Watching the Carolina Hurricanes on TV will be a little more complicated this season
ESPN is back in the hockey game and TNT is the NHL’s new broadcast partner.
Bally Sports South again will carry the majority of Carolina Hurricanes games, allowing Canes fans to see all of the team’s 82 games in the 2021-22 season that begins Thursday against the New York Islanders at PNC Arena.
Most Canes fans, that is.
Here’s what you need to know about watching the Hurricanes hockey this season.
Who broadcasts Carolina Hurricanes hockey games?
▪ Bally Sports South, a regional sports network owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group, is your main supplier, with 74 Hurricanes games on their schedule.
▪ ABC/ESPN+ will have one Hurricanes game — against the Philadelphia Flyers on March 12.
▪ ESPN will show the Canes game against the Dallas Stars on March 24.
▪ Six games will air exclusively on ESPN+ and Hulu and others through the ESPN+ service. None this season will be on TNT.
How can I watch the Hurricanes on Bally?
▪ Cable / satellite: Bally (formerly known as Fox Regional Sports) is available in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, and shown on cable, satellite and over-the-top providers including Spectrum, AT&T U-verse, DIRECTV. It is not available on DISH.
▪ Directly from Bally: Game telecasts can also be streamed live on BallySports.com and the Bally Sports app. The app is available on Apple, Android and Windows devices, but you’ll still need a cable or satellite log-in to watch.
▪ DIRECTV STREAM: Currently, streamers with the DIRECTV STREAM service (formerly known as AT&T NOW) can stream Bally Regional Sports Networks. You’ll have to opt in for their Choice package to get Bally.
▪ Other streaming options? You can no longer get Bally’s regional sports networks on Sling, Hulu Live TV, YouTube TV and FuboTV, because of lapsed contracts with Sinclair Broadcast Group, which acquired 21 (then Fox) RSNs from Disney in 2019.
Can I listen to Canes games on the radio?
▪ Yes, the Hurricanes games can still be heard on 99.9 The Fan, which is the team’s flagship radio station, and The Fan’s sister station, Buzz Sports Radio.
▪ The Hurricanes Radio Network also includes 730 The Game ESPN Charlotte, ESPN New Bern and ESPN Greenville.
▪ Fans outside the Hurricanes Radio Network listening area can listen to live simulcasts on Hurricanes.com and through the Canes’ mobile app.
▪ SiriusXM satellite radio also carries game broadcasts.
How can I watch Hurricanes blackout games?
Games shown through ESPN+ have blackout restrictions on the streaming of Bally Sports South games in the home regions.
Some Canes watchers in the past have used a “backdoor” to beat the local blackouts with a VPN service, such as NORDVPN, to mask their location and stream the games.
Note: Local blackout games can be watched on NHL.tv, which requires a subscription, 48 hours after the game.
Who broadcasts Canes games for Bally Sports?
The Bally Sports South broadcast team for the Canes remains the same. Mike Maniscalco will again handle play by play and Tripp Tracy will be the analyst.
Abby Labar will serve as in-game reporter and the host of Hurricanes LIVE, where she again will be joined by former Canes forward Shane Willis.
