Story Summary
DIRECTV has announced a multi-year distribution agreement with the NHL covering the local team channels of the Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues. The agreement makes Hurricanes Hockey Network, Blue Jackets Hockey Network, Wild+ and Blue Note+ available to eligible DIRECTV customers within each club’s NHL-designated home territory.
The deal covers streaming and satellite customers on DIRECTV Choice packages and above, plus U-verse customers in the same regions who subscribe to U200 and above. It also grants distribution rights for the four team services to DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS commercial venues within the respective local territories.
David Proper, the NHL’s Chief Media Officer and Senior Executive Vice President, said the arrangement will allow local Hurricanes, Blue Jackets, Wild and Blues supporters to watch their clubs through DIRECTV in their markets. Rob Thun, DIRECTV’s Chief Content Officer, described the agreement as part of an effort to give viewers more flexibility as local sports distribution changes.
Key Facts
- DIRECTV announced the multi-year NHL distribution agreement.
- The agreement covers Hurricanes Hockey Network, Blue Jackets Hockey Network, Wild+ and Blue Note+.
- Eligible DIRECTV streaming and satellite customers must live within the relevant NHL home territory and subscribe to Choice packages or higher.
- Eligible U-verse customers in those territories must subscribe to U200 or above.
- The agreement includes distribution rights for DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS venues located within each team’s respective region.
- Carolina Hurricanes local games are available on channel 650 for DIRECTV streaming and satellite customers and on U-verse channels 1726 and 726.
- Columbus Blue Jackets local games are available on channel 660 through streaming, 660-1 through satellite and 1735 and 735 through U-verse.
IHM Discussion
This is a local-access deal rather than a change to the clubs’ hockey operations, but it carries practical importance for four NHL markets. The channels are tied to the teams’ local territories, with a defined package threshold for residential customers and a separate commercial distribution element for sports bars, restaurants, fitness clubs and other venues.
The agreement also reflects the increasingly fragmented nature of local sports viewing. NHL clubs can now be carried through team channels, regional sports networks or local broadcast arrangements, and the four services in this deal sit in the team-channel category. For supporters, the useful detail is not simply that a new agreement exists, but whether their location and subscription meet the stated eligibility requirements.
DIRECTV’s wider portfolio places the four additions in a broader local-sports strategy.
Why It Matters
For Hurricanes, Blue Jackets, Wild and Blues followers who meet the location and subscription conditions, the arrangement provides a defined route to local game coverage through DIRECTV. It also extends to eligible commercial venues in each team’s region, giving local businesses another authorised way to show those games.
The local-market restriction remains central. This is not presented as nationwide access to all four channels; availability depends on living in the applicable NHL-designated home territory and holding the required package. That distinction will matter most to supporters checking whether the new carriage arrangement applies to their own viewing setup.
Mini Q&A
Which NHL teams are included in DIRECTV’s new agreement?
The agreement covers the Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues.
Who can receive the four local NHL team channels?
DIRECTV streaming and satellite customers in the relevant NHL home territories need Choice or higher packages, while eligible U-verse customers need U200 or above.
Does the agreement include commercial venues?
Yes, it provides distribution rights for DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS sports bars, restaurants, fitness clubs and other commercial venues within each team’s respective region.
IHM Final View
DIRECTV’s agreement creates a clear local distribution arrangement for four NHL team channels, with specific eligibility rules for residential viewers and commercial venues. Hurricanes, Blue Jackets, Wild and Blues supporters in the relevant home territories can now identify both the required package and the channel carrying their club’s local coverage.