Premier Hockey Federation extends two-year broadcasting deal with ESPN
The Premier Hockey Federation and ESPN have agreed on a two-year broadcasting deal that will see PHF games aired on ESPN+ throughout the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, reports ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski.
The two-year agreement will feature live coverage of all PHF games, special events and the Isobel Cup playoffs. It will also provide international rights for games, including being aired on TSN in Canada through the network’s five television feeds and live streaming via TSN.ca and the TSN app.
“ESPN’s continued commitment to champion the PHF and be teammates to make women’s professional hockey accessible to more fans, worldwide, is a victory for our sport and the entire PHF community. Their support bolsters the PHF mission of growing the game long-term and building the best and most sustainable home for women’s professional hockey,” said Reagan Carey, PHF commissioner, in a league release.
Last season, during its first-year agreement, the PHF, North America’s only professional women’s hockey league, achieved a huge milestone when the Isobel Cup Final was aired on ESPN+ between the Boston Pride and Connecticut Whale. That marked the first time that ESPN had produced a linear broadcast of professional women’s hockey.
“Extending our valued relationship with ESPN over the next two years ensures we can showcase talented athletes and competitive action on the ice, share incredible stories off the ice, provide our partners with a platform to connect with fans and engage our dedicated fan base while introducing the PHF to a larger worldwide audience,” Carey said in the release.
The regular season and schedule for the PHF’s eighth season will be announced later. With the league expanding and adding a seventh franchise to Montreal, there’s a lot of excitement around the hockey world.
“As we track the growth of women’s hockey around the world, we are energized by the significant advancements made by the PHF since our relationship began last season, and the exceptional growth on the horizon,” said Patrick Costello, director of digital media programming for ESPN.