Minnesota Wild launches new multimedia television network for local broadcasts
The Minnesota Wild has announced the launch of an exclusive multimedia television network, set to debut this season. This new platform will be team-owned and operated, with the Wild organization managing all aspects of production, distribution, sales, and marketing in collaboration with NHL Productions. The initiative aims to provide fans with direct access to games through various options.
Fans will have multiple ways to watch the Wild this season, including cable, satellite, streaming services, and over-the-air broadcasts. Further details regarding availability, channel locations, and pricing for a direct-to-consumer streaming option, which will include annual and monthly subscriptions, are expected before the regular season begins. The network will serve as the official television home for the Wild, producing every regular season game not nationally televised by the NHL’s exclusive broadcast partners, such as ABC, ESPN, ESPN+/Hulu, and TNT. For fans outside the local television market, Wild games will be accessible on ESPN+ via the NHL Power Play.
Expanding Media Reach
This new multimedia network expands the team’s existing media platform, which already includes the Minnesota Wild Audio Network, described as the largest network in the NHL. Other components of their multimedia presence include the Wild on 7th Podcast, @MNWildAudio, original behind-the-scenes programming, and a substantial social media following across various platforms.
The NHL has expanded the capabilities of NHL Productions to include centralized production services for select club local broadcasts, with the Minnesota Wild being one of the teams participating starting with the 2026-27 season. This comprehensive service from the league’s centralized production group will offer robust studio and show programming, premium game production, advanced graphics, replay capabilities, and technical and engineering support.
During the 2025-26 regular season, the Minnesota Wild was among the top ten U.S.-based NHL teams in household rating and viewership. Following the acquisition of Quinn Hughes, the team’s television ratings saw a notable increase. The Wild also emerged as one of the two biggest national television draws during the opening weekend of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and established a cable record for a Second Round Game 1 audience.
Broadcast Team and Advertising Strategy
The telecasts for the Minnesota Wild will feature a dedicated broadcast team. Anthony LaPanta will serve as the play-by-play announcer, with Ryan Carter as the lead analyst. Kevin Gorg will be the rink-side reporter, while Katie Storm and Wes Walz will host the Wild pre- and postgame shows. Additionally, Alex Stalock and Lou Nanne are slated to provide analysis for select games.
The NHL’s centralized production initiative was partly influenced by changes in the traditional local broadcast model. League executives anticipate that this new approach will enhance telecasts and enable teams to monetize them more effectively by granting clubs greater control over advertising inventory. The NHL is providing production support while allowing clubs to pursue market-specific distribution models.
Mitch Helgerson, Chief Revenue Officer and Executive Vice President for the Minnesota Wild, stated that the team has hired two dedicated representatives to manage advertising sales across its local television and radio broadcasts. This move aims to ensure that agencies seeking to purchase advertising for Wild hockey games will now engage directly with the club. The Blues and Hurricanes are also among the teams turning to the NHL’s newly created centralized production arm for their local telecasts.
The NHL’s production support is not tied to a specific distribution model, allowing teams to potentially leverage the league’s production capabilities even if they maintain existing regional sports networks. For the former Main Street Sports Group clubs, including the Wild, the NHL is assisting in developing market-specific plans. This includes negotiating direct distribution agreements with pay-TV providers to maintain linear availability and exploring streaming and over-the-air partnerships. The Wild and Blues executives anticipate making some games available over the air.
The NHL’s centralized production model requires teams to cover the baseline cost of producing their local telecasts while retaining all revenue from distribution and controlled advertising inventory. The league will bear the costs associated with building out the shared production infrastructure, encompassing personnel, technology, and innovation that can be deployed across various markets. KFAN FM 100.3 and iHeart Radio are entering their sixteenth season as the audio home of the Minnesota Wild.
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Source: nhl.com
