For the second time in less than a week, streaming hardware maker Roku is launching a dedicated zone for a professional sport.
On Tuesday, the company announced the rollout of the new NHL Zone, which allows users of its smart TVs and streaming media devices to locate live and upcoming hockey games played across supported services like YouTube TV, DIRECTV, Fubo, HBO Max and ESPN Unlimited.
The NHL Zone is the latest sports-focused portal to debut on Roku devices, with the goal of centralizing information about where live and upcoming games are available on supported services without having to force sports fans to look across each app individually.
“With NHL Zone, we’re making it easier than ever for hockey fans to get straight to what matters most, plus so much more, all in one place,” said Joe Franzetta, the Head of Sports at Roku. “At Roku, we always put viewers first, giving them a clear, simple destination for all their favorite channels and platforms, game highlights and recaps, and all the other great programming offered by Roku.”
The NHL Zone launches on the same day that the NHL Stanley Cup Final is set to begin airing on ABC and ESPN, with all events from the tournament available on the streaming plan ESPN Unlimited. Games are also available on Fubo, Hulu with Live TV and on YouTube TV. DIRECTV offers ABC in all areas, except those where the E. W. Scripps Company owns the local affiliate.
In the coming seasons, the NHL Zone will offer information about regional and national games available in a sports fan’s home territory. Most hockey fans will have to pay for a service to watch locally-televised games, while national hockey games are available via ESPN Unlimited and the ad-free of HBO Max. ESPN Unlimited is also the exclusive distributor of regional games available outside a hockey fan’s home territory.
In addition to live hockey games, the NHL Zone will aggregate content from NHL’s free, ad-supported streaming TV channel, which is also available to stream via The Roku Channel’s Live TV section, and “additional long-form hockey programming,” Roku said in a statement.
Roku’s other sports zones include one focused on professional soccer — launched this week, timed to coincide with the FIFA World Cup men’s soccer tournament — the Winter Olympic Games, National Women’s Soccer League games and events from the National Football League.
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