NHL Agrees on $155-Million Deal With Fox

The NHL, which hasn’t had an over-the-air TV contract in 20 years, on Friday agreed in principle with Fox on a five-year, $155-million broadcast deal. The agreement would take effect after being approved by the league’s Board of Governors, which is expected to rubber-stamp it. According to the terms, Fox--which gained a powerful presence with its four-year, $1.58-billion deal with the NFL--will televise the NHL All-Star Game, up to 12 regular-season games and an undetermined number of playoff games. The number of telecasts could increase after this season. A game of the week might also be instituted in subsequent seasons.

Additionally, a source said the NHL will extend its cable contract with ESPN. The league is about to start the third year of what was a five-year, $80-million deal.

The agreement with Fox represents a significant step for the NHL, the only major American sport that lacked an over-the-air outlet. ABC, which partly owns ESPN, showed several games last season, but the league has not had network coverage since NBC and CBS aired games in the 1970s.

After releasing a brief statement announcing the deal, officials of both the NHL and Fox declined comment. They plan to reveal details of the deal at a news conference Tuesday in New York.