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The Tampa Bay Lightning have entered into a multi-year media rights agreement with Scripps Sports, so fans throughout the Tampa Bay Area will be able to watch Lightning hockey games for free beginning with the start of the 2025-26 NHL season this fall.
This new agreement allows E.W. Scripps Co. to produce and distribute all preseason, regular season and first-round playoff Lightning games that are not allocated exclusively to national broadcasts.
Scripps, which owns WFTS Tampa, will air the games on its WXPX Bradenton, Fla., which will be branded “The Spot – Tampa Bay 66.” It will also feature news and entertainment programming in addition to all locally produced Lightning games. Scripps is in discussions with cable and satellite distributors to ensure Lightning games on The Spot will be available on cable, satellite as well as over-the-air television.
In addition to the local TV broadcasts, the Lightning and Scripps Sports will be introducing a new, direct-to-consumer experience where Bolts fans can livestream games within the Lightning app throughout the Bolts’ broadcast territory, powered by ViewLift. More details on the streaming experience will be made available prior to the start of the 2025-26 season.
“The Tampa Bay Lightning are one of the best teams in the NHL, and Bolts fans deserve easy access to all their games via cable, satellite, free over-the-air and streaming,” said Brian Lawlor, president of Scripps Sports. “The complement of broadcast television and streaming guarantees that fans can follow the games from their living room or wherever they are in their