ESPN America To Air NHL in 35 Countries

This is a delayed post since I was on the top of Space Mountain when this news broke but the NHL international blackout has pretty much ended. From an ESPN press release

NEWS AND UPDATES
ESPN America / NHL News
ESPN, AMI/Medge Reach Agreement
for NHL Rights In Europe & Africa

NHL continues on ESPN America in much of Europe
More than 100 games live across more than 35 European and African countries

With the NHL season newly underway, ESPN has reached an agreement with Advisers Media International (AMI)/Medge Consulting and the NHL for continued English-language coverage of the NHL on the sports media company’s ESPN America network across more than 35 countries in Europe, as well as sub-Saharan Africa. Coverage will begin on ESPN networks from 8 November.

The agreement will mean that ESPN America – which reaches nearly 19 million homes – will continue its coverage of the NHL, televising as many as six live games per week, as well as coverage throughout the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs and the entire Stanley Cup Finals.

In total, fans throughout Europe will see more than 100 games during the season, with authentic and authoritative coverage and commentary direct from the US and Canada. ESPN networks in sub-Saharan Africa will also continue coverage of the NHL.

The deal covers all countries in which ESPN America is available across continental Europe and Turkey, excluding the United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and the Baltic States region. The agreement also includes local language rights in some markets. In Africa, ESPN networks across sub-Saharan Africa will feature the NHL, including ESPN in South Africa and Nigeria on the leading television platform, DSTV/Multichoice.

For specific schedule information, visit ESPNAmerica.com.

ESPN’s news and information programmes, including the five-days-a-week edition of SportsCenter will continue to feature highlights of NHL action and provide unique analysis from ESPN’s NHL experts Barry Melrose and Matthew Barnaby.

COMMENTS
Jeroen Oerlemans, vice president and head of channels, ESPN – Europe, Middle East and Africa, “We’re very excited about continuing coverage of the NHL on ESPN America for millions of sports fans across Europe. We know that hockey has a passionate and loyal following, and will continue to serve them with great games and coverage.”

Rob Pickles, Managing Director of AMI said, “We’re delighted ESPN will continue its long tradition of NHL coverage and fits directly with our extremely ambitious distribution strategy that will enable more people to see NHL across the whole of Europe, CIS, the Central Asian Republics, Middle East and Africa than ever before.”

NHL TV SCHEDULE
Nov 8th Double-Header
Dallas Stars at Washington Capitals
Nashville Predators at Los Angeles Kings
Further schedule to be announced