ASN Secures NHL Broadcasting Rights

All Sports Network (ASN) has acquired the rights to broadcast the NHL via all forms of television, including HDTV and IPTV, throughout much of Asia, including the Indian subcontinent. The content will distributed on Yes TV a new channel that has launched across Asia.
NHL programming broadcast on ASN at the start of the NHL’s 2008-09 season will include more than 130 NHL regular-season games, the NHL All-Star game, NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, and Stanley Cup Final, as well as NHL highlight programs.
“Hockey is such a dynamic sport with relatively simple rules, and the National Hockey League has great potential for development in Asia,” says Thomas Kressner, Yes TV CEO. “We are thrilled to be able to bring another big American sport to Asian sports fans.
“We are very pleased with the growing number of partners broadcasting ASN, especially in China with our distribution and equity partner XFMedia,” he adds. “Ice hockey is quite popular in the northern parts of China, and its popularity is growing. The NHL represents the pinnacle of professional ice hockey, and we are proud to be bringing the best of this exciting sport to the fans in China through the strong, nationwide platform of XFMedia.”
Says Ken Yaffe, NHL SVP, international, “We have been very impressed by ASN’s aggressive rollout plans and their commitment to a growing roster of sports programming. Partnering with ASN represents a significant step in expanding our broadcast footprint internationally, and we are excited to begin offering our fans in Asia a comprehensive, season-long game schedule.”