Amazon’s Prime Video is significantly expanding its National Hockey League footprint after securing exclusive local streaming rights for six teams beginning with the 2026-27 season, strengthening its position in the rapidly evolving U.S. regional sports media market.
The multi-year agreement covers the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues. Prime Video will provide in-market fans with exclusive streaming access to each team’s locally televised regular-season games that are not selected for national distribution, alongside pre- and post-game coverage and additional team programming.
The agreement does not make Prime Video the exclusive broadcaster of every game involving the six clubs. Nationally distributed games will remain with the NHL’s national media partners, while out-of-market viewing will continue through the league’s existing national and out-of-market offerings.
Charlie Neiman, Head of Sports Partnerships, Prime Video, said, “We’re excited to build upon our strong relationship with the NHL and provide fans with more ways to connect with the local teams they love. We have firmly established Prime Video as a primary destination for sports and look forward to helping these teams broaden the reach and accessibility of their live games.”
David Proper, NHL Chief Media Officer and Senior Executive Vice President, added, “Fans want an easy way to find and follow their favourite teams, and this agreement with Prime Video gives Clubs the flexibility to meet that demand as the market evolves. Amazon has been a terrific partner to the NHL, and we’re excited to expand our relationship as Prime Video grows its NHL offerings. Together, we’re creating new opportunities for Clubs to reach fans and delivering a premium, accessible regional viewing experience.”
The deal represents a broader shift in the NHL’s local media strategy as teams seek alternatives to the traditional regional sports network model. The OTT platform will complement team-controlled media operations while providing a large-scale digital distribution platform.
The agreement also builds on Amazon’s growing portfolio of local sports content, including distribution relationships with the Seattle Kraken and several regional sports networks.
Internationally, Prime Video is further expanding its NHL relationship through a separate 12-year Canadian agreement with Rogers to exclusively stream Wednesday Night Hockey nationally, alongside significant postseason coverage.
For Amazon, the six-team agreement adds a substantial volume of recurring live sports content to Prime Video. For the NHL and its clubs, it provides a scalable streaming distribution model that could become increasingly important as local sports consumption continues to move away from traditional pay-TV platforms.
