NHL ice hockey franchise the Buffalo Sabres have agreed a television rights deal with Canadian telecommunications company Bell, giving the team a major broadcast footprint in the Southern Ontario region for the first time.
Sabres games, previously available on the NHL’s out-of-market Center Ice package, will now be included as part of Bell TV’s regular programming – at no extra cost – starting with tonight’s match against Columbus Blue Jackets.
A total of 50 Sabres game broadcasts from the 2013-14 season will be carried only on Bell Fibe and satellite television services in homes from Fort Erie/Niagara Falls to Stoney Creek in Southern Ontario.
The Sabres draw many fans from the neighbouring Niagara area and have spent several years attempting to broaden their exposure in the region.
Buffalo Sabres president Ted Black said: “We have been aware of the very large number of Sabres fans in Southern Ontario for quite some time and, until now, they have been able to see only a very small percentage of Sabres television broadcasts despite being geographically closer to us than Rochester.”
He added: “They’ve been crossing the border to come to games at the arena for years and now they’ll be able to watch a majority of Sabres games from the comfort of their homes.”