NBC, Not NBCSN, To Air NHL All-Star Game; Will Be First Time On Broadcast TV Since '04

NBC will broadcast the ’17 NHL All-Star Game, the first network-television broadcast of the game since ’04, when it was on ABC. The game, which was originally scheduled for NBCSN, will be played on Jan. 29 with coverage starting at 3:30 pm ET. Last year’s NHL All-Star Game averaged 1.595 million viewers, an increase of 34% year-over-year and the most-watched and highest-rated All-Star Game broadcast in NBCSN’s history. The cable net has aired all All-Star Games since NBC acquired NHL television rights prior to the '05-06 season. ABC drew 2.68 million viewers for the game in ‘04. The ’17 game will take place at Staples Center and marks the third time it will be played in L.A. “As the NHL celebrates its Centennial, we’re excited to bring the pace and energy of the NHL All-Star Game to a network-television audience for the first time in more than a decade,” NBC Sports Exec Producer Sam Flood said in a statement.