NHL rights package could net over $600 million, but NBC is needed

After announcing a huge deal with ESPN last week worth roughly $400 million per year, the NHL could be in for another huge money-maker if they can get NBC on board too. Prior to the deal with ESPN, NBC Sports was paying roughly $200 million per year, and now the NHL could attract even more money.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is ecstatic for the new deal, calling it «groundbreaking», and that the NHL will «benefit from the incomparable power, reach, and influence of The Walt Disney Company and ABC/ESPN.»

«It sets a new standard in delivering our game to the most passionate and tech-savvy fans in sports in the ways they now demand and on the platforms they use,» Bettman said in a statement last week.

The NHL is returning to ESPN for the first time since 2004, but ESPN still recognized NHL content with coverage from longtime analyst Barry Melrose.

Senior VP of Octagon's Global Media Rights Consulting division said the NHL could garner more than $600 million annually for its entire package by renewing its deal with NBC also. NBC can offer a tricast distribution model, which is something that would help spread the popularity of the game.

«Now they are making decisions about sports less so based on executive preference and more so based on what purpose the content will serve,» Cohen said. «Something that has as much volume as hockey, they can go with a tricast model across ABC, ESPN, and ESPN+/Hulu.»

NHL teams and fans are already used to seeing NHL broadcasting on the network, and it would be surprising to see NBC just let the sport go after investing so much in it. Having a separate deal with NBC would be huge for both the NHL and NBC sports.

Source: CNBC

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