New NHL International Broadcast Deals Boost Worldwide Coverage
The National Hockey League in conjunction with ESPN announced today it has expanded its international broadcast distribution of NHL programming throughout Europe, Japan and Latin America.
The NHL and ESPN—the League’s exclusive worldwide television representative—recently secured a series of new international television agreements that will increase the NHL’s overall international coverage to 217 countries and territories during the 2002-03 season. Financial terms of the new agreements were not disclosed consistent with the League’s policy.
In separate multi-year agreements, broadcasters in Italy (Tele +), Japan (J Sky Sports), Latin America (Digital LA), Norway (TV 2 and NRK), Portugal (Sports TV), Romania (Telesport), Switzerland (RTSI) and the United Kingdom (NASN) have agreed to televise NHL games. The new NHL broadcast partnerships in Portugal and Romania will allow television viewers in those countries to receive NHL programming for the first time.
The NHL and ESPN also renewed multi-year broadcast agreements in Australia (Fox Sports), Finland (MTV 3), France (CANAL+), Germany (Premiere), the Nordics (CANAL+ Television AB), Sweden (SVT and TV 4) and Russia (NTV +).
'With over one-third of our players coming from outside North America, the demand for NHL programming abroad remains high,' said Ken Yaffe, Group Vice President and Managing Director of NHL International.
'We are pleased to renew and expand our distribution agreements with a growing list of international broadcasters who wish to showcase the premiere hockey league in the world.'
ESPN International also will distribute NHL programming to more than 120 countries and territories on its networks that televise throughout Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and the Pacific Rim.
This year’s NHL international broadcast distribution will air more than 400 original NHL games including, regular-season, NHL All-Star and Stanley Cup Playoff broadcasts—a 20 percent increase in programming over last year’s international distribution.
It’s estimated that over 300 million households outside North America receive NHL programming.
'The NHL offers some of the most exciting action in the world of sports,' said Mark Reilly, ESPN’s vice president and general manager, international sales. 'We are pleased to play a role in bringing the NHL to millions of hockey fans worldwide.'
NHL international programming also scheduled for distribution outside North America this season include NHL PowerWeek—a weekly show focusing on the League’s international players and highlights of the week’s best action.
A weekly schedule of NHL International broadcasts is listed each week on NHL.com and NHLmedia.com.
For further information please contact:
Jamey Horan
Director of Communications
National Hockey League
T: +1 212 789 2785
F: +1 212 789 2080
E: jhoran@nhl.com
The NHL and ESPN—the League’s exclusive worldwide television representative—recently secured a series of new international television agreements that will increase the NHL’s overall international coverage to 217 countries and territories during the 2002-03 season. Financial terms of the new agreements were not disclosed consistent with the League’s policy.
In separate multi-year agreements, broadcasters in Italy (Tele +), Japan (J Sky Sports), Latin America (Digital LA), Norway (TV 2 and NRK), Portugal (Sports TV), Romania (Telesport), Switzerland (RTSI) and the United Kingdom (NASN) have agreed to televise NHL games. The new NHL broadcast partnerships in Portugal and Romania will allow television viewers in those countries to receive NHL programming for the first time.
The NHL and ESPN also renewed multi-year broadcast agreements in Australia (Fox Sports), Finland (MTV 3), France (CANAL+), Germany (Premiere), the Nordics (CANAL+ Television AB), Sweden (SVT and TV 4) and Russia (NTV +).
'With over one-third of our players coming from outside North America, the demand for NHL programming abroad remains high,' said Ken Yaffe, Group Vice President and Managing Director of NHL International.
'We are pleased to renew and expand our distribution agreements with a growing list of international broadcasters who wish to showcase the premiere hockey league in the world.'
ESPN International also will distribute NHL programming to more than 120 countries and territories on its networks that televise throughout Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and the Pacific Rim.
This year’s NHL international broadcast distribution will air more than 400 original NHL games including, regular-season, NHL All-Star and Stanley Cup Playoff broadcasts—a 20 percent increase in programming over last year’s international distribution.
It’s estimated that over 300 million households outside North America receive NHL programming.
'The NHL offers some of the most exciting action in the world of sports,' said Mark Reilly, ESPN’s vice president and general manager, international sales. 'We are pleased to play a role in bringing the NHL to millions of hockey fans worldwide.'
NHL international programming also scheduled for distribution outside North America this season include NHL PowerWeek—a weekly show focusing on the League’s international players and highlights of the week’s best action.
A weekly schedule of NHL International broadcasts is listed each week on NHL.com and NHLmedia.com.
For further information please contact:
Jamey Horan
Director of Communications
National Hockey League
T: +1 212 789 2785
F: +1 212 789 2080
E: jhoran@nhl.com