https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/sources-nhl-espn-reach-seven-year-u-s-broadcast-deal/

Significant murmurs surfaced (https://hfboards.mandatory.com/threads/espn-signs-7-year-deal-with-the-nhl.2808991/) Tuesday that the NHL has sewn up one-half (https://hfboards.mandatory.com/threads/nhl-could-split-media-rights-in-next-deal.2651207/page-18) of its new U.S. media rights package.

ESPN is believed to have reached a seven-year deal (https://www.reddit.com/r/hockey/comments/m1hlri/johnston_sources_espn_is_signing_a_sevenyear_deal/) to become one of the league's media partners starting next season, according to multiple league and industry sources.

There was no confirmation from the NHL on an agreement that is expected to see ESPN get the rights to broadcast four Stanley Cup Finals between 2022 and 2028, plus streaming rights for Disney.

Financial terms of the deal weren't immediately available, nor was it clear which other media company would split the package with ESPN.

NBC currently pays $200 million annually for exclusive U.S. media rights that expire after this season.

This is great news for hockey in the USA. The NHL is back on a major network, which is just what they needed to compete in the ever-crowded sports marketplace, including the highly-inferior NBA. As long as they don't hire Pierre McGuire, universally hated by hockey fans all over North America, they should do well.

Turner (TNT) agrees to broadcast deal with the NHL (rumored, awaiting confirmation) (https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1386722754167201797?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1386722754167201797%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=)

The NHL will be having a Board of Governors call later today to update the upcoming US TV picture. 4 of next 7 Stanley Cups on @ESPN; 3 on Turner (https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-nhl-business-hockey-sports-b87bead00d8403c725b7edb802c93b4c).

Sports Business Journal (https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2021/04/26/Media/NBC-NHL.aspx):
NBC has officially pulled out (https://www.reddit.com/r/hockey/comments/mz15sa/nbc_pulls_out_of_bidding_for_remaining_nhl_rights/) of the bidding (https://hfboards.mandatory.com/threads/turner-tnt-agrees-to-broadcast-deal-with-the-nhl-rumored-awaiting-confirmation.2819389/) for the NHL's second TV package (https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/warnermedia-nhl-rights-nbc-hockey-1234960828/), according to U.S. and Canadian sources.

I’m hearing the NHL is heading to TBS (https://twitter.com/simmonssteve/status/1386720595082162179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1386720595082162179%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=) next season as its second US network. A deal apparently (https://awfulannouncing.com/nbc/turner-reportedly-likely-to-land-remaining-nhl-rights-as-nbc-withdraws-from-the-bidding.html) agreed to. So for NHL next season (https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2021/04/26/Media/NBC-NHL.aspx), games will be on ESPN and TBS.

NBC didn't count as a major network??

I liked watching ice hockey on ESPN in the 1980s, but now it seems like the NHL will just be another one of ESPN's McSports.

NHL and Turner Sports agree to a seven-year deal (https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2941415-nhl-turner-sports-reveal-7-year-contract-featuring-stanley-cup-winter-classic)

Turner Sports (https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/31-thoughts-turner-sports-tv-deal-means-nhl/) will air (https://hfboards.mandatory.com/threads/confirmed-nhl-turner-sports-reach-tv-deal-for-games-on-tnt-tbs.2819562/) half of the league's yearly postseason games on TNT and TBS as part of a split with ESPN, the NHL's other new media rights partner, and broadcast three of the seven Stanley Cup Final series throughout the duration of the deal (https://www.reddit.com/r/hockey/comments/mzqfv1/nhl_turner_sports_reach_tv_deal_for_games_on_tnt/). The NHL is moving from NBC Sports, which had a "sweetheart deal" (https://nypost.com/2021/04/26/tnts-power-play-for-nhls-tv-rights-has-big-ramifications/) averaging $200 million a year. Now NHL games will be split between ESPN and Turner Sports (https://www.reddit.com/r/hockey/comments/mzqi3e/the_nhl_comes_to_turner_full_press_release/), which will pay (https://www.reddit.com/r/hockey/comments/mzp42v/shapiro_financially_the_espn_and_turner_deals/) a combined $625 million per year.