Six National Hockey League teams, including the reigning Stanley Cup champions Carolina Hurricanes, have moved their local game broadcasts to Amazon's Prime Video for the upcoming season. The Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, and St. Louis Blues are also part of this shift.
This transition reflects a broader trend in sports broadcasting, marked by the decline of regional sports networks and the increasing reliance on streaming platforms. However, the move introduces a layer of complexity for fans attempting to follow their local teams.
Details regarding subscription packages and pricing will be released by individual teams. Reports indicate that access to these games may vary, with some requiring an additional add-on to a standard Prime Video subscription, some available without a Prime subscription, and others potentially included with the basic membership. This ambiguity has led to concerns about potential added costs for viewers.
Adding to the confusion, games broadcast nationally by networks such as TNT, ESPN, or ABC will not be available through these local Prime Video streams. For fans located outside of these teams' markets within the U.S., out-of-market game streaming rights remain with ESPN+.
The shift to streaming platforms has been met with growing "streaming fatigue" among fans who are already managing multiple subscriptions to follow various sports and teams. The move away from traditional regional sports networks towards digital platforms, while offering new avenues for distribution, presents challenges in accessibility and affordability for a segment of the fanbase.