The NHL has reportedly struck a lucrative media rights extension with Canada’s Rogers Communications. Plus: the NHL is shortening the deadline by which it can flex games to Thursday night; Zach Lowe has a gig; a Thursday Night Football producer is heading back to NBC Olympics coverage.
NHL reportedly strikes lucrative extension with Rogers
The NHL has reached a 12-year media rights extension with Canada’s Rogers Communications worth approximately $640 million U.S. dollars per year, according to Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams of Sportico. The new deal, which is set to begin with the 2026-27 season, is more than double the value of Rogers’ current deal, and also surpasses the combined rights fee paid by U.S. partners ESPN and Warner Bros. Discovery.
Rogers acquired the full suite of Canadian NHL rights in 2013.
NFL owners vote to shorten TNF flex deadline
NFL owners voted Monday to shorten the deadline for flexing games Sunday afternoon to Thursday night from 28 to 21 days, according to multiple reports. The Thursday night flex, which was executed once on a trial basis last season, will be permitted on a maximum of two occasions between Weeks 13 and 17. The 21-day deadline is still longer than the 12-day minimum for Sunday* and Monday night games. (* Some games can be flexed to Sundays on a minimum of six days notice.)
Lowe joining Ringer
Former ESPN NBA analyst Zach Lowe has joined The Ringer, site founder Bill Simmons announced Sunday. Lowe joined ESPN in 2012 as a hire for Simmons’ “Grantland” site and remained with the company until he was laid off last year. He will bring his podcast to The Ringer network starting next week.
Amazon producer Riley returning to NBC for Olympics
NBC Sports announced Monday that it has hired Amazon Prime Video Thursday Night Football producer Betsy Riley to serve in the same role — full-time — on the network’s primetime Olympics coverage. Riley, who previously worked in various roles on NBC Olympics coverage from Salt Lake City 2002 through last year’s Paris Summer Games, will oversee the primetime show beginning with next year’s Winter Olympics. She also played various roles on NBC’s NFL and Triple Crown horse racing coverage.
