nhl network nhl network logo launched october 4 2001 closed august 31 2015 owned by national hockey league consortium 58 % edmonton oilers 23.2 % calgary flames 23.2 % national hockey league 11.6 % ctv specialty television 21.42 % bell espn inc. insight sports 20.58 % 1 picture format 480i sdtv slogan where the nhl gets hockey country canada broadcast area national headquarters toronto ontario sister channel s nhl network united states nhl network was a canadian english language category b specialty television channel broadcasting ice hockey programming . the channel s primary focus was on the national hockey league nhl although it occasionally aired games from other leagues such as minor league and international circuits to fill its schedule . the channel was owned by the nhl network inc. a venture consisting of the national hockey league and two of its canadian member franchises ctv specialty television inc. a division of bell media and espn inc. and insight sports ltd. 1 the network s ownership structure which gives the league only an 11.6 % interest is due in part to foreign ownership restrictions for canadian broadcasters which prevents the nhl owned by 30 member franchises of which 23 are based in the united states from exercising majority ownership directly . the network s canadian operations were managed by bell owned tsn the now former cable rightsholder of the nhl in canada . following rogers communications acquisition of sole national media rights to the nhl in canada the bell media staff members who operated the network were laid off in july 2015 and nhl network was shut down entirely on september 1 2015 . the network s u.s. version was not affected by the shutdown as its operations were migrated to the facilities of mlb network as part of a wider partnership between the league and mlb advanced media . contents 1 history 1.1 logos 2 programming 2.1 programs 2.1.1 live games 2.1.2 alternate programming 2.1.3 special event coverage 3 see also 4 references history edit in november 2000 the canadian radio television and telecommunications commission crtc granted approval to former nhl executive jim gregory on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated formed later as the nhl network inc. to launch the hockey channel described as a national english language category 2 specialty television dedicated exclusively to all aspects of the game of hockey . 2 the channel was launched on october 4 2001 as nhl network . 3 its success led the league to create a sister network in the united states in 2007 with many of the same programs . even as rogers media took over as national television rightsholder of the nhl in canada beginning in the 2014 15 season nhl network remained operated from the facilities of tsn and featured some of its talent . league sources reported that due to the preparations needed for its first season as rightsholder rogers was unable to immediately take over the channel but that rogers would reconsider its role in nhl network the following season . tsn could have alternatively remained the operating partner of nhl network beyond the 2014 15 season . 4 on june 1 2015 the globe and mail columnist david shoalts reported that nhl network in canada would cease operations on september 1 2015 . bell media staff members who operated nhl network on behalf of the partnership were laid off on july 1 2015 . in august 2015 the nhl announced that mlb advanced media would take over the u.s. nhl network and operate it from the facilities of mlb network as well as the league s websites and digital properties such as gamecenter live due to rogers rights deal it will not handle distribution of the service in canada . 5 6 7 8 the crtc formally revoked the nhl network s license at its request on september 17 2015 . 9 logos edit silver logo used from 2005 2007 . original logo from 2001 2005 used original nhl logo colours ; black and orange logo used from 2007 to 2009 logo used from 2009 to 2011 logo used from 2011 to 2012 final logo used from 2012 to 2015 programming edit nhl network featured a variety of programming related to ice hockey primarily from the nhl including live and tape delayed games from present and past seasons documentaries news and analysis series . programs edit nhl live the network s premiere pre game show . it airs monday through friday from 5 00pm 7 00pm eastern time . the show is broadcast from atop of the nhl store in new york ny and is hosted by e.j. hradek steve mears and bill pidto . the show provides viewers with a recap of the previous night s action and a preview of what s to come later on . during the show the hosts will interview players broadcasters general managers and coaches . they also read tweets on the air from twitter followers . before the show wraps up the hosts will provide predictions on who they think will win games on each night with a segment called the shootout . nhl on the fly this is the network s signature primetime show providing viewers with live look ins on the early evening games highlights analysis and news . the show begins nightly at 7 00pm eastern time and is predominately hosted by mark roe and andi petrillo . it s occasionally hosted by e.j. hradek as well . analysis is provided by former nhl players and coaches including kevin weekes bob errey dave reid jamie mclennan craig button jamal mayers barry melrose and kelly chase . inside information from around the league such as rumours involving trades hiring and firing of coaches is provided by bob mckenzie and darren dreger from tsn . nhl tonight the network s late night show provides viewers with live look ins on the late evening games highlights analysis and news . the program was formerly known as nhl on the fly final until 2011 . the show airs nightly beginning at 10 00pm eastern time . it s also predominately hosted by mark roe and andi petrillo . it s occasionally hosted by e.j. hradek as well . analysis is provided by former nhl players and coaches including kevin weekes bob errey dave reid jamie mclennan craig button jamal iii mayers barry melrose and kelly chase . inside information from around the league such as rumours involving trades hiring and firing of coaches is provided by bob mckenzie and darren dreger from tsn . pioneers a documentary series that gives viewers a closer more in depth look at hockey s biggest legends . the show includes interviews with the subject of their documentary and archival footage from their playing days . frozen in time a series dedicated to showing the most memorable moments from players coaches teams and special events in hockey history . top 10 a show that counts down the most memorable goals saves performances and players . classic series a 60 minute series showing the best playoff series in nhl history . vintage games a whole nhl game from the past shown in its entirety . nhl all access a behind the scenes look at the nhl featuring exclusive game coverage interviews with players and much more . nhl cool shots a behind the scenes look at nhl players and their lives away from the rink . encore game an encore presentation of a game from the night before . airs daily beginning at 12 00pm eastern time . live games edit unlike its sister network in the united states there are currently no live games on the nhl network in canada per the conditions of the nhl sportsnet deal . alternate programming edit the following programs aired when the network was broadcasting a live game in the united states but unable to do so in canada . 24ch a behind the scenes look at the montreal canadiens franchise . caps red line a behind the scenes look at the washington capitals franchise . becoming wild a behind the scenes look at the minnesota wild franchise . pittsburgh penguins in the room a behind the scenes look at the pittsburgh penguins franchise . behind the b a behind the scenes look at the boston bruins franchise . oil change a behind the scenes look at the edmonton oilers franchise . special event coverage edit nhl winter classic complimentary coverage of the outdoor games that have been held on new year s day since 2008 . the games have been held at the following locations since its inception 2008 ralph wilson stadium orchard park new york 2009 wrigley field chicago 2010 fenway park boston 2011 heinz field pittsburgh 2012 citizens bank park philadelphia 2013 cancelled due to lockout . 2014 michigan stadium ann arbor michigan 2015 nationals park washington d.c. nhl heritage classic complimentary coverage of the outdoor games that take place in canada during selected seasons . the games have been held at the following locations since its inception 2003 commonwealth stadium edmonton 2011 mcmahon stadium calgary 2014 bc place vancouver the next edition of the heritage classic was to take place in 2016 at investors group field in winnipeg however the winnipeg jets and the winnipeg blue bombers couldn t reach an agreement on which date the game should be held so it has been put on hold until the 2016 17 season . 10 nhl all star game complimentary coverage of the showcase featuring the league s best players taking part in an exhibition game that is held at the halfway point of the regular season except when it s an olympic year . the 60th national hockey league all star game took place on sunday january 25 2015 at nationwide arena in columbus ohio with team toews defeating team foligno 17 12 . nhl entry draft complimentary coverage of the annual draft that takes place on the last weekend of june . the first round of the draft begins shortly after 7 00pm eastern time on friday nights . rounds 2 through 7 of the draft takes place on the saturday beginning at 10 00am . the 2015 nhl entry draft will be held on june 26 and 27 at the bb & t center in sunrise florida . nhl free agent frenzy complimentary coverage of free agency that usually begins on july 1 . see also edit nhl network u.s. tv network tsn references edit a b crtc ownership chart for nhl network decision crtc 2000 601 crtc 2000 12 14 espn mediazone canada website the nhl shift news and notes 6 20 2014 . sports business daily . retrieved june 30 2014 . shoalts david dshoalts june 1 2015 . bad news last week for about 20 staffers at nhl network canada . they were told league is closing canadian operation sept. 1 . tweet . retrieved july 17 2015 via twitter . pro baseball s streaming video unit gets ready for a 3 billion spinoff by adding pro hockey . re code . vox media . retrieved august 4 2015 . mlb s tech unit wins nhl streaming business . the wall street journal . retrieved august 4 2015 . subscription required a closer look at nhl s partnership with mlbam . sportsnet.ca . retrieved august 4 2015 . broadcasting decision crtc 2015 430 . canadian radio television and telecommunications commission . 2015 09 17 . retrieved 2015 09 17 . lawless gary january 20 2015 . heritage classic put on hold until 2016 17 . winnipeg free press . links to related articles v t e national hockey league on national 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