NHL Network Without Cable: Stream the Essential Hockey Channel Cheaper Online
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NHL Network is an important channel for hockey fans. But it isn’t widely distributed. I have all the details on streaming it below.
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In a hurry? The following services provide access to NHL Network:
- Fubo: Great sports-first streaming service.
- DIRECTV: Easy escape cable with this service.
- Sling TV: Low-cost and highly customizable service.
The NHL Network is a cable channel dedicated to providing coverage of the league’s 32 franchises. Each night during the regular season, it will typically show one game featuring NHL teams playing on the East Coast and one game featuring teams playing on the West Coast.
The network will also show select preseason games as well as offer live look-ins whenever there is an opportunity to do so on a given night. Plus, it covers the later rounds of the NHL Entry Draft and the annual Hockey Hall of Fame Induction.
Streaming Services With NHL Network
NHL Network is a premium cable channel. It isn’t a broadcast station like your local network affiliates. So you can’t get it with an antenna. It only comes via a third-party provider like a cable, satellite, or streaming company.
Streaming Features
NHL Network is available with the Fubo Extra add-on for $7.99/month or the Sports Plus add-on for $10.99/month. To get the channel with DIRECTV, you will need to get the Ultimate package. And Sling TV offers it in the Sports Extra add-on for $11.00/month regardless of whether you get the Orange or Blue package.
These streaming services all provide a cloud DVR with all plans. Fubo and DIRECTV allow you to watch on many devices at the same time. The Sling Blue allows up to 3 devices at once but Sling Orange is limited to one.
All these services support most devices in use today such as Android and iOS devices, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV (Stick/Cube), Chromecast, Roku, Samsung and Android TV-based smart TVs, and web browsers. Other devices like the Xbox are supported by Fubo and Sling TV.
Our Choice
For most hockey fans, I’d have to say Fubo is the way to go – it’s just got the best mix of everything. I checked out all the options on this page, and Fubo gives you a really clear picture, loads quickly, and has a ton of channels. Plus, their DVR is super easy to use and lets you record a whole season of games! It works on all my devices, too, which is a huge bonus. Some of the other services had fewer channels or were a bit more expensive. Fubo even has this cool feature where you can watch multiple games at once. If you want the best value and a smooth, hassle-free way to watch NHL Network, fuboTV is the winner.
FAQs
What’s the difference between NHL Network and NHL.TV?
The NHL Network is designed to be a comprehensive look at the sport of hockey and everything that makes the game so great. While this network does broadcast live games on most nights during the season, that isn’t its main purpose. NHL.TV was designed to show all the games of the league to hockey fans who lived outside the local market. Note that NHL.TV was shut down and most of its content moved to ESPN+.
Are games broadcast on NHL Network subject to league blackout rules?
In most cases, any games that are shown on NHL Network are subject to the league’s blackout rules. This means that if a game is being shown in your local market, you may be required to watch it on a regional sports network (RSN) instead. Both Fubo and DIRECTV offer RSNs.
Can I watch the postseason on NHL Network?
No, the NHL Network doesn’t air any of the playoff games. Those are on ESPN and Turner channels, affordably available on Sling TV. See our guide to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Update history
This page was revised 8 times between October 2021 and April 2023.
Added links to streaming services. Updated some sub-sections. Updated some section headings. Changed a few bits of content.
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Linking. Image changes. Misc content updates.
Pricing updates. Added useful links. Various changes to content.
Updated some sub-sections. Formatting. Various changes. Deleted unneeded sub-section.
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As an early adopter of entertainment technology - from the days of mail-order Netflix to today's streaming giants - Alanna combined deep personal experience with a professional background in literature, education, media, and law.
At Hotdog.com, Alanna focused on simplifying the complex streaming landscape, helping users find exactly what they wanted to watch quickly and affordably.
Her broad understanding of streaming services equipped her to guide sports and entertainment fans towards hassle-free, cost-effective viewing experiences.
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