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LA Kings; NHL & MLBAM Partners

By Ashley K. Martinez

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LA Kings fans, prepare yourselves for this season’s game coverage and team interaction to blow your minds.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred announced a new partnership on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015 that hopes to enhance the fan experience for everyone, whether a Kings fan or not.

Jun 4, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; NHL commissioner Gary Bettman at a press conference before game one of the 2014 Stanley Cup Final between the New York Rangers and the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2016 the NHL will officially embark on a “groundbreaking digital media rights six-year partnership” with the Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLBAM) according to a NHL official press release.

If you would like to read the release yourself, click here.

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For those of us who are not all too familiar with MLBAM, the NHL Public Relations noted in its release that it is “the interactive media and Internet company of Major League Baseball.”

At a quick glance, I know this does not sound too impressive. At all. But after doing some digging, I realized that this is a partnership that all hockey fans should be looking forward to, especially Kings fans.

“The partnership will transform the fan experience by creating a fully integrated global hub of digital content”

Since MLBAM is a “market leader” and hosts an extensive network that delivers more than just game coverage to MLB fans, “hockey fans can look forward to a richer, more immersive experience with the game,” Commissioner Bettman said.

This is where Kings fans should get excited.

For the most part, we live in the beautiful and hectic Los Angeles area. This is Hollywood territory if you think about it. And as such, we look at our Kings and see more than a team; we see the players and staff practically as celebrities. We want to get to know them on and off the ice as I like to say. And this new partnership can help us do so-at least I hope that is the case.

“MLBAM is also the right partner because they have the expertise to help us deliver new and exciting products to our fans, who crave compelling digital content,” Commissioner Bettman said.

On the surface this new partnership sounds like it will greatly benefit game coverage and hockey off the ice, if you will. Here’s to hoping this six-year arrangement will do wonders for the beautiful game we all love and for fans everywhere.

Here are some more details as noted by the press release:

  • MLBAM receives exclusive rights to distribute live, out-of-market NHL telecasts in the United States and certain international markets, including via the NHL GameCenter LIVE subscription service.
  • MLBAM receives exclusive rights to distribute live, out-of-market telecasts via the NHL Center Ice subscription service in the United States to cable, satellite and over-the-air broadcasters.
  • MLBAM receives exclusive rights to operate the NHL Network as an agent for the NHL. The NHL Network’s daily on-air operations will be based out of MLB Network’s headquarters in Secaucus, N.J.

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