Tampa Bay Lightning enters a multi-year agreement with Scripps Sports (SSP, Financial) for broadcasting rights starting 2025-26. New local station, WXPX-TV, ‘The Spot – Tampa Bay 66’, to launch on July 1, 2025, for Lightning games. Games accessible via cable, satellite, over-the-air TV, and a new streaming service through the Lightning app.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have secured a multi-year media rights agreement with Scripps Sports (SSP), set to begin with the 2025-26 NHL season. Under this new partnership, Scripps will produce and distribute all preseason, regular season, and first-round playoff games that are not exclusively broadcast nationally. This move promises enhanced access for Lightning fans, offering them various viewing options via cable, satellite, free over-the-air television, and direct-to-consumer streaming through a dedicated app.
The launch of a new full-power local TV station, WXPX-TV, branded as “The Spot – Tampa Bay 66”, is a key component of this agreement. Scheduled to begin transmissions on July 1, 2025, this station will become the primary broadcasting channel for Tampa Bay Lightning games. The collaboration between the Lightning and Scripps Sports also includes the development of a new streaming experience powered by ViewLift, integrated into the Lightning app, to cater to the increasing number of cord-cutters and tech-savvy viewers.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are also part of Scripps Sports’ expanding portfolio, which includes media rights agreements with other NHL teams such as the Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers, and Utah Mammoth. This strategic expansion further cements Scripps Sports’ position in live sports broadcasting, capitalizing on the valuable content rights and modernizing the viewing experience for sports fans.