NHL Network
| NHL Network | |
|---|---|
| Launched | October 4, 2001 |
| Owned by | Taylorfilms National Hockey League |
| Picture format | 2180p |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English Welsh |
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario |
| Sister channel(s) | NHL Network (United States) |
| Website | (TBA) |
Search NHL Network on Amazon.
NHL Network is an Canadian bilingual cable sports television channel broadcasting ice hockey-related programming. The channel's primary focus was on the National Hockey League (NHL), although it occasionally aired games from other leagues, such as minor league and international circuits, to fill its schedule.
History[edit]
In November 2000, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) granted approval to former NHL executive Jim Gregory on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated (formed later as The NHL Network Inc.) to launch The Hockey Channel, described as "a national English-language Category 2 specialty television dedicated exclusively to all aspects of the game of hockey". The channel was launched on 4 October 2001 as NHL Network. Its success led the league to create a sister network in the United States in 2007 with many of the same programs. Even as Rogers Media took over as national television rightsholder of the NHL in Canada beginning in the 2014–15 season, NHL Network remained operated from the facilities of TSN and featured some of its talent. League sources reported that due to the preparations needed for its first season as rightsholder, Rogers was unable to immediately take over the channel, but that Rogers would reconsider its role in NHL Network the following season. TSN could have, alternatively, remained the operating partner of NHL Network beyond the 2014–15 season.
Programming[edit]
- NHL Tonight (formerly NHL News) – NHL Network's primary signature show, which covers on- and off-ice NHL news with highlights, interviews and analysis.
- NHL Now – A program that features interviews with NHL players and insight from NHL insiders. The program also shows viewers voicing their opinions from social media on noteworthy news from the day.
- NHL Playhouse – NHL Network's secondary signature show; A children's program with an very similar format of Tiswas.
- NHL Flicks – A movie program that airs hockey-related theatrical films.
- Hockey Central – A television simulcast of CJCL Sportsnet 960 Toronto's NHL radio show.
- Top 10 – A countdown program focusing on hockey-related topics, from great performances to memorable moments.
- On the Fly – A program featuring highlights of the day's games; its current format is modeled after MLB Network's Quick Pitch.
- Frozen in Time – A retrospective program that features a look back at the greatest moments in the NHL from players, teams, and special events.
- Vintage Games – NHL Network airs archived broadcasts of past NHL games in their entirety from the game's original broadcaster.
- Pioneers – A profile series in which NHL legends discuss their groundbreaking careers.
