Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
Nine has closed an exclusive with the National Hockey League (NHL) to bring the world's premier professional ice hockey league to Australian free-to-air audiences.
A bespoke broadcast feed has been designed specific for the Australian market, featuring dedicated commentators and customised intermission coverage
9GO! will broadcast a live NHL game every Saturday morning throughout the 2025/26 regular season with 21 regular-season games.
Coverage starts 18 October 2025 at 10:00am AEDT on 9GO! and 9Now with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Detroit Red Wings game.
The league will pause between 6-24 February as NHL players compete in the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
“We are incredibly excited to partner with the NHL to bring the fastest game on ice to Australian homes, free-to-air,” said Brent Williams, director of sport at Nine.
“This isn't just a broadcast - it's a tailored viewing experience. By creating a dedicated feed with local commentary and specialised content, we are committed to growing the sport in Australia and giving fans the best possible coverage. The link to the Winter Olympics provides a fantastic narrative that will build excitement for what is a huge event on the Nine calendar.”
NHL executive vice president for media and international strategy, Daniel Kim, said the partnership reflects a continued investment in the Australian market, led by a growing NHL audience.
“We are thrilled Nine shares our commitment to delivering live games to more fans across Australia,” said Kim.
“The overwhelming success of the NHL Global Series Melbourne coupled with the growing enthusiasm for our grassroots, learn-to-play hockey initiatives and increasing social media engagement across our dedicated channels underscore the impact of our investment in Australia.”
St. Louis Blues forward Nathan Walker is the first Australian to play in the NHL, currently in his eighth season.
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