Editing National Hockey League (section)

==Media coverage==
{{main|National Hockey League on television}}
{{see also|List of current National Hockey League broadcasters}}
[[File:Alexander Ovechkin Sergei Fedorov (3485559648).jpg|thumb|Members of the media interviewing players on ice after a game in 2009]]

===Canada===
Broadcasting rights in Canada have historically included the [[CBC Television|CBC]]'s ''[[Hockey Night in Canada]]'' (''HNIC''), a Canadian tradition dating to 1952,<ref name="hnic1">{{Cite news|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/hnic/seasoninfo.html |title=HNIC in 2005–06 |year=2005 |access-date=June 19, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060210225017/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/hnic/seasoninfo.html |archive-date=February 10, 2006 }}</ref><ref name="hnic2">{{Cite news|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |title=Hockey Night in Canada: A history of excellence |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/hnic/histrad.html |year=2005 |access-date=June 19, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060210224941/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/hnic/histrad.html |archive-date=February 10, 2006 }}</ref> and even prior to that on radio since the 1920s.

The current national television and digital rightsholder is [[Rogers Communications]], under a 12-year deal valued at [[Canadian dollar|C]]$5.2&nbsp;billion which began in the [[2014–15 NHL season|2014–15 season]], as the national broadcast and cable television rightsholders. National [[NHL on Sportsnet|English-language coverage]] of the NHL is carried primarily by Rogers' [[Sportsnet]] group of specialty channels; Sportsnet holds national windows on Wednesday and Sunday nights. ''Hockey Night in Canada'' was maintained and expanded under the deal, airing up to seven games nationally on Saturday nights throughout the regular season. CBC maintains Rogers-produced NHL coverage during the regular season and playoffs.<ref name=gandm-howcbclost>{{cite news|last1=Shoalts|first1=David|title=Hockey Night in Canada: How CBC lost it all|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/hockey-night-in-canada-how-cbc-lost-it-all/article21072643/|website=The Globe and Mail|access-date=October 11, 2014|archive-date=October 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013140723/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/hockey-night-in-canada-how-cbc-lost-it-all/article21072643/|url-status=live}}</ref> Sportsnet's networks also air occasional games involving all-U.S. matchups.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/nearly-500-nhl-games-to-air-under-rogers-deal/ | title=500-plus NHL games to air under Rogers deal | work=Sportsnet | date=February 4, 2014 | access-date=February 5, 2014 | archive-date=March 2, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302174135/http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/nearly-500-nhl-games-to-air-under-rogers-deal/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=gandm-rogersnhl14>{{cite news|title=Rogers reaches 12-year broadcast deal with NHL worth $5.2-billion|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rogers-reaches-12-year-broadcast-deal-with-nhl-worth-52-billion/article15600412/|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=November 26, 2013|location=Toronto|date=November 27, 2013|archive-date=November 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126135920/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rogers-reaches-12-year-broadcast-deal-with-nhl-worth-52-billion/article15600412/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=cbcnews-rogersnhl>{{cite news|title=Rogers scores national NHL TV rights for $5.2B|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/rogers-scores-national-nhl-tv-rights-for-5-2b-1.2440645|publisher=CBC News|access-date=November 26, 2013|archive-date=November 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127055949/http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/rogers-scores-national-nhl-tv-rights-for-5-2b-1.2440645|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=torstar-hugeblow>{{cite news|title=NHL deal with Rogers a huge blow to TSN and CBC: Mudhar|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2013/11/26/nhl_deal_with_rogers_a_huge_blow_to_tsn_and_cbc_mudhar.html|work=Toronto Star|access-date=November 26, 2013|date=November 26, 2013|archive-date=November 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129144226/http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2013/11/26/nhl_deal_with_rogers_a_huge_blow_to_tsn_and_cbc_mudhar.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=cbcsports-rogers14>{{cite news|title=CBC partners with Rogers in landmark NHL rights deal|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/cbc-partners-with-rogers-in-landmark-nhl-rights-deal-1.2440326|work=CBC Sports|access-date=November 26, 2013|archive-date=November 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127055701/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/cbc-partners-with-rogers-in-landmark-nhl-rights-deal-1.2440326|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=gandm-hnicnewgame>{{cite news|last1=Bradshaw|first1=James|title=Rogers' Hockey Night in Canada will be a whole new game for viewers|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/canadians-prepare-for-more-game-coverage-storytelling-with-new-nhl-season/article20930976/?page=all|access-date=October 12, 2014|work=The Globe and Mail|archive-date=October 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014013616/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/canadians-prepare-for-more-game-coverage-storytelling-with-new-nhl-season/article20930976/?page=all|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Quebecor Media]] holds national [[French language|French-language]] rights to the NHL, with all coverage airing on its specialty channel [[TVA Sports]].<ref name=nhl-tvasports>{{cite web|title=NHL, TVA Sports launch French-language agreement|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=729553|website=National Hockey League|access-date=September 21, 2014|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006092341/http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=729553|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=torstar-rogersnhl14>{{cite news|title=NHL signs 12-year TV, Internet deal with Rogers; CBC keeps 'Hockey Night in Canada'|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2013/11/26/nhl_signs_12year_broadcast_deal_with_rogers_cbc_keeps_hockey_night_in_canada.html|work=Toronto Star|access-date=November 26, 2013|date=November 26, 2013|archive-date=November 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131128002004/http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2013/11/26/nhl_signs_12year_broadcast_deal_with_rogers_cbc_keeps_hockey_night_in_canada.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Games that are not broadcast as part of the national rights deal are broadcast by Sportsnet's regional feeds, [[The Sports Network|TSN]]'s regional feeds, and [[Réseau des sports|RDS]]. Regional games are subject to [[blackout (broadcasting)#NHL|blackout]] for viewers outside of each team's designated market.<ref name="fagstein-habs15">{{cite web|url=http://blog.fagstein.com/2014/08/18/nhl-regional-schedule-2014-15/|title=NHL broadcast schedule 2014–15: Who owns rights to what games|first=Steve|last=Faguy|work=Fagstein|date=August 18, 2014|access-date=August 23, 2014|archive-date=August 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822160027/http://blog.fagstein.com/2014/08/18/nhl-regional-schedule-2014-15/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===United States===
{{main|History of the National Hockey League on United States television}}
Historically, the NHL has never fared well on American television in comparison to the other American professional leagues. The league's American broadcast partners had been in flux for decades prior to 1995. Hockey broadcasting on a national scale was particularly spotty prior to 1981; [[NHL on NBC|NBC]], [[NHL on CBS|CBS]], and [[NHL on ABC|ABC]] held rights at various times during that period but with limited schedules during the second half of the regular season and the playoffs, along with some (but not all) of the [[Stanley Cup Finals]]. The NHL primarily was then only available on [[Cable television in the United States|cable television]] after 1981, airing on the [[NHL on USA|USA Network]], [[NHL on SportsChannel America|SportsChannel America]], and [[ESPN National Hockey Night|ESPN]] at various times. Since 1995, national coverage has been split between broadcast and cable, first with [[NHL on Fox|Fox]] and ESPN from 1995 to 1999, then followed by ABC and ESPN from 1999 to 2004. The U.S. national rights were then held by NBC and [[NHL on Versus|OLN]] (later renamed [[Versus (TV channel)|Versus]], then [[NBCSN]]) between the [[2004–05 NHL lockout]] and 2021.

The [[2021–22 NHL season|2021–22 season]] marks the first year of seven-year agreements with [[NHL on ESPN|ESPN]] and [[NHL on TNT|TNT (formerly Turner) Sports]].<ref name="CNBC2021">{{cite news|title=NHL moving to Turner Sports is $1 billion risk-reward for hockey|work=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/27/turner-sports-nhl-announce-seven-year-deal-for-broadcast-rights.html|date=April 27, 2021|accessdate=April 27, 2021|archive-date=November 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104084621/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/27/turner-sports-nhl-announce-seven-year-deal-for-broadcast-rights.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ESPN's deal includes 25 regular season games on ABC or ESPN, and 75 exclusive games streamed on [[ESPN+]] and [[Hulu]].<ref name="ESPN announcement">{{cite news|title=NHL back on ESPN with 7-year multiplatform deal|work=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/31039351/nhl-back-espn-7-year-multiplatform-deal|date=March 10, 2021|accessdate=April 13, 2021|archive-date=March 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311091548/https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/31039351/nhl-back-espn-7-year-multiplatform-deal|url-status=live}}</ref> Turner Sports' coverage includes up to 72 regular season games on TNT, with early round playoff coverage split between TNT and [[TBS (American TV channel)|TBS]].<ref name="Turner announcement">{{cite news|title=Turner Sports inks 7-year deal with NHL, will air 3 Stanley Cup finals|work=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/31346196/turner-sports-inks-seven-year-deal-nhl-air-3-stanley-cup-finals|date=April 27, 2021|accessdate=April 27, 2021|archive-date=April 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427171552/https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/31346196/turner-sports-inks-seven-year-deal-nhl-air-3-stanley-cup-finals|url-status=live}}</ref> The playoffs will be split between ESPN and TNT, with ABC televising the Stanley Cup Finals during even years and TNT (simulcast with TBS and [[TruTV]]) televising the championship series during odd years.<ref name="CNBC2021"/>

As in Canada, games not broadcast nationally are aired regionally within a team's home market and are subject to [[Blackout (broadcasting)#MLB/NHL blackout policies|blackout]] outside of them. These broadcasters include [[regional sports network]] chains. Certain national telecasts are non-exclusive, and may also air in tandem with telecasts of the game by local broadcasters. However, national telecasts of these games are blacked out in the participating teams' markets to protect the local broadcaster.

===NHL Network===
{{main|NHL Network (American TV channel)|NHL Network (Canadian TV channel)}}
[[File:NHL Network at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.jpg|thumb|The [[NHL Network (American TV channel)|NHL Network]]'s television panel at the [[2019 NHL entry draft]] at [[Rogers Arena]] in Vancouver]]
The league co-owns the NHL Network, a television specialty channel devoted to the NHL. Its signature show is ''[[NHL Tonight]]''. The NHL Network also airs live games, but primarily simulcasts of one of the team's regional broadcasters.

===Out-of-market packages===
[[NHL Centre Ice]] in Canada<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=27197 |title=NHL Centre Ice (Canada) official website |publisher=Nhl.com |access-date=March 14, 2014 |archive-date=March 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303155429/http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=27197 |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[NHL Center Ice]] in the United States<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=26371 |title=NHL Center Ice United States official website |work=NHL.com |access-date=March 14, 2014 |archive-date=March 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323075601/http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=26371 |url-status=live }}</ref> are the league's subscription-based, [[out-of-market sports package]]s that offer access to out-of-market feeds of games through a cable or satellite television provider.

The league originally launched ''NHL GameCenter Live'' in 2008, allowing the streaming of out-of-market games over the internet.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2008/09/hands-on-nhl-com-2-0-goes-top-shelf-with-streaming-video/ |title=Hands on: NHL.com 2.0 goes top shelf with streaming video |work=Ars Technica |date=September 25, 2008 |access-date=July 10, 2021 |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185140/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2008/09/hands-on-nhl-com-2-0-goes-top-shelf-with-streaming-video/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Major League Baseball Advanced Media|MLB Advanced Media]] then took over of its day-to-day operations in 2016, renaming it ''NHL.tv''.<ref name="NHL-MLBAM-deal">{{cite web
 | url = https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-major-league-baseball-advanced-media-form-transformative-digital-rights-partnership/c-776246
 | title = NHL, Major League Baseball Advanced Media form transformative digital-rights partnership
 | last = Rosen
 | first = Dan
 | date = August 4, 2015
 | publisher = NHL
 | access-date = February 21, 2020
 | archive-date = December 22, 2019
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191222025823/https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-major-league-baseball-advanced-media-form-transformative-digital-rights-partnership/c-776246
 | url-status = live
 }}</ref> Under its contract, [[Rogers Communications]] distributes the service in Canada as ''NHL Live'';<ref name=np-everygame>{{cite news|title=Rogers will allow you to watch even more NHL games online this season ... just not all of them|url=http://sports.nationalpost.com/2014/09/03/how-rogers-will-allow-you-to-watch-even-more-nhl-games-online-this-season-just-not-all-of-them/|access-date=18 September 2014|work=National Post|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140918202857/http://sports.nationalpost.com/2014/09/03/how-rogers-will-allow-you-to-watch-even-more-nhl-games-online-this-season-just-not-all-of-them/|archive-date=18 September 2014}}</ref> it will be incorporated into Sportsnet Now Premium for the 2022–23 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Canadian NHL fans won't be able to access NHL Live in 2022–23|url=https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/canadian-nhl-fans-wont-be-able-to-access-nhl-live-in-2022-2023|website=The Province|date=June 15, 2022|access-date=June 16, 2022|archive-date=June 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615233021/https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/canadian-nhl-fans-wont-be-able-to-access-nhl-live-in-2022-2023|url-status=live}}</ref> Under [[ESPN]]'s contract, the league's out-of-market streaming package was incorporated into [[ESPN+]] for those viewers in the United States in 2021.<ref name="ESPN announcement"/>

===International===
Outside of Canada and the United States, NHL games are broadcast across Europe, in the Middle East, in Australia,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.foxtel.com.au/whats-on/channels/fox-sports-1/default.htm |title= Fox Sports 1 [501] |publisher= Foxtel.com.au |access-date= April 9, 2010 |archive-date= April 2, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100402052505/http://www.foxtel.com.au/whats-on/channels/fox-sports-1/default.htm |url-status= live }}</ref> and in the Americas across Mexico, Central America, Dominican Republic, Caribbean, South America and Brazil, among others.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NHL Television Broadcasting |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=25288 |access-date=June 27, 2022 |website=www.nhl.com |archive-date=June 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627010846/http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=25288 |url-status=live }}</ref>

''NHL.tv'' is also available for people in most countries to watch games online, but blackout restrictions may still apply if a game is being televised in the user's country. For those in selected international markets where ESPN also holds the streaming rights, they must instead access games on the ESPN platform used in that particular country: ESPNPlayer, ESPN Play, the ESPN App, or [[Disney+]] (previously [[Star+]]). And those in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom must use [[Viaplay]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/info/where-to-stream|title=Where to Stream|website=NHL.com|access-date=August 27, 2021|archive-date=August 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827012644/https://www.nhl.com/info/where-to-stream|url-status=live}}</ref>