via Brad Adgate at Forbes,

In the upcoming months television networks will begin negotiations with several sports leagues for new TV contracts. The NHL and MLS are expected to open up negotiations as their current agreements expire. MLB which has already extended agreements with Fox and Turner Sports has ESPN up next. However, no contract renewal will be more important (or expensive) than the NFL.

The NHL’s ten-year agreement with NBC Sports at $200 million per annum expires at the end of the 2020-21 season. The NHL is looking for a significant increase in TV rights fee. Comcast and NBC have been the U.S. television home since the 2005-06 season and has introduced such popular marketing events as The Winter Classic on New Year’s Day and The Stadium Series. NBC would prefer to keep exclusive rights to the NHL but other networks are interested which will drive up the price. It has been reported NBC has the right of first refusal.

Both ESPN and Fox have indicated interest in televising hockey games. The two networks have a history in televising the NHL. ESPN televised games in 1980-82, 1985-88, and, more recently, 1992-2004. Also, ESPN has expanded their studio coverage of NHL games. The NHL on Fox aired for five seasons from 1994-1999. Fox since selling assets to Disney has been relying more on sports. Also, since the last negotiations, Fox has launched FS1, which could televise a bulk of the games. It’s also been reported that CBS may be interested in televising NHL games. CBS was the first U.S. network to televise NHL games and also has a cable sports network seeking live content.

There is also the possibility that a streaming video service may be a part of the negotiations, Facebook, Amazon, and YouTube have all been looking at live sports. A dark horse in the negotiations could be DAZN, a subscription sports streaming service launched in 2016 run by former ESPN head John Skipper.