NHL season is underway, and depending on your home team or who you traditionally root for, there are more flexible and affordable options than ever before.
The continuing demise of Regional Sports Networks has been a boon for cord-cutters.
Approximately 22% of NHL teams offer free in-market broadcasts to local fans during the 2024-2025 season. Specifically, 7 out of the 32 teams have implemented free viewing options:
- Anaheim Ducks: Games are available over-the-air on KCOP-TV and KTTV, and via the free streaming service Victory+.
- Dallas Stars: Games are streamed for free through Victory+.
- Florida Panthers: Games are broadcast over-the-air on Scripps-owned stations and streamed via Panthers Plus.
- Seattle Kraken: Games are available over-the-air on KONG-TV and streamed on Amazon Prime Video at no extra cost.
- Chicago Blackhawks: Games are broadcast over-the-air on WJYS-Ch. 62’s substations.
- Utah Hockey Club: Games are broadcast over-the-air and streamed via UtahHC+.
- Vegas Golden Knights: Games are broadcast over-the-air on Scripps-owned stations and streamed via KnightTime+.
While this is still a minority of hockey fans in the U.S., it marks a significant win for millions of fans. These local, in-market games were previously on AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain, Bally Sports West, Bally Sports Southwest, Bally Sports Florida, ROOT Sports Northwest, and NBC Sports Chicago.
In most cases, that meant paying upwards of $80 per month to watch local, in-market games, which are now free.
However, the majority of NHL teams still require subscriptions to regional sports networks or streaming services for in-market game access.
The breakdown of RSNs also gives a new edge to Sling TV, which currently offers the cheapest way to get ESPN for $40 per month.
If someone is using a TV antenna to get the “Big Four” broadcasters – ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX – along with local in-market games, then they have essentially cobbled together a more budget-friendly way to watch hockey.
When ESPN debuts its standalone streaming service next year – which will include the ESPN family of channels – it will be interesting to see if it’s priced lower than Sling TV and other current streaming options.
Many RSNs have faced financial challenges, notably Diamond Sports Group, the owner of Bally Sports networks, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 2023.
With a continuing decline in traditional cable subscriptions, teams are adapting to the growing demand for streaming services and over-the-air broadcasts. This approach aims to reach a broader audience, while still leveraging revenue such as on-air advertising and in some cases direct-to-consumer subscriptions.
As the landscape of sports broadcasting continues to evolve, other NHL teams may consider similar transitions, especially if their current RSN agreements become untenable.
