Full Breakdown
National Hockey League’s (NHL) Shifts Local Broadcasts to Team-Owned Networks with Centralized Production
7/22/2026, 1:44:05 AM
Core Event: Centralized Production Launch for Four Teams
The NHL announced that its in-house unit, NHL Productions, will provide centralized production for the Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues beginning with the 2026-27 regular season. The league will supply studio programming, premium game production, graphics, replay capabilities and technical support, while each club retains control over distribution and advertising. Additional clubs could be added before the season opens in late September.
Background & Context
The shift follows the collapse of the regional sports-network (RSN) model that had carried these teams for years. FanDuel Sports Network (formerly Fox Sports South) broadcast Hurricanes games since the franchise moved to North Carolina in 1997. After Disney’s 2019 divestiture and the 2023 bankruptcy of Diamond Sports Group, the successor Main Street Sports Group stopped payments to local clubs and announced it would cease operations after the 2025-26 season. With the RSN ecosystem in decline, the NHL devised a hybrid model that lets clubs own their networks while the league supplies production infrastructure.
Data & Statistics
- Viewership: The Hurricanes’ six-game Stanley Cup Final series was the fifth-most-watched final on record and the largest NHL final audience since 2019.
- Regional ratings: The Wild ranked in the top ten of U.S.-based NHL teams in household ratings last season; ratings rose 41 % after acquiring Quinn Hughes.
- Local revenue benchmarks: In 2025-26, Montreal earned a league-high $70 million–$75 million from its local media rights; Edmonton about $50 million, Toronto $45 million and the New York Rangers $35 million (CNBC, late 2025).
- Broadcast volume: Each club will produce roughly 70 regular-season telecasts not carried by national partners (ABC, ESPN/ESPN+/Hulu, TNT).
Official Statements & Responses
- Marc Gregory, Blue Jackets vice president of business intelligence and broadcasting, expressed excitement about working with the league’s “award-winning production team” to deliver the best coverage to fans.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All four clubs have confirmed that details such as network names, channel line-ups, pricing for direct-to-consumer streaming and the extent of over-the-air availability remain unsettled.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We’re thrilled to launch our own sports network and provide consistent access to Hurricanes hockey for our great fans,” — Brian Fork, chief executive of Hurricanes Holdings
- “This partnership is an ideal arrangement for the St. Louis Blues that leverages the production strength of the NHL while giving our organization more control over every aspect of our local broadcasts than ever before,” — Steve Chapman, Blues Executive Vice President, Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer
- “As the regional media landscape continues to evolve, clubs need flexibility to maximize distribution and revenue from their local broadcast model,” — David Proper, the NHL’s chief media officer
What’s Next
The Hurricanes will open their 2026-27 season on Sept. 29 at home against the Florida Panthers; the Blue Jackets begin on Oct. 1 versus the Buffalo Sabres. Each organization has pledged to announce its network branding, distribution partners, channel locations and subscription pricing before the regular season starts. The league’s June 21 announcement confirmed the production partnership, and additional clubs may join the centralized model after the season begins.
