Tampa Bay Lightning, Scripps Sports partner on multi-year agreement to air National Hockey League team's games

Rhea-AI Summary

The Tampa Bay Lightning has signed a multi-year media rights agreement with Scripps Sports (NASDAQ: SSP) starting with the 2025-26 NHL season. Scripps will produce and distribute all preseason, regular season, and first-round playoff Lightning games not exclusively allocated to national broadcasts. The games will air on WXPX-TV, branded as "The Spot – Tampa Bay 66," a new full-power local station launching July 1, 2025. The partnership includes both traditional broadcasting and a new direct-to-consumer streaming experience through the Lightning app, powered by ViewLift. Scripps Sports already holds similar media rights agreements with other NHL teams including the Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers, and Utah Mammoth.

Positive

• Enhanced accessibility for fans through free over-the-air TV, cable, satellite, and streaming options
• Launch of a new full-power local station (WXPX-TV) dedicated to Lightning games and other content
• Introduction of direct-to-consumer streaming experience through the Lightning app

Negative

• None.

Insights

Media Business Analyst

Scripps expands NHL footprint with Tampa Bay Lightning deal, enhancing broadcast portfolio and multi-platform strategy.

Scripps Sports continues its strategic push into live sports broadcasting with this multi-year media rights agreement with the Tampa Bay Lightning. This deal represents Scripps' fourth NHL team partnership, following agreements with the Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers, and Utah Mammoth.

The agreement's structure creates multiple revenue opportunities for Scripps. The company will leverage its existing ABC affiliate (WFTS) while launching a new full-power station (WXPX-TV) branded as "The Spot – Tampa Bay 66" specifically to serve as the Lightning's broadcast home. This dual-station approach allows Scripps to maintain its current programming while creating a dedicated sports channel, maximizing potential advertising revenue from both general audiences and sports fans.

What's particularly valuable is the comprehensive distribution strategy that includes free over-the-air broadcasts, cable/satellite carriage, and streaming capabilities. The streaming component, developed with ViewLift, enables Scripps to reach cord-cutters while collecting valuable viewer data. This multi-platform approach aligns with modern consumption habits and positions Scripps to capture audiences regardless of how they prefer to access content.

The timing is strategic as sports broadcasting rights have become increasingly valuable assets in the fragmented media landscape. By securing rights to all preseason, regular season, and first-round playoff games not allocated to national broadcasts, Scripps gains premium live content that consistently delivers engaged viewers – a critical advantage when competing for advertising dollars with streaming giants.

TAMPA BAY, Fla. and CINCINNATI , May 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Tampa Bay Lightning have entered into a multi-year media rights agreement with Scripps Sports, which will make it easier than ever for fans throughout the Tampa Bay area to watch Lightning hockey games for free beginning with the start of the 2025-26 NHL season this fall.

This new agreement allows The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) to produce and distribute all preseason, regular season and first-round playoff Lightning games that are not allocated exclusively to national broadcasts.

Scripps, which owns WFTS-ABC Action News serving the Tampa television market, plans to launch a second full-power local station serving the Tampa-St. Petersburg area, WXPX-TV, which will be the broadcast home of the Lightning. That station will be branded "The Spot – Tampa Bay 66" and will launch locally on July 1, featuring news and entertainment programming in addition to all locally produced Lightning games. Scripps is in discussions with cable and satellite distributors to ensure Lightning games on The Spot will be available on cable, satellite as well as over-the-air television.

In addition to the local TV broadcasts, the Lightning and Scripps Sports will be introducing a new, direct-to-consumer experience where Bolts fans can livestream games within the Lightning app throughout the Bolts' broadcast territory, powered by ViewLift. More details on the streaming experience will be made available prior to the start of the 2025-26 season.

"The Tampa Bay Lightning are one of the best teams in the NHL, and Bolts fans deserve easy access to all their games via cable, satellite, free over-the-air and streaming," said Brian Lawlor, president of Scripps Sports. "The complement of broadcast television and streaming guarantees that fans can follow the games from their living room or wherever they are in their busy lives. We look forward to sharing many winning moments with one of the league's most loyal fan bases."

"We're excited to announce Scripps Sports as the new media partner of the Tampa Bay Lightning," said Vinik Sports Group CEO Steve Griggs. "A world-class fan experience starts with access — and fans have made it clear they want it to be easier to find and watch our games. This partnership delivers on that. We're looking forward to working with Brian Lawlor and the Scripps Sports team to expand our reach and bring the excitement of Lightning hockey to more homes across Tampa Bay. We're also incredibly grateful to Steve Tello and the FanDuel Sports team for their partnership and the many unforgettable moments we've shared."

"We are honored to power the streaming experience for the Lightning and expand our support for the NHL and now seven of its teams," said ViewLift CEO Rick Allen. "We will make it easy for Bolts fans to stream games through their existing Lightning mobile apps and new apps on far more devices, helping the Lightning bring on-ice action and behind-the-scenes information and experiences to fans of all ages, at home or on the move."

In the NHL, Scripps Sports also has similar media rights agreements with the Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers and Utah Mammoth.

Media contacts:  
Scripps Sports: Jim Weiss, 770.722.2142, jim.weiss@scripps.com
Lightning: Brian Breseman, 813.301.6871, bbreseman@viniksportsgroup.com
ViewLift: Mahesh Kumar, mahesh.kumar@viewlift.com

About Scripps Sports
Scripps Sports serves professional and college sports leagues, conferences and teams with local market depth and national broadcast reach. Scripps Sports currently has partnerships with the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the National Hockey League's (NHL) 2024 Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, the 2023 Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights, the Utah Mammoth, the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA and the NCAA's Big Sky Conference. Scripps Sports is a division of The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP), a Fortune 1000 American media company.

About the Lightning and Vinik Sports Group
Vinik Sports Group (VSG) is an entity established by Jeff Vinik to manage the three-time Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning (2004, 2020, 2021) of the National Hockey League and hold the leasehold rights to AMALIE Arena, the 19,092-seat downtown Tampa home in which the team plays its games. The venue opened in 1996 and became AMALIE Arena in September 2014 when the family-owned, Tampa Bay-based AMALIE Oil Company partnered with Vinik and the Lightning. Since 2010, Vinik has led a complete brand and business transformation of the Lightning and the arena, featuring a mostly private renovation of the publicly owned facility. Doug Ostrover and Marc Lipschultz joined the expanded ownership group of Vinik Sports Group in 2024, alongside Arctos, which initially joined in 2021. In addition to owning the Lightning and managing AMALIE Arena, Vinik Sports Group, through TBSE, manages the Yuengling Center on the campus at the University of South Florida.

About ViewLift
ViewLift is a technology company providing digital solutions for content owners, with particular expertise in live and on-demand video distribution. With proprietary cloud-based technology, ViewLift powers digital platforms for sports, media, and entertainment brands worldwide. Its services include content management, multi-platform distribution, real-time analytics, viewer engagement tools, and flexible monetization models (AVOD, SVOD, TVOD, and hybrid models). ViewLift enables content owners to maximize audience engagement and revenue through a seamless, scalable streaming experience. ViewLift's sports clients include the National Hockey League, 14 US top professional sports teams; LIV Golf; five Regional Sports Networks; the Professional Fighters League; and the World Racing Group. The company's media clients include NBC; TEGNA; and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment's MOTV.  For more information about ViewLift, visit www.viewlift.com.

 

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SOURCE The E.W. Scripps Company

FAQ

What is the new TV deal between Tampa Bay Lightning and Scripps Sports?

Scripps Sports has secured multi-year media rights to broadcast Tampa Bay Lightning's preseason, regular season, and first-round playoff games starting in the 2025-26 NHL season, excluding nationally broadcast games.

Where can fans watch Tampa Bay Lightning games under the new Scripps Sports deal?

Games will air on the new WXPX-TV channel ('The Spot – Tampa Bay 66'), available through free over-the-air TV, cable, satellite, and streaming through the Lightning app.

When does the new Tampa Bay Lightning TV deal with Scripps Sports start?

The agreement begins with the 2025-26 NHL season, with the new channel WXPX-TV launching on July 1, 2025.

What other NHL teams have media rights agreements with Scripps Sports?

Scripps Sports has similar media rights agreements with the Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers, and Utah Mammoth.

How will the new streaming service for Tampa Bay Lightning games work?

The streaming service will be integrated into the Lightning app, powered by ViewLift, allowing fans to livestream games within the Bolts' broadcast territory.