New Hockey League Puts the NHL to Shame When it Comes to Game Availability

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TJ Tucker
December 31, 2023 (9:31)

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This is how you ensure as many people as possible are watching your games. A new hockey opening in just days has released its ways to view games, and anyone who wants to watch will have plenty of ways to do so.

The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) is set to open on Jan. 1, 2024 with a game between New York and Toronto. In Canada, it will be available on CBC, TSN, and Sportsnet, while MSG Networks, NESN, and Sportsnet Pittsburgh will carry it in the US. It will also be streamed live on CBC Gem, YouTube, and in
French by ICI TOU.TV. The Youtube feed will be available outside of Canada, maximizing the audience for the debut.

"The season opener will be available on CBC, TSN and Sportsnet in Canada.

MSG Networks will be the home of all 24 New York games.

NESN will be the home of all 24 Boston games.

All games will be streamed on the league's YouTube channel and available outside of Canada.

If you've tried to keep up with your favourite teams in the NHL, and have had trouble avoiding regional blackouts, geographical streaming blocks, and other walls, you're far from alone. The league is absolutely awful, and arguably the worst among the major leagues, when it comes to game availability without watching it at the arena. While the PWHL will likely need time to catch up to the NHL in viewership, it's worth noting that the NHL is pretty much last for the major sports leagues when comes to fans in the United States. Perhaps the NHL's Board of Governors could take a lesson from the PWHL when it comes to accessibility.

Here is a summary of where you can watch PWHL games starting on New Year's Day.

- PWHL season opener will be available to Canadian viewers live on CBC, TSN, and Sportsnet national television feeds, streamed on CBC Gem, ca, the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices, TSN.ca, the TSN app, and Sportsnet+. French-language coverage will appear on ICI TOU.TV.

- PWHL season opener is available to United States regional TV viewers with MSG Networks and NESN.

- All subsequent PWHL regular-season games are available to Canadian viewers on coverage divided across TSN, CBC, and Sportsnet which includes linear television and streaming on TSN+, CBC Gem, ca, the CBC Sports app, and Sportsnet+. Additional games will be announced pending NHL and AHL playoff schedules.

- French-language coverage of all Montreal games will be split between RDS and Radio-Canada, ICI TOU.TV.

- MSG Networks will be the home of all 24 PWHL New York games.

- NESN will be the home of all 24 PWHL Boston games for fans in New England, excluding Fairfield County. Fans in New England can watch on NESN or stream on the NESN 360 app by logging in with their TV provider or purchasing a direct subscription.

-League agreements with regional networks allow out-of-market distribution including the potential for games to be added on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and other networks on a case-by-case basis.

- All PWHL games will be streamed on the league's YouTube channel and available outside of Canada.

- The league may announce additional broadcast partners throughout the season.