The National Hockey League (NHL) has signed a multi-year strategic partnership with DAZN, positioning the sports streaming platform as the new global distributor of NHL.TV outside key North American and Nordic markets.
Effective from the 2025–26 season, the agreement grants DAZN exclusive rights to NHL.TV content in nearly 200 countries. The partnership will see NHL.TV — which provides live and on-demand coverage of every NHL game, including the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Final — fully integrated into DAZN’s platform. The U.S., Canada, and the Nordic region (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden) are excluded from the deal.
Commenting on the deal, DAZN Group CEO Shay Segev described the agreement as a important step forward in growing the platform’s premium content portfolio, pointing to DAZN’s aim to unlocking new ways for fans to connect with the game they love.
For DAZN, which already hosts properties such as NFL Game Pass and FIBA’s Courtside 1891, the move enhances its positioning as a multi-sport hub.
The NHL content will be available either as a standalone subscription or as an add-on to existing DAZN packages, enabling flexible pricing and bundling options. With more than 120 million registered users globally, DAZN brings significant audience scale and marketing reach to the NHL’s international expansion efforts.
From the other perspective, the partnership aligns with the NHL’s growing emphasis on global engagement. According to NHL Chief Operating Officer Steve McArdle, approximately 30% of NHL players are born outside North America, a demographic that highlights the importance of accessible international coverage.
Commercially, the agreement allows the NHL to consolidate its global direct-to-consumer offering under a single, tech-led partner, eliminating the need for platform maintenance and marketing in multiple international territories.
It also reflects a broader trend of rights holders seeking turnkey global distribution solutions amid shifting consumer behaviour and declining linear television audiences.
the NHL–DAZN deal may serve as a case study in outsourcing international OTT infrastructure, while for DAZN, it boosts the platform’s credentials in aggregating high-value sports properties for international audiences.
Further details, including pricing and migration plans for current NHL.TV users, are expected to be announced closer to the start of the 2025–26 season.
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