The NHL North American ice hockey league and the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA) has confirmed the award of media rights to US pay-television sports broadcaster ESPN and Canadian media company Rogers Communications for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
The confirmation by the NHL and NHLPA, which are co-organising the event, comes several weeks after the deals were first reported by TV Sports Markets.
ESPN and ESPN 2 will show coverage in the US, while the broadcaster’s ESPN International division has secured exclusive rights in 20 other countries via its Pacific Rim and Latin North platforms.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has denied that the deal with ESPN has led to “points of friction or hard feelings” with the NBC network, the NHL’s long-term rights-holder in the US.
Rogers will exploit the rights in English and French on the Sportsnet and TVA Sports pay-television channels, respectively.
The rights will cover all platforms.
The international ice hockey tournament will take place in Toronto, Canada, from September 17 to October 1, 2016. The event will be staged after a 12-year hiatus and feature eight teams, including six national teams and two representative teams.