NBC and the NHL are not going to continue to be in business together!

We already had a feeling this was coming, but we bet it still hurts the National Hockey League tremendously… 

Back in January, it was announced that NBCUniversal was expected to shut down its NBC Sports Network, NBCSN, and move some of its top sports properties to the USA network in the hopes to boost the economics of the general-entertainment cable outlet at a time when new streaming-video hubs are luring bigger audiences. NBC reportedly informed its distributors it intends to shut down NBCSN at the end of 2021, including the NHL. 

In March, the NHL and ESPN announced a seven-year, $2.8 billion dollar deal that will see NHL games broadcast on multiple cable outlets, streaming platforms and will include Stanley Cup Final games on ABC. However, the NHL was still trying to keep its deal alive with NBC Sports.

It looks like the dream is now dead. 

According to WWE President Nick Khan, the deal is dead. 

“It’s our belief that NBC and the NHL are not going to continue to be in business together. That was our belief months ago.” 

The NHL’s No. 2 media rights package is still up for grabs.

Back in 2011, NBC Sports reached a ten-year extension to their National Hockey League TV contract, which expires after this season. 

We can understand why the NHL is devastated to lose this lucrative deal.