Live streaming deal to launch NWHL to new heights

A significant step forward for the National Womens Hockey League (NWHL) took place with the announcement of an exciting agreement with Twitter. Heading into the 2017-18 season, the third in NWHL history, a global broadcast deal will allow the budding league to expand its scope.

Of note, Twitter shall engage in a global live streaming collaboration with the NWHL, the second professional womens league it has reached a deal with. A few weeks earlier, Twitter also announced a similar deal with the WNBA. As a side note, the WNBA deal consists of a three-year term, and the May 14, 2017 contest between the Dallas Wings and Phoenix Mercury was the first to be broadcast.

Worth noting, the broadcasts will allow for sponsorship opportunities, enhanced by TV-style advertisements. Currently, Dunkin Donuts is the NWHLs premier sponsor, the first in league history. With their logo visible on the upper front corner of all franchise jerseys, the brand may benefit from such unprecedented exposure for the league, potentially leading to other firms declaring interest in their logos adorning NWHL jerseys, increasing overall revenues.

Mutual efforts also see the NWHL and Twitter join forces with regards to marketing and promotion, which is destined to raise awareness for the league and its players. Considering that the NWHL suffered an unfortunate setback during the 2016-17 season, having to reduce player salaries due to lower than expected ticket sales, the broadcast deal is a positive step forward to ensure that such a chapter will never occur again.

The landmark deal is highlighted by the Twitter NWHL Game of the Week, which sees all of the leagues Founding Four franchises, the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale and New York Riveters gaining the opportunity to showcase their skills. All live streamed games shall be accessible via NWHL.twitter.com or on @NWHL.

For NWHL fans, there will be a total of 16 regular season games that fall under the Game of the Week headline. Said games shall be produced by the NWHL with the schedule is slated to be announced in the month of September. Eagerness for the schedule will certainly increase, as the league has confirmed that several games this season shall be contested in neutral sites, another innovative approach to expanding the brand.

Additionally, the 2018 edition of the NWHL All-Star Game (site to be announced) shall be streamed live. Building anticipation for this new chapter in NWHL history shall also include two games from the NWHLs Summit Series. The Series sees the Russian national womens team participate in six games against three NWHL clubs during the month of October, signifying the first games to be broadcast under this deal.