The 2025-2026 NHL season will be broadcast on ABC and its digital platform ABC.com, giving viewers a clear path to follow every game.
The agreement, struck in 2021 among The Walt Disney Company, ESPN and the National Hockey League, spans seven years and guarantees that the Stanley Cup Final will be shown exclusively on ABC in four of those seasons, underscoring the league’s growing partnership with the network.
ESPN’s involvement with hockey dates back to December 19, 1979, when the league made its first appearance on the cable sports channel. After a four-year hiatus, the NHL returned to ESPN in 1992, and the network celebrated its 1,000th NHL telecast on March 8, 1998.
Innovations That Redefined Hockey Telecasts
During the early years of coverage ESPN introduced several production innovations, such as electronic cut-ins, MaskCam and SkyCam, which changed the way fans experience the sport on television.
What This Means for Fans
With a blend of network television and streaming options, fans can now watch games on traditional broadcast, cable, or the ESPN+ platform, ensuring that the sport reaches a broader audience than ever before.