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Amazon Prime Video to Broadcast Monday Night NHL Games in Canada

“We are committed to serving hockey fans and reaching new audiences with our robust content distribution strategy that brings viewers exciting NHL content to a multitude of streaming services.”

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Prime Video
(Illustration) Courtesy: Prime Video and Amazon Studios

Amazon Prime Video will become the exclusive streaming home of Monday night National Hockey League games in Canada, agreeing to a two-year deal in tandem with Rogers Communications and the National Hockey League. Under the agreement, Prime Monday Night Hockey will stream national regular season Monday night NHL games in English for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 NHL seasons. It is the first deal the NHL has struck with an exclusive national broadcast package for a digital-only streaming service. The property will feature a new broadcast team that will include play-by-play commentary and analysis, streaming live to Amazon Prime members in Canada.

“Rogers’ partnership with the NHL has been incredibly successful and integral to Sportsnet’s leadership as the number one sports media brand in Canada,” Colette Watson, president of Rogers Sports & Media, said in a statement. “Today’s content ecosystem is evolving, and we’re really pleased to work with Amazon to continue to grow the game and help hockey fans watch games when and where they want.”

“With Prime Monday Night Hockey, we’re offering our customers even more from their Prime membership,” Magda Grace, head of Prime Video, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, said in a statement. “We’re committed to driving more innovation for fans as we bring the NHL into more Canadian homes and across more devices on Monday nights than ever before. We’re thrilled to be offering Prime Monday Night Hockey as part of our one-stop entertainment destination, which includes add-on channels like Sportsnet for even more hockey and sports content, the latest movies to rent or buy, popular and award-winning Amazon Originals to stream with Prime, and so much more.”

Sportsnet became available on Prime Video channels in Canada at the start of the 2023-24 hockey season. The new agreement helps build on the 12-year deal that was announced between Rogers and the NHL in November 2013 to carry games, reportedly worth $5.2 billion. The league has worked with Amazon Web Services (AWS) since 2021 to implement in-game analytics and video highlights meant to enhance the viewing experience.

Akin to the United States, cord cutting in Canada has hastened over the last decade with growing pay television penetration that estimates approximately 9.2 million households as subscribing to pay TV. Rogers Communications’ deal for national television and digital rights with the National Hockey League will expire at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Amazon and Rogers on this project. Amazon has a strong track record of presenting sports on Prime Video in a highly innovative and viewer-friendly manner,” said David Proper, NHL senior executive vice president of media and international strategy, said in a statement. “We are committed to serving hockey fans and reaching new audiences with our robust content distribution strategy that brings viewers exciting NHL content to a multitude of streaming services. With this groundbreaking partnership, we are continuing to stay true to that goal.”

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Conflicting Reports Surface About Patrick Beverley, Ability to Appear on ESPN Studio Shows

Beverley was subject to criticism around the sports media industry for his actions after the Bucks’ season-ending loss to the Pacers on Thursday night.

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Patrick Beverley
Courtesy: Bill Streicher, USA TODAY Sports

After Milwaukee Bucks guard Patrick Beverley declined to answer a question from and eventually directed ESPN producer Malinda Adams to leave postgame media availability on Thursday night, those in the sports media industry and beyond called him out for his unprofessional and unacceptable behavior. This occurred after Beverley asked Adams if she was subscribed to his Barstool Sports podcast, to which she replied that she was not. As a result, he informed her that he would not speak to her and soon thereafter said to remove her microphone from the media scrum.

Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports has reported that Beverley is banned from making guest appearances on ESPN studio shows, including Get Up and First Take, after he had appeared on programming during the NBA Playoffs last year. Austin Karp of Sports Business Journal, however, has cited a source close to the situation saying that this is not the case.

Beverley, who since apologized to Adams over the phone along with the Bucks organization, is also under investigation by the National Basketball Association surrounding an incident where he hurled a basketball in the direction of Pacers fans twice in the fourth quarter of the game while on the bench. From the moment these incidents occurred, Beverley has been criticized for his behavior and could face further repercussions depending on a decision from the league. The 12-year NBA veteran will be a free agent this summer upon the expiration of his contract.

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Tom Ackerman to Once Again Back Up Chip Caray Calling St. Louis Cardinals Games

If the Cardinals are the superior team in the series, I may have some fun things to call…and make it as exciting as possible.”

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Photo of Tom Ackerman of KMOX in St. Louis
Credit: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Tom Ackerman, sports director at KMOX in St. Louis, will once again have the chance to call some St. Louis Cardinals games on Bally Sports Midwest. Ackerman called eight games last season as he filled in for primary play-by-play voice Chip Caray.

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Ackerman will be on the call this weekend as the Cardinals host the Chicago White Sox for three games. Ackerman told the newspaper this is the only assignment he has on his calendar currently, but that he is ready if more games should come available.

Ackerman was asked about getting games with struggling teams as the White Sox come in sporting a 6-25 record on the year. He told the Post-Dispatch, “If the Cardinals are the superior team in the series, I may have some fun things to call…and make it as exciting as possible.”

Ackerman co-anchors the morning show on KMOX, Total Information A.M. The station is the radio flagship for the Cardinals. In year’s past, Ackerman has called Spring Training games, however, last season was his first doing regular season games.

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Report: Michael Irvin Out at NFL Network; ‘NFL Total Access’ to End

“An NFL spokesperson said the league-wide cuts were made to ‘ensure the continued strength of our game and the business.'”

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Michael Irvin
Courtesy: Alika Jenner, Getty Images

As layoffs continue at NFL Network, Ryan Glasspiegel of the New York Post has reported NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin will not have his contract renewed. Irvin had been with the NFL Network since 2009.

Irvin had been a part of the network’s ‘NFL GameDay’ show, hosted by Rich Eisen, along with Kurt Warner and Steve Mariucci.

Irvin had been suspended by the network following misconduct accusations stemming from a brief encounter he had with a woman at a Phoenix hotel in February 2023. Irvin filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit in the matter, which was settled paving the way for Irvin to return last year.

Glasspiegel’s report also says the NFL Network’s ‘NFL Total Access’ show will have its final episode later this month. The show has been a part of NFL Network’s programming since 2003.

Earlier today, A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports had this report on his X account:

“The NFL concluded a round of layoffs over the last 24 hours, cuts that impacted some NFL Network employees. The league-owned cable channel is expected to have an altered programming schedule this upcoming season, sources told Front Office Sports. An NFL spokesperson said the league-wide cuts were made to ‘ensure the continued strength of our game and the business.'”

Last month, the NFL Network let go of Melissa Stark, Andrew Siciliano, James Palmer, and Will Selva.

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