The NHL website has a page called “HOW TO WATCH & STREAM” that is relatively complicated for a major professional sports league.
For games in the United States, here’s how the league breaks it down:
National Games
- ESPN+ Streams: Stream on ESPN+ and Hulu
- TNT Streams: 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 the local market: Visit the Local Team Broadcast Information page for more details.
- Out-of-market fans: Watch on NHL Center Ice >> Stream on ESPN+
- NHL Network will broadcast select regional games throughout the season outside of local markets. These games will not be available on ESPN+.
For context, the other three major professional sports leagues make streaming relatively simple for out-of-market fans. MLB has MLB.TV, the NFL has NFL+, and the NBA has NBA League Pass.
These Global Series games are broadcast on the NHL Network, as well as in the SportsNet Pittsburgh market. This means Penguins fans in the market can stream games on the Penguins’ SNP360 platform. But what if you’re out of market and want to stream? No luck. It’s not on ESPN+. Either pay for the channel or… find less than legal options.
This is understandably a source of frustration for fans throughout the year. So I asked Gary Bettman about it ahead of the Penguins’ game against the Predators to kick off the Stockholm Global Series here.
For full context, here is 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 on my part because this game can’t be streamed. Is that something you’re OK with, the current streaming setup? Are there any plans to change it? What do you think?”
Betman: “Our out-of-market streaming offering is all in one place, on ESPN+. We respect what clubs are doing locally in their own markets. If you want to stream, including in Europe, of course on DAZN. So, I’m not sure. Either I don’t understand the question or we need to do more homework together on what exactly…”
Haase: “I can clarify: if the game is on TNT or NHL Network, you cannot watch it on ESPN+.”
Betman: “Well, because these are exclusive national games.”
Haase: “Good. So this is something you’re okay with? Multiple streaming platforms? You’re not –“
Betman: “We think it’s important to have a linear presence on the major networks. Probably 1,100 of our 1,312 regular season games are available on ESPN+. And then the national games, in terms of tracking, it’s important to be on ESPN, ABC, TNT, those are important outlets to ensure we have the widest possible distribution.”
So there you go. If you’re in the US and can’t watch these games in Sweden because you’re out of the market and relying on ESPN+, well, that’s part of ensuring the NHL gets greater distribution – just not specifically for you.
Don’t expect the situation to improve anytime soon.
