By Michael ZagarisAssociated PressThe NHL will offer live streams of its NHL games to Canada through its new satellite television network.
The NHL is looking for feedback from fans on how the service is performing, and whether there are any other benefits that could be provided to fans, according to a release from Rogers Communications.
The service, called NHL GameCentre Live, will be available through Rogers Media, the league’s global media arm, on its web site and at participating Rogers TV and Shaw TV outlets in Canada.
It is not clear how many subscribers will be able to stream games live, but it is likely to include those who subscribe to Rogers TV, which is currently available to Rogers customers.
Rogers TV is part of the Rogers family of companies.
In a statement, NHL executive vice-president of product management, Chris Gautreau, said that the NHL will provide a live stream of every game in its regular season starting Sunday.
“This new service allows fans to watch the games, with no ads, as they are broadcasted on Rogers TV in the United States and on Rogers Mobile and its content platforms, without ever leaving their home,” Gautresaid.
Rogers says it will provide subscribers with access to a digital feed of the games through its NHL Mobile app.
A Rogers spokesperson said the company is in the early stages of testing the service.
The league also is exploring a number of other potential benefits that can be provided through the service, including additional hockey games, and enhanced content for viewers in Canada, the release said.
The launch of the service comes just over a week after the NHL announced that it will also begin rolling out its NHL.com home page and the new NHL.ca website to fans in the U.S. in a bid to reach more Canadians.
The U.K. has already rolled out its own version of the NHL website and mobile app.