FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 3rd, 2019

“THERE’S NOTHING LIKE PLAYOFF HOCKEY” – NBC SPORTS GROUP TO PRESENT EVERY STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF GAME FOR EIGHTH CONSECUTIVE SEASON

Stanley Cup Playoffs Begin One Week From Today – Wednesday, April 10

NBC & NBCSN Combine to Cover Stanley Cup Final for 14th Consecutive Year; NBC, NBCSN, USA Network, CNBC, and NHL Network to Carry Games

NBC Scheduled to Broadcast Its Most Stanley Cup Playoff Games Ever

NBCSN, CNBC, USA Network, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports App to Provide Side-by-Side Coverage of First-Round Games in Local Markets

NBC Sports Regional Networks to Air Live Coverage of First-Round Games & Provide Comprehensive Local Team Coverage

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 3, 2019 – “There’s Nothing Like Playoff Hockey,” and for the eighth consecutive year, NBC Sports will present every NHL Stanley Cup Playoff game nationally across NBC Sports platforms and select NBCUniversal networks. During April, May, and June, NBC Sports Group will televise as many as 105 playoff games, and possibly more than 260 hours of programming. The excitement of Stanley Cup Playoff hockey – and “There’s Nothing Like Playoff Hockey” – begins one week from today, Wednesday, April 10.

This year is the 14th consecutive season that NBC and NBCSN will combine to cover the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and NBC is scheduled to present its most Stanley Cup Playoff games ever, up to 20 games from the first round through the Stanley Cup Final.

Overall, coverage will be presented on NBC, NBCSN and NHL Network, as well as first- and second-round coverage on NBCUniversal’s USA Network, the No. 1 cable entertainment network, and CNBC, NBCUniversal’s widely-distributed business channel.

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs – will provide complete authenticated streaming coverage of every game of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs that is televised by NBC, NBCSN, USA Network, and CNBC.

Locally, NBC Sports Regional Networks will surround the Capitals (NBC Sports Washington), Bruins (NBC Sports Boston), and Sharks (NBC Sports California) with first-round game coverage and in-depth live-event news coverage. NBCSports.com will provide comprehensive online coverage of the playoffs with online-only video, contributions from NBC Sports insiders, and constant news updates from ProHockeyTalk.


NBCSN, CNBC, USA NETWORK, NBCSPORTS.COM, AND THE NBC SPORTS APP TO PROVIDE SIDE-BY-SIDE COVERAGE OF FIRST-ROUND GAMES IN LOCAL MARKETS

For the third consecutive postseason, NBC Sports’ coverage of Stanley Cup Playoff first-round games on NBCUniversal cable networks (NBCSN, USA Network and CNBC), as well as NHL Network, will air side-by-side and will be available for streaming on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app in local markets alongside regional sports network game telecasts. (Local blackouts apply in Las Vegas and Pittsburgh in the first round).

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FIRST ROUND

Every first-round Stanley Cup Playoff game will be televised on a national platform.

In order to televise as many as five games on a given day/night, NBC Sports Group will utilize NBC, NBCSN, USA Network, CNBC, and NHL Network to carry first-round games. Local blackouts for games on cable no longer apply (excluding Las Vegas and Pittsburgh), so fans in all markets will have the ability to watch or stream their team on NBC Sports’ national telecasts and digital platforms.

NBCSN will be the primary home of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, offering coverage of one or two games virtually every night of the first round. NBC will present six exclusive first-round broadcasts during the weekends of April 13-14 and April 20-21, including a pair of Saturday primetime broadcasts on Saturday, April 13, and Saturday, April 20, at 8 p.m. ET.

USA Network, CNBC, and NHL Network will also provide live coverage in primetime, airing games on a majority of nights.


SECOND ROUND

NBC Sports Group’s Stanley Cup Playoff exclusivity originates with the second round and continues through the Stanley Cup Final. All games will air exclusively on NBC, NBCSN, USA Network, or CNBC, and will stream exclusively on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.

In addition, NBC will present second-round Stanley Cup Playoff games immediately following live coverage of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 4. This is the fourth consecutive year in which NBC has aired a Stanley Cup Playoff game immediately following the Kentucky Derby.

NBCSN will serve as the primary home for second-round coverage, offering one or two games virtually every night. When necessary, USA Network and CNBC will provide live coverage in primetime, although less frequently than in the first round.


CONFERENCE FINALS

NBC, NBCSN, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will provide exclusive coverage of the Eastern and Western Conference Finals. For the fourth consecutive season, NBC will present a primetime Conference Final game immediately following live coverage of the Preakness Stakes, on Saturday, May 18. The remaining games from both the Eastern and Western Conference Finals will be televised exclusively on NBC or NBCSN.


STANLEY CUP FINAL

For the 14th consecutive year, NBC, NBCSN, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will provide exclusive coverage of the Stanley Cup Final. NBC will broadcast Game 1, Game 4, and Games 5-7 (if necessary), with NBCSN televising Games 2-3.


STUDIO COVERAGE

Comprehensive pre-game, post-game, and intermission studio programming throughout the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs will originate from NBC Sports Group’s state-of-the-art International Broadcast Center located in Stamford, Conn., except during the Stanley Cup Final, when live studio coverage will originate from the game sites. In addition, members of NBC Sports’ studio team will travel to select games throughout the first three rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, providing reports and on-site interviews.

During the first round, NBC Sports Group will operate two studio shows. On most weeknights, fans can expect NHL studio programming for games airing on NBCSN and USA Network/CNBC, sometimes simultaneously. NHL Live will usually begin one hour prior to game time, with post-game coverage airing immediately after the final game of the night.

COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL COVERAGE

Through the NBC Sports Regional Networks, comprehensive coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs will be provided daily via NBC Sports Regional Networks, available in more than 35 million U.S. households. NBC Sports Regional Networks serve the hometown fans of the San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins and the Washington Capitals, with first-round game coverage, pre- and post-game shows, and extensive on-line coverage via NBC Sports’ team of NHL Insiders.

For teams that advance past the first round, NBC Sports Regional Networks will deliver extensive pre- and post-game coverage as well as breaking news and analysis throughout each team’s playoff run.


STREAMING COVERAGE ON NBCSPORTS.COM AND THE NBC SPORTS APP

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app — NBC Sports Group’s live streaming platforms for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs — will provide live streaming coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs via “TV Everywhere,” giving consumers additional value to for their subscription service, and making high quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms.

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app are powered by Playmaker Media and available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox, and Chromecast.

-NBC SPORTS GROUP-