"Currently national media rights are held by ESPN (which also includes ABC) and TNT sports. The current media rights deals are worth a combined $625 million and expire after the 2028 season. Getting early extensions done is something out of Gary Bettman's playbook the first few years, especially when it comes to player relations and how the current CBA was handled."
"Well the NFL is expected to move up its media rights negotiations. From the NHL's perspective they want a deal done earlier than later before the media networks commit big money to their pigskin counterparts. The media networks know that the NFL will command a pretty penny, one that makes the NHL's look like pocket change, and wants to save every available financial resource for when that happens."
NHL leadership initiated contact with U.S. media partners to explore pre-emptive extensions of national media-rights agreements. ESPN (including ABC) and TNT currently hold the national rights in deals worth a combined $625 million that expire after the 2028 season. Commissioner Gary Bettman has previously sought early agreements in other areas and views early extensions as a way to secure long-term financial stability as the salary cap rises. U.S. broadcasters are reluctant because impending NFL rights negotiations will demand major spending. NBC's revived sports channel and ESPN's recent expansion, including regulatory approval of its NFL Network acquisition, could affect future bidding dynamics.
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