from Libby Sweeney of CLNS Media

With the current US TV rights contract between the NHL and NBC ending in 2021-2022, formal discussions and negotiations can begin next year around who the NHL will work with next. Buccigross pointed out there are more possibilities than one might think.

“It’s hard to say,” Buccigross said about where TV rights will go. “So anybody out there, whether you’re a TV network like ESPN or FOX, or [even] Apple or Google or Amazon; if they want to get in the game—I mean, let’s face it, those guys could buy the rights for every sport. So you just don’t know.”

The league could also look to do a deal with multiple networks, like the NFL, MLB, and NBA. WHatever route the league chooses, Buccigross “certainly hope[s] ESPN gets a piece.

“The world is changing fast with streaming. Now, when you’re the NHL, you want to balance maximizing money, but you also still want distribution. The [league] will need to be convinced there’ll be similar distribution,” Buccigross said.

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