2023-2024 NHL Season

Last year’s National Hockey League season ended with a bang, especially as far as TV ratings are concerned: the Stanley Cup Playoffs turned in some of the largest cable viewership numbers in NHL playoff history, posting double-digit gains over the previous season.

With such strong numbers in the second year of its most recent TV rights deal, both the NHL and its TV partners seemed to have struck on a strategy that is driving a surge in viewers. Optimism may be even higher regarding the league’s digital strategy for streaming content: NHL content on ESPN.com and the ESPN app saw a 29 percent increase in both total minutes and page views, while ESPN NHL social engagements and video views increased more than 200 percent each over the previous year.

This strong performance across traditional cable, streaming and digital media engagement is a promising sign for businesses eager to advertise around live NHL broadcasts and other hockey-related content. If the NHL and its broadcast partners can carry this momentum in the 2023-24 season, local businesses could cash in on the value they create from cost-effective advertising opportunities around these events.

From cable TV and streaming ads to second-screen campaigns on social media, Cox Media’s advertising experts can identify valuable inventories and digital ad strategies that fit your company’s advertising goals.

2023-24 NHL schedule:

• Tuesday, October 10: Start of NHL regular season on ESPN, TNT, ABC and NHL Network
• February 2-3, 2024: NHL All-Star Weekend on TBA
• Mid-April to June, 2024: NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on ESPN, ABC TNT and TBS
• June 2024: NHL Stanley Cup Finals on ESPN and ABC

Get a head start on your media buys for this year’s NHL season—contact us today to get started.