YANDEX AND NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE ANNOUNCE MULTIYEAR EXCLUSIVE MULTIMEDIA AGREEMENT TO BROADCAST NHL GAMES IN RUSSIA
September 05 2019 - 3:46AM
Yandex, a technology company that builds intelligent products
and services powered by machine learning, has entered into an
agreement with the National Hockey League to broadcast all NHL®
games in Russia, via its streaming platform. The multiyear deal
begins with the 2019-20 season, which opens on Wednesday, Oct.
2.
“By partnering with the NHL, one of the world’s leading sports
leagues, we can better connect some of hockey’s biggest fans with
their favorite teams and players. We are delighted to work with the
NHL to offer viewers in Russia a more accessible and innovative way
to watch games for free,” says Leonid Savkov, Chief Commercial
Officer of Yandex. “We are also excited to provide new
opportunities for advertisers to reach millions of hockey fans
viewing the games.”
Yandex operates one of Russia’s leading online streaming
platforms, offering millions of viewers live streaming of Russia’s
top television channels, sports programming, and cultural events.
Viewers can also use Yandex to stream on-demand TV series, movies,
and blogger content. Beginning with the 2019-20 NHL season, Yandex
will broadcast regular season games, as well as the Stanley Cup®
Playoffs, for free. Viewers can watch NHL games with Russian
commentary through the Yandex homepage and via Yandex apps for
mobile devices and Smart TVs. Russian hockey fans will soon have
convenient options to watch games featuring 2019 Stanley Cup
champions Vladimir Tarasenko and Ivan Barbashev of the St. Louis
Blues, as well as other Russian NHL stars such as Alex Ovechkin of
the Washington Capitals, Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins,
and Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay
Lightning.
“Yandex is an industry leader in Russia and a uniquely
compelling platform to deliver NHL games and our star players to
hockey fans across the country,” said David Proper, NHL Executive
Vice President of International and Media Strategy. “This
partnership is the result of Yandex and the NHL’s shared commitment
to provide content that will engage passionate fans and offer the
potential to reach an even broader audience.”
Yandex provides fans with an interactive streaming experience
while watching the games. Viewers will be able to react to
everything that happens on the ice by live chatting and using the
reaction emojis. NHL games and highlights will also be available to
watch on-demand after the live broadcast, plus viewers can
subscribe to receive notifications about the games.
Advertisers can sponsor broadcasts of the games to promote their
products and services to a large Russian audience. As Russia’s
largest search company and digital advertiser, Yandex is
well-positioned to connect brands with the country’s millions of
hockey fans online. Last year Yandex users performed over 93
million hockey-related queries on Yandex’s search engine, and
Russian NHL players rank among the most searched athletes on
Yandex.
About Yandex
Yandex (NASDAQ:YNDX) is a technology company that builds
intelligent products and services powered by machine learning. Our
goal is to help consumers and businesses better navigate the online
and offline world. Since 1997, we have delivered world-class,
locally relevant search and information services. Additionally, we
have developed market-leading on-demand transportation services,
navigation products, and other mobile applications for millions of
consumers across the globe. Yandex, which has 34 offices worldwide,
has been listed on the NASDAQ since 2011.
About the NHL
The National Hockey League (NHL®), founded in 1917, consists of
31 Member Clubs and proudly welcomes its 32nd franchise, based in
Seattle, for the 2021-22 season. Each team roster reflects the
League’s international makeup with players from more than 20
countries represented, all vying for the most cherished and
historic trophy in professional sports – the Stanley Cup®. Gary
Bettman has served the NHL as Commissioner since February 1, 1993
and has guided the world’s top professional hockey league to more
than $5 billion in annual revenues and partnerships with more than
40 blue chip corporate sponsors. Every year, the NHL entertains
more than 670 million fans in-arena and through its partners on
national television and radio; more than 151 million followers -
league, team and player accounts combined - across Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube; and more than 100 million
fans online at NHL.com. The League broadcasts games in more than
160 countries and territories through its rightsholders including
NBC/NBCSN and the NHL Network in the U.S., Sportsnet and TVA in
Canada, Viasat in the Nordic Region and CCTV and Tencent in China.
The NHL reaches fans worldwide with games available online in every
country including via its live and on-demand streaming service
NHL.TV™. Entering the esports world in 2018, the League hosts the
NHL Gaming World Championship annually, drawing record digital
streaming audiences during the 2019 campaign. Fans are engaged
across the League’s digital assets on mobile devices via the free
NHL® App; across nine social media platforms; on SiriusXM NHL
Network Radio; and on NHL.com, available in eight languages and
featuring unprecedented access to player and team statistics as
well as every regular-season and playoff game box score dating back
to the League’s inception, powered by SAP. The NHL is committed to
building healthy and vibrant communities through the sport of
hockey by increasing youth participation and engagement; fostering
positive family experiences; promoting inclusion, positive culture
and leadership; and supporting sustainable community impact.
Melissa McDonald
Yandex
+1 (978) 255-4339
pr@yandex-team.ru
Nirva Milord
NHL
+1 (212) 789-2123
nmilord@nhl.com
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