DirecTV and Comcast Dropped St. Louis Blues Broadcasts
The providers declined to carry St. Louis Blues games despite the team offering market-standard terms.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Hockey
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DirecTV and Comcast have declined to carry St. Louis Blues games for the current season. The NHL team stated that both providers refused to accept the same market terms already agreed upon by other distributors.
Why it matters
The dispute leaves a significant portion of the local fanbase unable to watch games through their existing cable providers. The team has encouraged supporters to contact these companies to demand access to the Blue Note+ platform.
The St. Louis Blues confirmed that the terms offered to DirecTV and Comcast were identical to those accepted by other providers like Spectrum and Fubo. No additional costs were requested from these specific platforms to secure broadcast rights.
The players
St. Louis Blues
This professional ice hockey team competes in the NHL and represents the St. Louis region.
DirecTV
This is a major American satellite broadcast provider that carries a variety of sports and entertainment programming.
Comcast
This is a global telecommunications conglomerate and one of the largest cable providers in the United States.
The details
Fans in St. Louis looking to follow the team can currently access games through Spectrum, Fubo, and Prime Video. The organization continues to advocate for wider availability as the season progresses.
Timeline
October 8, 2026: The St. Louis Blues played their first home game of the 2026-2027 season.
October 9, 2026: The team issued a social media statement regarding the lack of provider access.
Season Trajectory
This carriage dispute highlights the intensifying tension between traditional cable providers and teams shifting to direct-to-consumer models. As more organizations adopt platforms like Blue Note+, the competitive balance of broadcast accessibility directly impacts the reach of the franchise.
Fans currently subscribed to DirecTV or Comcast will need to secure an alternative provider such as Spectrum, Fubo, or Prime Video to maintain access to games. The ongoing stalemate effectively removes the St. Louis Blues from the broadcast lineup of two major regional service providers.
The takeaway
Subscribers may need to explore digital-first streaming alternatives to continue following the team this season. The situation underscores the necessity of checking provider lineups early in the schedule to avoid missing live action.
Further reading
For more on the latest local coverage, see the St. Louis Hockey section.
Live Poll
Should local sports teams prioritize carrier availability to ensure all fans can watch their games?
