Sky Deutschland has reaffirmed its commitment to bringing the National Hockey League (NHL) to German-speaking audiences, securing a long-term extension of its broadcast rights for Germany and Austria. This renewed agreement ensures that Sky Sport will remain the official home of the NHL in these regions for the foreseeable future.
With this partnership, ice hockey fans can expect extensive live coverage of the NHL, including over 300 games per season, encompassing the regular season, the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the Stanley Cup Final.
Hans Gabbe, Senior Vice President Sports Rights & Commercialization at Sky Deutschland, said, “Leon Draisaitl, Moritz Seider, Tim Stützle – German athletes are among the league’s standout stars. With this extended partnership, fans can continue to follow their journeys in the world’s best hockey league and their pursuit of the Stanley Cup live on Sky Sport.”
Under the renewed rights deal, Sky Sport will continue to air at least one live game per day throughout the NHL season. This will include special events such as the NHL Winter Classic, the NHL Global Series, and the primetime “NHL Saturday” and “NHL Sunday” fixtures, which are specifically tailored to European viewers.
To cater to its diverse audience, Sky will provide selected games with German-language commentary, while maintaining access to the original English-language broadcasts across all live games. The network also plans to continue offering game summaries and NHL’s flagship highlight program, On the Fly.
This agreement covers all distribution platforms, including traditional television, digital streaming, and mobile. Additionally, Sky Business will make NHL broadcasts available to bars, hotels, and other commercial venues across Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, and South Tyrol.
This extended collaboration comes at a time when the NHL is gaining traction across Europe, in large part due to the success of high-profile German players such as Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers, Moritz Seider of the Detroit Red Wings, and Tim Stützle of the Ottawa Senators. These athletes have become key figures in the league and major points of pride for German fans.
Jaka Lednik, NHL Senior Vice President of International, said, “We’re thrilled to extend our relationship with Sky Sport to bring the biggest hockey stars to passionate fans in Germany and Austria.” They added, “With dedicated partners like Sky, we can keep delivering the excitement of NHL hockey at its best.”
The presence of German stars in the NHL has played a significant role in driving viewership and engagement. With this agreement, Sky Deutschland aims to deepen its connection with fans by delivering consistent, high-quality content across multiple platforms. This renewal is part of Sky Deutschland’s broader strategy to maintain its position as a leading sports broadcaster in the region. By locking in long-term rights to premium leagues like the NHL, Sky can ensure stability and brand loyalty among fans of niche but growing sports segments.
The NHL, on its part, benefits from a consistent broadcast partner that not only reaches a broad subscriber base but also brings localized production capabilities and promotional strength. The ability to offer content in both English and German ensures greater accessibility and enhances viewer satisfaction.
In addition to its NHL rights, Sky Sport has invested in expanding its ice hockey coverage, reinforcing its reputation as the go-to platform for top-tier international sports. With this renewed agreement, Sky continues to build a diverse and premium portfolio that appeals to a wide range of viewers.