The Fox Sports division of US network Fox has signed a multi-year live streaming partnership with North American ice hockey league the NHL.
Under the agreement, which will commence with the 2016-17 season, NHL games shown on Fox Sports’ regional networks will be live streamed via the Fox Sports Go platform. The streams will be available to customers of participating pay-television providers.
Operators, including new streaming services, will also be able to deliver NHL games through their digital platforms.
Fox Sports regional networks have local media rights partnerships with 12 NHL teams: the Anaheim Ducks, Arizona Coyotes, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning.
“We believe increasing accessibility to NHL games benefits not only fans, but the league and its partners,” David Proper, the NHL’s executive vice-president of media distribution, strategy and business affairs, said.
Major League Baseball in November agreed a three-year deal with Fox to provide live in-market streaming of MLB games. The agreement, which runs from 2016 to 2018, encompasses the 15 regional sports networks operated by Fox Sports. The teams provided with in-market streaming of games via computers and mobile devices are: Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks, San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays.