DIRECTV has entered a multi-year distribution agreement with the National Hockey League that brings dedicated regional channels for the Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild, and St. Louis Blues to eligible subscribers in each club’s designated home territory. The four channels—Hurricanes Hockey Network, Blue Jackets Hockey Network, Wild+, and Blue Note+—carry pregame, postgame, and in-game programming. They are available to DIRECTV streaming and satellite customers in the respective markets who subscribe to the Choice package or higher, as well as to U-verse customers in those same regions who take U200 or above. The agreement also grants the teams distribution rights for DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS locations, covering thousands of sports bars, restaurants, fitness clubs, and other commercial venues inside each club’s territory. Channel assignments are as follows: Carolina Hurricanes games appear on channel 650 for streaming and satellite and on 1726/726 for U-verse; Columbus Blue Jackets games are on 660 for streaming, 660-1 for satellite, and 1735/735 for U-verse; Minnesota Wild games are carried on 668 for streaming, 668-1 for satellite, and 1745/745 for U-verse; and St. Louis Blues games are available on 673 for streaming and satellite and on 1747/747 for U-verse. The deal continues DIRECTV’s recent push to secure local or regional rights for most U.S. professional teams. The provider now holds distribution rights for 76 of the 81 U.S.-based NHL, NBA, or MLB franchises, including multi-year agreements covering 23 U.S.-based hockey clubs. Officials at both organizations framed the arrangement as a way to keep fans connected to their teams amid ongoing shifts in local sports media, in which clubs have moved among regional sports networks, team-owned channels, and over-the-air outlets. A current inventory of U.S. NHL clubs available on DIRECTV platforms shows a mix of distribution models. Several teams, including the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, and Washington Capitals, remain on traditional regional sports networks such as NESN, MSG Network, or Monumental Sports Network within their home territories. Others, such as the Anaheim Ducks, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, Seattle Kraken, Tampa Bay Lightning, Utah Mammoth, and Vegas Golden Knights, appear primarily through local broadcast stations in specific markets. The Detroit Red Wings, like the four clubs covered by the new agreement, are carried on a dedicated NHL team channel. Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Pittsburgh Penguins, and San Jose Sharks continue under regional sports network arrangements. The expansion arrives as local sports rights continue to fragment. Teams and leagues have sought broader reach by launching their own networks or partnering with multiple distributors, while providers work to reassemble packages that previously came through single regional sports networks. By adding the four new team channels alongside existing RSN and broadcast arrangements, DIRECTV aims to give subscribers in those markets a clearer path to their local clubs without requiring separate streaming services or additional subscriptions beyond the base package tiers already noted. The National Hockey League, founded in 1917, comprises 32 clubs and distributes games through a combination of national partners and local or regional outlets. In the United States those partners include ESPN, TNT Sports, and NHL Network, while Canadian rights involve Prime Video, Sportsnet, and TVA Sports. International audiences can access games through NHL.TV on DAZN in nearly 200 countries and territories. The league’s clubs draw players from more than 20 countries, and its media footprint extends across television, digital platforms, and social channels. DIRECTV described the agreement as part of its broader effort to aggregate team channels, regional sports networks, and other local options so that fans in each market can follow their clubs through the services they already receive. The NHL characterized the deal as expanding access in four markets with strong hockey followings. Both sides indicated that further distribution discussions remain possible as the local rights landscape continues to evolve. DIRECTV and the NHL jointly announced the deal on October 24, 2026. Further details on package eligibility and channel placement are available through the DIRECTV website , while team-specific schedules and programming information can be found on the respective club sites and NHL.com. Please add Cord Cutters News as a source for your Google News feed HERE . 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Curated by Taleb Kabbara · Source: cordcuttersnews.com