NHL Teams Up with MLB Advanced Media To Revolutionize Its Digital, Linear Content

The National Hockey League is partnering with Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLBAM) to bring sweeping changes to how hockey will be produced and consumed over digital and linear platforms in the United States. With the partnership, MLBAM takes over the NHL's digital operations which includes NHL.com, NHL league and team apps, the 30 team websites, and the live streaming service GameCenter LIVE and also brings NHL Network under the control of MLB's media group.

The NHL's John Collins and Gary Bettman with MLB's Rob Manfred and Bob Bowman at the official announcement of the partnership at the NHL's offices in New York City.

We believe this is a transformational partnership between the MHL and MLB Advanced Media, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said during a press conference at the NHL Two professional sports teams have never entered into an agreement like this.

We are going to be collectively more cutting edge than anything else in sports.

On the digital side, the move offers the NHL the chance to work with the industry's leading digital property. On top of the work it does with MLB.TV and MLB.com, MLBAM already provides the back-end infrastructure for HBO Go, WatchESPN, March Madness Live, WWE Network, and the - recently announced - PGA Tour Live. The company also supports the streaming services for the YES Network and SportsNet New York.

The deal should prove to be a huge move for NHL Network, as well, which has struggled with distribution, ratings, and live original production since its launch in 2007. MLBAM receives exclusive rights to operate the NHL Network on behalf of the NHL. The NHL Network's daily on-air operations will be based out of MLB Network's headquarters in Secaucus, N.J.

MLBAM expects to fully launch its NHL presence in January 2016.

According to the Sports Business Journal, the deal is for six-years and worth approximately $1.2 billion to the NHL, which also received a small equity state in MLBAM Tech. The partnership was officially announced at a press conference this afternoon at the NHL offices in New York City. Bettman refuted the financial details of the report but confirmed the six years was correct.

Stay with SVG for continuing coverage of the NHL, MLBAM partnership.

LINK:	http://sportsvideo.org/main/blog/2015/08/nhl-teams-up-with-mlb-advance...
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