Scripps Expanded Tampa Bay Lightning Broadcast Reach

The media company added Jacksonville to its coverage map as it grows its NHL broadcasting footprint.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Hockey

Scripps Expanded Tampa Bay Lightning Broadcast Reach

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Scripps Sports has expanded the broadcast distribution for the Tampa Bay Lightning to include Jacksonville. This move comes as the network seeks to increase its production level for the team throughout the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons.

Why it matters

The Lightning serve as a high-value brand for advertisers in the region, prompting Scripps to enhance the broadcast quality and reach of its game coverage. The team currently leads all NHL franchises broadcast by the network in live TV audience and streaming subscriptions.

The Lightning maintain the highest average live TV audience among NHL teams on the network, with more than 15,000 paid subscribers currently using the team's dedicated streaming application.

The players

Scripps Sports

This is a media division of the E.W. Scripps Company that focuses on the production and distribution of local and national sports programming.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The team is a professional NHL franchise based in Florida that has become a significant asset for local sports broadcasting.

The details

Scripps Sports manages local broadcasts through The Spot-Tampa Bay 66 and Tampa Bay 28, building dedicated sets and studios for game-day operations. The partnership includes media rights payments and the sale of sponsor inventory across Scripps channels.

During the 2025-26 season, investments were made in sets and studios for game broadcasts.
For the 2026-27 season, Scripps plans to elevate the overall broadcast presentation.

Season Trajectory

This broadcast expansion strengthens the team's connection to the Florida market and positions the Lightning as a premier streaming draw. By growing its footprint, the organization enhances its commercial leverage within the league's evolving media landscape.

Fans in Jacksonville gain access to live Lightning broadcasts on local channels for the first time this season. The increased production investment aims to improve the quality of the viewing experience for both television and app subscribers across the entire broadcast territory.

The takeaway

The growth of local broadcast partnerships highlights how teams are successfully leveraging digital subscriber data to secure wider terrestrial reach. Fans can expect higher production quality as the network continues to invest in studio infrastructure.