NHL launches next phase in broadband strategy

The National Hockey League continues its aggressive broadband push with a new video player for nhl.com, more ad options and a batch of channels timed to launch with the beginning of the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs. This week’s launch includes access to three years of archived clips by date and player, as well as several hours a day of programming. It’s just the beginning—a taste of what’s coming this summer when all 30 teams will start using the player to distribute their own programming, and when nhl.com relaunches completely in September.

First seven channels: The new channels, organized around themes, give the league a way to pull its digital content into linear viewing instead of piecemeal. At the same time, users have flexibility to pick clips and to go deep.