Fox agrees to air 71 Ducks games this season as talks on deal continue

Ducks left wing John Kurtz and Coyotes left wing Eric Selleck trade punches during a preseason game.

Sept. 24, 2014 6 PM PT

With a rights deal still unsigned, the Ducks are far along enough in negotiations with Fox to reveal their full television schedule Wednesday, with plans for all 82 games to be televised, including 71 by Fox cable affiliates Prime Ticket and Fox Sports West.

“We’re working through the process, but in the interim, the parties have agreed to release the schedule,” a Ducks spokesman said Wednesday.

The Ducks’ talks with Fox have progressed to the point that Fox has guaranteed the games will all air as discussions continue to fully negotiate the rights deal.

Play-by-play man John Ahlers and color commentator Brian Hayward will return to call the game action, with Mark Rogondino hosting pre- and post-game shows and Kent French reporting.

Bob Sipowich will direct, and Mike Levy will produce game coverage.

NBC Sports Network is scheduled to carry some of the Ducks’ most notable games, including a Nov. 12 home game against the defending Stanley Cup-champion Kings, who eliminated the Ducks in seven games in last season’s Western Conference semifinal playoffs.

The Stanley Cup-finalist New York Rangers will visit Anaheim on an NBC Sports Network game Jan. 7, with the cable broadcaster also showing the Ducks’ Jan. 29 game at San Jose, a March 1 playoff rematch at Dallas, another home game against the Kings March 18, the March 22 trip to the Rangers and an April 8 home game against Dallas.

Prime Ticket, starting with the Ducks’ season-opener Oct. 9 at the Pittsburgh Penguins, through the Oct. 17 home opener at Honda Center versus the Minnesota Wild, will carry the Ducks’ first 11 games and 17 of their first 20, including the team’s first road game at the Kings on Nov. 15.

Teemu Selanne’s jersey retirement ceremony game, Jan. 11 against his former team, the Winnipeg Jets, will be on Prime Ticket.

Prime Ticket will also broadcast the Ducks’ final two preseason games, Sunday at 5 p.m. versus the Kings and Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. against visiting San Jose, while airing “Ducks Live: Season Preview Special” on Oct. 4, along with “Before the Bigs” specials on Ryan Getzlaf and Coach Bruce Boudreau starting Oct. 17.

KCOP-13 will provide coverage Nov. 20 at Vancouver, Nov. 29 at San Jose, Jan. 14 versus Toronto and Jan. 17 at the Kings.