NHL's Media Rights Boom May Hit a Ceiling Despite Strong Ratings

The NHL has finally cracked the code on ratings growth, but one analyst warns that translating that momentum into a blockbuster media rights deal might be trickier than the league expects. Rising viewership doesn't always equal rising revenue when networks are cutting budgets and consolidating their sports portfolios. The league's next negotiation could reveal whether the recent surge is sustainable enough to command the kind of money the NHL brass is hoping for.