The world of sports broadcasting is undergoing an exciting evolution, and the St. Louis Blues are at the forefront of this change. With a new partnership between the Blues and the NHL, fans can expect a fresh approach to regional broadcasts, offering an enhanced viewing experience and greater control for the team.
A New Era for Blues Fans
The upcoming 2026-27 season marks a significant shift for Blues enthusiasts. While they've enjoyed watching their team's games, this partnership promises an even more immersive and personalized viewing journey. The Blues' sales team has been busy, and this collaboration ensures they'll oversee every aspect of production, marketing, and distribution, creating a unique multimedia platform tailored to their fans.
Unlocking New Possibilities
Steve Chapman, the Blues' Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer, emphasizes the benefits of this arrangement. It leverages the NHL's production expertise while granting the Blues unprecedented control over their local broadcasts. This move is a strategic step towards ensuring reliable access to Blues hockey, maintaining familiarity for fans, and expanding their reach to new audiences.
Broadening Access
The Blues are committed to making their games accessible to all fans. They're actively finalizing broadcast agreements to offer a variety of viewing options at launch, including cable, satellite, streaming services, and over-the-air providers. While specific details are still being negotiated, fans can anticipate a direct-to-consumer streaming option with annual and monthly subscription plans, ensuring flexibility and affordability.
Maintaining Quality, Expanding Reach
The NHL partnership ensures the Blues' local television games will maintain the high production value fans have come to expect. Approximately 70 telecasts will be produced by the NHL, covering every regular-season game not nationally televised by NHL exclusive broadcast partners. This expansion of NHL Productions' capabilities includes centralized production for multiple club local broadcasts, providing comprehensive services like studio programming, advanced graphics, and technical support.
A Successful Track Record
The Blues' local broadcast ratings have consistently ranked among the top five in the U.S.-based NHL teams for the past 13 consecutive years. This partnership builds on that success, leveraging the NHL's award-winning production capabilities to enhance the viewing experience for Blues fans and attract new audiences.
A Brighter Future for Sports Broadcasting
This collaboration between the St. Louis Blues and the NHL represents a significant step forward in sports broadcasting. It showcases the potential for teams to take ownership of their content, offering fans a more personalized and engaging experience. As we move towards the 2026-27 season, it's an exciting time for Blues fans, who can look forward to an enhanced viewing journey and a brighter future for sports broadcasting.
