Games from North American ice hockey’s NHL will be shown free-to-air (FTA) in Australia for the first time under a new exclusive rights deal between the league and commercial broadcaster Nine Network covering the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
During the rest of 2025-26, the network’s 9GO linear channel and 9Now streaming platform will provide coverage for 21 regular-season NHL games played on Friday evenings in North America, which air live on Saturday mornings Australian time.
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The NHL’s 2025-26 regular season started last week (October 7).
Coverage starts this Saturday (October 18) with a game between the Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning, which is taking place at Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena tomorrow night (Friday, local time).
The rights deal includes a bespoke broadcast feed for the Australian market, developed by Nine Network and the NHL and produced by NHL Production, to provide viewers with a tailored experience.
The feed will feature dedicated commentators providing play-by-play analysis and customized intermission coverage with commentary, player profiles, and explainers on the rules of the game.
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By GlobalDataIt will be the first time that the NHL has received FTA coverage in Australia, with pay-TV broadcaster Foxtel showing most games via its carriage deal with international sports broadcaster ESPN, the NHL’s rightsholder, which was most recently renewed in August.
The NHL’s 2025-26 season will feature a break from February 6 to 24 to accommodate the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, which will feature NHL players for the first time since 2014.
The new rights come as Nine prepares to provide coverage for the Winter Olympics in Australia, with the network using the NHL games to build anticipation for the flagship event.
Brent Williams, Nine’s director of sport, has said: “We are incredibly excited to partner with the NHL to bring the fastest game on ice to Australian homes, free-to-air. This isn’t just a broadcast – it’s a tailored viewing experience. By creating a dedicated feed with local commentary and specialised content, we are committed to growing the sport in Australia and giving fans the best possible coverage.
“The link to the Winter Olympics provides a fantastic narrative that will build excitement for what is a huge event on the Nine calendar.”
The new rights also come as the NHL looks to build its presence in Australia, having staged a game between the Los Angeles Kings and Arizona Coyotes in 2023 as part of its NHL Global Series Melbourne, the first-ever NHL games in the Southern Hemisphere.
St. Louis Blues forward Nathan Walker, the first Australian to play in the NHL, is currently playing in his eighth NHL season.
Daniel Kim, NHL executive vice president of media and international strategy, said: “We are thrilled Nine shares our commitment to delivering live games to more fans across Australia.
“The overwhelming success of the NHL Global Series Melbourne, coupled with the growing enthusiasm for our grassroots, learn-to-play hockey initiatives and increasing social media engagement across our dedicated channels, underscores the impact of our investment in Australia.”
