Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) is interviewed by rinkside reporter Kara Hammer following a 4-3 overtime win against the Edmonton Oilers on January 13, 2026 at Bridgestone Arena. JOHN RUSSELL/NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Nashville Predators television broadcasts will be easier than ever to find starting next season.

They will also be free for viewers in Middle Tennessee.

As part of a multi-year media rights agreement announced Tuesday with Scripps Sports, the Predators are set to provide over-the-air access to all preseason, regular season and first-round playoff games not earmarked exclusively for national broadcasts. Games will also be available to watch via cable, satellite and digital streaming.

Scripps, formally known as The E. W. Scripps Company, owns WTVF NewsChannel 5 and will launch a second channel, The Spot – Nashville 28, to help house Predators games. The company already produces and distributes local broadcasts for the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Utah Mammoth and Vegas Golden Knights.

“We are incredibly excited to partner with Scripps Sports in delivering broadcasts of Preds games for free to our fans,” Predators CEO Sean Henry said in a statement. “Our partnership has been a natural fit as we are aligned on key community initiatives, and we greatly appreciate the way Scripps has embraced the Preds and our fans.

“Scripps’ ability and commitment to delivering our games across our broad television market and making them accessible to all is vital in fueling the passion of Smashville. The network’s dedication to exceptional production standards aligns with our goal of providing a first-class viewing experience for the best fans in sports. We are truly grateful to our new partners.”

The Scripps-Predators deal represents a departure from the regional sports network (RSN) model the team has used since its inception in 1998-99. Predators games are currently available on FanDuel Sports Network South, which was previously called Fox Sports South and Bally Sports South, among other names.

RSNs have struggled to maintain economic viability in the era of cable cord-cutting and streaming. Main Street Sports Group, the owner of FanDuel Sports Network, announced April 3 its plans to cease operations at the conclusion of the 2025-26 NBA and NHL seasons. (Note: Main Street Sports Group is not affiliated with Main Street Nashville or Main Street Media of Tennessee.)

Instead of being forced to subscribe either directly to FanDuel Sports Network or to a cable provider that carried the channel, Predators fans in Middle Tennessee will only need a digital antenna to watch games for free on NewsChannel 5 or The Spot. Games will also be available on the team’s soon-to-be-released streaming app.

Scripps is working with other broadcasters to deliver games on local channels throughout the Predators’ viewing territory in East and West Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky and Mississippi. Out-of-market viewers can continue to watch games with subscriptions to ESPN+ or NHL Center Ice.

“Nashville is a hockey town, and this partnership makes Predators games available to the widest possible local audience,” Scripps Sports president Brian Lawlor said. “The combination of broadcast television and streaming guarantees that all Preds fans can follow the action wherever they choose to watch, on whatever device they choose.”

Scripps will broadcast pre- and post-game shows for every local Predators game. The on-air talent will stay the same, with Willy Daunic handling play-by-play and Chris Mason as the color analyst, alongside reporters and hosts Kara Hammer, Lyndsay Rowley and Hal Gill.

Follow Russell Vannozzi on X/Twitter @RussellV_MSP. For the latest Nashville Predators stories, be sure to sign up for the Main Street Nashville email newsletter.