The E. W. Scripps Company has committed itself to more live sports rights by inking a deal with the Nashville Predators to bring most of their regular-season games to free broadcast TV.
As part of the deal, Scripps will convert its Ion Television station WNPX (Channel 28) into an independent outlet branded as “The Spot,” which will offer locally-televised Predators games that are not part of a national TV package. WNPX will also broadcast syndicated shows and local news programming, with newscasts produced by CBS affiliate WTVF (Channel 5).
“Scripps Sports could not be more pleased to become the broadcast partner for the Nashville Predators. Nashville is a hockey town, and this partnership makes Predators games available to the widest possible local audience,” Brian Lawlor, the President of Scripps Sports, said in a statement this week. “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.”
“We are incredibly excited to partner with Scripps Sports in delivering broadcasts of Preds games for free to our fans,” said Sean Henry, the CEO of the Nashville Predators and Bridgestone Arena. “Our partnership has been a natural fit as we are aligned on key community initiatives, and we greatly appreciate the way Scripps has embraced the Preds and our fans.
“The Predators and NewsChannel 5 have worked together for years to bring connection in our community, whether it’s through literacy drives, disaster relief or fun, family-friendly animated hockey games. Our partnership has always been about doing what’s best for our home and our neighbors,” said Lyn Plantinga, the Senior Vice President of Local Media at Scripps and the General Manager of WTVF and WNPX. “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.”
The deal gives Scripps another professional hockey team in its portfolio of premium sports rights. The company already has agreements to offer games from the Tampa Bay Lightning, Utah Mammoth, Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers on its TV stations.
Those deals and the new one with the Predators also grants the teams the ability to develop their own direct-to-consumer streaming platforms, which sells access to games that can be streamed over the Internet. The games are identical to the ones carried on Scripps-owned stations in their respective markets.
Scripps Sports also has TV distribution agreements with the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), National Women’s Soccer Team (NWSL), Athlos and other premium sports rights holders.
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