Programming Nashville Predators, Scripps Sports Ink Multi-Year Media Rights Deal Apr 7, 2026 | TVN Staff | Add comment Facebook Tweet Save this article for later! Login or create a Free Member Profile to bookmark it. The agreement allows E.W. Scripps to produce and distribute all local preseason, regular season and first-round playoff Predators games not allocated exclusively to national broadcasts. Scripps Sports will also broadcast live 30-minute pre-game and post-game shows for every locally broadcast game. The Nashville Predators and Scripps Sports have reached a landmark multi-year media rights agreement to bring the NHL team’s games to free, over-the-air television beginning with the 2026-27 season, the companies said today. The agreement allows E.W. Scripps to produce and distribute all local preseason, regular season and first-round playoff Predators games not allocated exclusively to national broadcasts. Scripps Sports will also broadcast live 30-minute pre-game and post-game shows for every locally broadcast game. Scripps, which owns WTVF (ch. 5) in Nashville, plans to use its second full-power local station in the Middle Tennessee area, WNPX, as the broadcast home of the Predators. Starting this summer, WNPX will be branded The Spot – Nashville 28 (ch. 28), featuring news and entertainment programming in addition to hockey games when the season begins in October. In addition to the local TV broadcasts, the Predators and Scripps Sports will introduce a new direct-to-consumer streaming experience for fans throughout the local broadcast territory. “We are incredibly excited to partner with Scripps Sports in delivering broadcasts of Preds games for free to our fans,” Sean Henry, Nashville Predators and Bridgestone Arena CEO, said. “Scripps’ ability and commitment to delivering our games across our broad television market and making them accessible to all is vital in fueling the passion of Smashville.” Brian Lawlor, Scripps Sports president, said the partnership makes Predators games available to the widest possible local audience. “The combination of broadcast television and streaming guarantees that all Preds fans can follow the action wherever they choose to watch, on whatever device they choose,” Lawlor said. Lyn Plantinga, Scripps SVP of local media and WTVF GM, said the two organizations have worked together for years on community initiatives. “Now, we’re taking that connection even further, giving fans more access to the games they love while doubling down on our shared commitment to serve Middle Tennessee, both on and off the ice,” Plantinga said. The Predators join four other teams in the Scripps Sports NHL portfolio: the Tampa Bay Lightning, Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers and Utah Mammoth. Fans can watch the games on The Spot – Nashville 28 via antenna, cable and satellite, and on WTVF when programming is designated. Games will also be available via a forthcoming live streaming app and the Tablo over-the-air DVR and streaming platform. Scripps also plans to partner with other broadcasters throughout the team’s five-state viewing territory, which includes Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia (Ky., Tenn., Ala., Miss. and Ga.), to distribute the full season of games in each local market. More details on distribution will be provided on the team’s website before the start of the 2026-27 season. About Mark K. Miller Mark K. Miller began covering the television industry in 1975 when he joined Broadcasting magazine as an editorial assistant, becoming a staff writer. He moved to editing, becoming managing editor of the renamed Broadcasting & Cable in 1991. Mark left B&C at the end of 1998, but continued his association with the company as managing editor of B&C’s new monthly tabloid magazine, Digital Television, until it ceased publication in December 1999. Mark worked with Harry Jessell to launch TVNewsCheck in 2006 (as TVNewsday) and has been its managing editor since then. He can be reached at [email protected] . View Posts
Curated by Taleb Kabbara · Source: tvnewscheck.com