From 1972-1980, the Flames called the city home, until relocating to Calgary. As the 1999-2000 season start, a National Hockey League expansion team arrived, bringing back pro-level action on the ice after 19 seasons. Alas, fan fervor didn’t take hold, and in 2011 the team relocated to Winnipeg to become the second iteration of the Jets.
Fifteen years later, Scripps Sports hopes to fill the NHL void in Atlanta — at least via territorial broadcast rights. To accomplish that, it has signed a deal to bring the team that calls Bridgestone Arena its home to viewers via a Fox Television Stations property in the South’s largest market.
The DT3 digital multicast channel tied to WAGA-TV “FOX 5” will begin carrying Nashville Predators games during the 2026-2027, which began on Tuesday night. It expands Scripps Sports’ regional broadcast to the home of “BUZZR” in Atlanta, with “select matchups” airing on WAGA-5.1.
Adding WAGA-TV comes following the April 2026 announcement that the Predators secured a “landmark” multi-year rights deal with the on-ice home of Filip Forsberg.
In the team’s home market, the new broadcast home of the Predators is WNPX-28, which during the summer followed other properties owned by The E.W. Scripps Co. in rebranding as “The Spot.” According to Scripps, “at least four games” will be simulcast on Scripps-owned WTVF-5 in Nashville. Co-owned WTVQ-36.2 in Lexington, Ky., is also a Predators broadcast network member.
On September 8, an agreement between Scripps Sports and Gray Media was reached that secured coverage of the Predators in a host of DMAs outside of Nashville. That arrangement brings the NHL team’s regular-season games to the following properties:
Tennessee
• WMC-5.3 in Memphis
• WVLT-8.2 in Knoxville
• WTVL-49.2 in Chattanooga
• WBBJ-7.5 in Jackson – Channel 7.5 (WBBJ)
Kentucky
• WDRB-41.2 in Louisville
Alabama
• WAFF-48.3 in Huntsville
The telecasts will include 81 regular-season games.
While Atlanta’s “proud hockey history” — as WAGA-TV Sr. VP/General Manager Bill Schneider sees it — may be questioned by some, he’s nevertheless excited to bring pro hockey back to Atlanta TV viewers. “As someone who grew up in Georgia attending Atlanta Flames games — and later watched the Atlanta Thrashers as an adult — I know firsthand the passion this market has for hockey. We’re proud that FOX 5 can now give Atlanta fans a local destination to watch the Nashville Predators all season long.”
For Scripps Sports President Brian Lawlor, “Expanding our Predators broadcast network to include FOX 5 Atlanta demonstrates the power of strategic partnerships in growing hockey’s reach across the Southeast. Atlanta represents a significant market opportunity for NHL coverage, and this partnership with FOX 5 allows us to bring compelling hockey content to fans who have been underserved in this sport.”
