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Prime Video Becomes Local Streaming Home for Six NHL Teams

The deals move local game rights to Amazon while relying on the NHL’s centralized production to cut teams’ production costs.

Overview

  • Prime Video announced Wednesday that it will be the exclusive local streamer for the Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues.
  • The Dallas Stars will leave Victory+ for Prime after Victory+ fell behind on rights payments and was dissolved by its parent company, a change that ended the Stars’ free ad-supported local streams.
  • Pricing will vary by team: Ducks and Stars games will be included with a Prime membership while four other clubs will offer local streams for $20 per month or $100 per year without a Prime subscription.
  • The NHL’s centralized production will handle broadcasts for several clubs, which lowers the technical and cost barriers for teams shifting from regional sports networks or failed start-up streamers to Prime.
  • The moves reflect a wider collapse of the traditional RSN model and could raise out-of-pocket costs for some local fans while consolidating local rights on large streamers and altering how teams capture media revenue.