The NHL and Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLBAM) announced a "first-of-Its-kind" digital media rights partnership Tuesday.
MLBAM is the interactive media and internet company for MLB and will work with the NHL to improve its online product. MLBAM will provide video, live game streaming, social media, fantasy, apps and statistical/analytical content.
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"It is an honor for Major League Baseball to stand alongside the National Hockey League on this joint initiative," baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. "All of us in sports share a desire to distribute our games and tell our stories as widely and broadly as possible. Because of our own experiences in delivering baseball to its loyal fans, MLB Advanced Media is uniquely suited to excel in a partnership of this magnitude."
MLBAM expects to fully take over by January 2016. NeuLion, the previous digital partner, will help with the transition.
"As the market leader, MLBAM is uniquely qualified to assist us in giving hockey fans a richer, more immersive experience with the game," said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. "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. We couldn't have North America better covered than with the power of NBC, Rogers, TVA and MLBAM — an incredible convergence of technical, creative and production talent that is great news for our fans."
The partnership is a six-year deal and it provides MLBAM with distribution rights to GameCenter live and NHL Center Ice.
