On the heels of getting agreements with MLB and the NBA to stream local games in-market, Fox has now gotten the green light to begin streaming NHL games to local fans next season. John Ourand of Sports Business Journal reports that after five years of talks, Fox and the NHL reached an agreement that allows in-market streams of the 12 teams to which it owns the rights.
Ourand writes that no contracts have been signed, but the agreement in-principle allows Fox to start streaming to authenticated users in the 2016-17 season. Those who want to watch the games will have to subscribe to a cable or satellite provider.
Fox now has in-market streaming deals with all of the three leagues to which it owns local rights. Three years ago, the NBA came to an agreement with Fox. Then earlier this year, it was MLB and now it has the NHL in-market streaming rights.
NBC Sports Group which is the other large cable rightsholder with the NHL has not made a deal for its teams nor does it have one in place for MLB.
So for the fans in the markets of the 12 teams of which Fox owns the rights, Anaheim, Arizona, Carolina, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Florida, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis and Tampa Bay, they’ll be able to access the games online as long as they have a cable or satellite subscription.
It’s been a long time in coming and for the NHL’s fans who are known to be very tech-savvy, this could be very well worth the wait.
[Sports Business Journal (subscription req.)]
