Home / Sports / NHL Ratings Jump: Will Media Rights Deals Keep Pace?
NHL Ratings Jump: Will Media Rights Deals Keep Pace?
27 Jun
Summary
- 2026 Stanley Cup Final viewership hit 5.2 million, highest since 2019.
- NHL's current deal with ESPN/TNT is $4.5 billion over 7 years.
- NFL's upcoming media rights negotiations may impact NHL's deal value.
The 2026 Stanley Cup Final saw impressive viewership numbers, averaging 5.2 million viewers across six games. This marks the most-watched Final since 2019 and represents substantial growth compared to previous years. Despite this surge, media rights analyst William Mao of Octagon suggests the NHL may not achieve significantly higher fees in its upcoming media rights deal.
Mao cited ongoing market disruptions, the decline of traditional cable television, and reduced spending by media companies as potential challenges. Furthermore, the NFL's active pursuit of early extensions for its broadcast agreements could create significant ripple effects across the sports media landscape. This may force even premier properties like the NHL to reassess their media rights strategies.
The NHL's current 7-year, $4.5 billion agreement with ESPN and TNT Sports began in the 2021-22 season. While substantial, it is considerably less than the NBA's massive $76 billion deals. The MLB's recent deal with ESPN also shows ESPN paying more per year for baseball rights than for NHL rights, despite the NHL contract including postseason and All-Star events.
