In the latest arrangement that brings live sports play-by-play to a broadcast television channel, Gray Media has announced that it will bring select collegiate hockey matches to its stations, starting next week.
The alliance with the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) begins with the airing in 20 markets on December 13 of the University of Denver vs. Colorado College match-up. It will air in St. Louis on Matrix Midwest Sports; throughout Louisiana on the Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network; and across South Carolina on the Palmetto Sports & Entertainment Network. Game time is 9am Eastern.
“Gray’s stations are deeply committed to the sport of hockey to serve their local viewers,” Gray says. For example, Gray stations air the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, while minor-league hockey teams in Cleveland, Kansas City and Atlanta each also enjoy a Gray TV deal. In addition, Gray’s production company, Raycom Sports, produces all of the games for the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL).
“We’re excited to partner with Gray Media to expand the Conference’s linear television offerings,” said NCHC Commissioner Heather Weems. “This will put a premier NCHC game each week on several local TV stations in non-NCHC markets, as well as some of our own media markets, growing exposure for the Conference and the high-quality product that defines college hockey. Combining Gray’s reach with our already existing CBS Sports Network agreement and NCHC.tv, fans will be provided more options than ever to enjoy NCHC hockey.”
Gray COO Sandy Breland said the company was pleased “to bring this top-notch conference and highly ranked teams to local viewers.”
All NCHC games airing on Gray’s stations will also still be available on NCHC.tv, the conference’s official streaming platform. The majority of the games to air on Gray’s stations will take place on Saturday nights starting in January.
In Canada, the Colorado College/Denver game will air nationally on TSN2.
— With reporting by RBR+TVBR in Boca Raton, Fla.
