NHL to Begin Negotiations for New Media Rights Deal Aiming for Significant Fee Increase
The National Hockey League (NHL) is set to begin formal negotiations for a new media rights agreement starting January 1. The league aims to secure an increase in overall rights fees between 50% and 100% compared to its current seven-year, $4.5 billion deal with Disney/ESPN and Skydance (TNT Sports). This negotiation is viewed as a critical bellwether for the valuation of non-NFL sports rights in a fragmented media landscape. The NHL enters negotiations from a position of strength, following record-breaking viewership numbers. Last season's playoffs averaged 1.8 million viewers per game, and regular-season averages rose 25% year-over-year. Both incumbent partners, Disney/ESPN and Skydance, have expressed preliminary interest in renewing their partnerships, with Disney specifically seeking more playoff coverage.
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Topics: media valuation NHL media rights negotiations sports broadcasting deals