The Devils and Prudential Center have signed a multiyear partnership with iHeartMedia N.Y. to launch a new digital platform that will feature both live regular season Devils games as well as New Jersey-specific entertainment programming. The platform, which will be called The One Jersey Sports & Entertainment Network, will be accessible for free through the Devils app and through iHeartRadio’s digital radio service, which is available across more than 90 platforms. The One Jersey Network will exclusively carry 23 Devils games through the end of the season beginning with Sunday’s game against the Hurricanes. The remainder of the games will be on the team’s broadcast radio partner, WFAN, and simulcast on the network. Launching the platform will not alter the Devils’ multiyear deal with WFAN, Devils and Prudential Center President Hugh Weber said, adding that he expects a similar structure in terms of the way games are aired in years to come. In addition to the live games, the network will have exclusive live and on-demand content from the team featuring coaches, players and alumni, as well as New Jersey-focused content from Prudential Center. In addition, it will also feature prominent New Jersey personalities. A full programming schedule will be announced at a later date.
JERSEY SCORE: Weber said launching the 24/7 platform allows the team to speak directly to its specific media market in New Jersey, which is often bunched in with both the N.Y. and Philadelphia markets. “We feel there is a lack of content for people who live in Jersey, who want to know more about Jersey, and want to celebrate Jersey,” he said. “It also provides us another outlet to share, distribute and amplify our content that is specific to this market.” Because it falls under the NHL’s territorial broadcast restrictions regarding out of market advertising, the network will be geo-fenced to the team’s existing media market, which essentially includes anywhere in the tristate area where its games are also available on television or radio, Weber said. There are more than 2 million iHeartRadio subscribers in that specific area, Weber said, and this deal allows them to see real-time numbers and analytics in regards to listeners and subscribers.
CONTENT ALREADY BEING CREATED: The Devils will control all aspects of the radio and advertising time, and “will reap the benefits of that,” said Weber, declining to comment further on the financial structure of the deal. He noted that much of the content that will find its way onto the platform early on is already being created in some form by the team, so incremental costs will not be extreme. The Devils have hired employees to help produce the produce the content, and Weber said it would be likely they make additional hires. Weber said while additional programming will be announced at a later date, he could potentially see opportunities to work with other Prudential Center events such as Seton Hall basketball and the Never Forget Tribute Classic NCAA basketball tournament, as well as with concert promoters to find New Jersey-specific topics to discuss with the artists.
