Fox is now the frontrunner for the NHL’s remaining media rights, per the same reporter who broke news of ESPN’s deal with the league earlier this year. Plus: news on English Premier League rights, the NFL and the European Super League.
Fox said to be frontrunner for NHL “B” package
Hockey Night in Canada reporter Chris Johnston, who was first to report that ESPN would acquire the NHL’s primary media rights package, said on-air Saturday that Fox Sports is now the frontrunner to acquire the league’s remaining media rights, ahead of incumbent NBC. That comes within days of WWE president Nick Khan saying that his organization — which has a relationship with NBC through USA Network — is operating under the “belief that NBC and the NHL are not going to continue to be in business together.” The Athletic reported earlier this week NBC was still the “betting favorite” to hold onto the “B” package.
In other NHL news, the league identified October 12 as a target date for the start of its 2021-22 season, according to multiple reports this week. In a typical year, the season would begin about a week earlier. The last season to begin in October — 2019-20 — started on the second of the month. [Richard Deitsch/Twitter 4.24; Pierre LeBrun/Twitter 4.21]
NBC looking to renew Premier League deal
NBC Sports is seeking to renew its English Premier League media rights deal, but will likely face competition from ESPN and CBS Sports for the rights, Front Office Sports reported this week. NBC’s EPL deal expires at the end of the 2021-22 season and negotiations “are expected to heat up over the next several months.”
NBC has owned Premier League rights dating back to the 2013-14 season. NBC, ESPN and CBS each have over-the-top streaming services — Peacock, ESPN+ and Paramount+ respectively — that are heavily invested into international soccer. [Front Office Sports 4.21]
NFL sets schedule release date and scores Hulu deal
The 2021-22 NFL regular season schedule will be released May 12 at 8 PM ET, the league said this week. The May 12 date is about a week later than last year, which itself was later-than-usual. The 2019 schedule was released on April 17.
In other NFL news, NFL Media reached a carriage agreement with Hulu earlier this week that will make NFL Network and NFL RedZone available to “Hulu + Live TV” subscribers beginning August 1. Barring any changes between now and then, NFL Network and RedZone would be available on the four primary streaming MVPDs — Hulu, YouTube TV, Sling and Fubo. [NFL PR 4.21, 4.22]
ESL chairman says chagrined clubs cannot leave
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, chairman of the European Super League, said Saturday that the 12 clubs originally committed to the new and controversial organization had agreed to binding contracts and “cannot leave.” For anyone still unaware, the ESL was announced just last Sunday with 12 of the highest-profile European soccer clubs — Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham, AC Milan, Juventus, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Barcelona — committing to the project. In the face of mounting backlash, all but Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona have backed out.
Perez said that the ESL project “or one very similar” will eventually “move forward and I hope very soon.” [BBC 4.24]
