The NHL and NBC Sports Group have announced an agreement extending their partnership 10 years through the 2020-21 season, while also increasing the amount of coverage.
"This is the most significant U.S. media rights partnership in the League's history," said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. “NBC Universal / Comcast is one of the most important, connected and 'wired' media companies in the U.S., and as the potential of the NBC Sports Group is realized, the importance of our relationship will become more apparent to hockey fans and our business partners.
"NBC Sports and Comcast have been fantastic partners. They have provided incredible coverage of our sport and have teamed with us to deliver the best TV viewership figures in three decades. It is a credit to our players, our great game and our outstanding fans that Brian Roberts, Steve Burke, Dick Ebersol and their teams would make a commitment of this scale. We also know the best is yet to come."
"We have significantly increased the value of the NBC Sports Group with this unprecedented, 10-year agreement with the National Hockey League," said Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Sports Group.
"What’s particularly exciting for us is not only the significant increase in regular season games, but the reality of a dream that every single playoff game will air on an NBC Sports Group platform. For the first time, the Conference Semifinal round will be exclusive on VERSUS with a 200 percent increase in games. In the regular season, we’re increasing VERSUS’ coverage from roughly 50 to 90 games."
"I cannot understate the importance of Gary Bettman’s leadership. He understands the scope and the promotional ability of not only our new NBC Sports Group, but of the new NBCUniversal under Comcast’s ownership. The NHL has been and will continue to be one of our cornerstone properties."
The NHL and NBC Sports Group's previous agreement, forged in 2005, saw significant increases in ratings and revenues over its six-year course.
