The Seattle Kraken have announced a new broadcasting partnership for their games starting in the 2024-25 season. The team will move their games to an over-the-air broadcaster and will have a streaming deal with Amazon’s Prime Video for all non-nationally televised games. This makes them the first NHL team to have a streaming deal with Prime Video for local games, and the third individual team overall to partner with the streaming service, joining the New York Yankees and the Seattle Storm. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has a minority stake in the ownership group of the Kraken.
The Kraken will be partnering with TEGNA for the over-the-air component of their broadcasts, with most games airing on KONG-TV in Seattle. Additionally, at least 15 games are expected to be broadcast on KING, the NBC affiliate in Seattle, with games also airing on TEGNA-owned stations in Portland, Oregon, and Spokane, Washington. TEGNA is also working on securing additional over-the-air partners in the three states for the team’s broadcasts. This move comes after the team mutually agreed to end their original partnership with ROOT Sports, which had been broadcasting their games for the past three seasons.
Kraken owner Sam Holloway expressed his excitement about the new broadcast partnership, calling it a “game changer” for fans of the team. Holloway stated that the goal is to provide fans with more ways to watch games, whether they are at home or on the go. He highlighted the importance of having both TEGNA and Prime Video as trusted partners for the team’s broadcasts and expressed gratitude for ROOT Sports’ previous support. The NHL also announced a two-year agreement with Prime Video to make the streamer the exclusive home of Monday night NHL games broadcast in Canada for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons.
This new broadcasting arrangement signals a shift in how sports leagues and teams are choosing to distribute their games to fans. With the rise of streaming services like Amazon Prime Video, more teams are looking to expand their reach and engage with fans in new ways. The partnership between the Seattle Kraken and Prime Video sets a precedent for other teams and leagues to follow, showcasing the potential for digital platforms to change the landscape of sports broadcasting. Fans in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska will now have more options to watch their favorite team play, whether through traditional over-the-air broadcasts or streaming on Prime Video.
Overall, the Seattle Kraken’s decision to partner with both TEGNA and Prime Video for their game broadcasts represents a significant step forward in how sports content is distributed and consumed. By embracing new technologies and platforms, the team is providing fans with more flexibility and convenience in how they watch games. This move also highlights the changing media landscape and the increasing importance of digital streaming services in the sports broadcasting industry. As the partnership takes effect in the 2024-25 season, fans can look forward to an enhanced viewing experience and greater accessibility to their favorite team’s games.
