
"The NHL and Diamond Sports Group, the largest owner of regional sports networks, have reached an agreement that will keep local broadcasts for 11 teams on Bally Sports through the end of this season.
While there will be a reduction in rights payments for some teams, the local rights for those 11 franchises will revert back to the NHL at the end of this season." ESPN said.
The 11 National Hockey League franchises who have their local rights with Bally Sports currently are the Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning. Fans in those 11 markets will now have some stability for the remainder of the season, which is great for everyone involved.
Source: ESPN
POLL |
How do you watch NHL games? |
Cable/Satellite | 135 | 48.9 % |
Streaming app | 86 | 31.2 % |
Other | 40 | 14.5 % |
See Results | 15 | 5.4 % |
List of polls |
|
1 hour ago | By Graham Montgomery Penguins complete trade with Blues while Rangers trade Kaapo Kakko to Seattle Kraken |
|
5 hours ago | By Daniel Lucente Sportsnet Analyst Links Canucks' Elias Pettersson to Canadian Team In Blockbuster Trade Rumor |
|
6 hours ago | By Daniel Lucente Concerns Mount For Robin Lehner's Safety Following His Recent Disappearance After Dark Posts |
|
8 hours ago | By Tom Banks Four Players Hit the Waiver Wire Today |
|
10 hours ago | By Tom Banks New York Rangers Forward Kaapo Kakko Linked to a Massive Trade With the Minnesota Wild |
|
11 hours ago | By TJ Tucker Threatening a Female Referee Results in a Multi-game Suspension for Former Red Wings Prospect Dick Axelsson |
|
12 hours ago | By Tom Banks Toronto Maple Leafs Latest Contract Offer Reportedly Rejected By Red-Hot Star Mitch Marner |
|
14 hours ago | By Tom Banks Crazy Rumour by Biznasty Predicts That Sean Avery May Be the Next General Manager of the New York Rangers |
Previously on Bladeofsteel