St. Louis Blues adopt direct‑to‑distributor pay‑TV model as RSNs fade

The St. Louis Blues are planning a direct‑to‑distributor pay‑TV arrangement to replace traditional regional sports network (RSN) deals. Blues executive vice president and chief revenue and marketing officer Steve Chapman told the St. Louis Business Journal that over‑the‑air ad sales “don’t add up to enough revenue” and that the team will look to a model similar to MLB Local Media, where games are carried on cable and satellite channels that are dark outside live broadcasts, complemented by a direct‑to‑consumer streaming service and a limited number of over‑the‑air simulcasts.

The move comes as the collapse of several RSNs, including AT&T SportsNet in 2023 and FanDuel Sports Network in 2024, forces NHL franchises to rethink local media strategies. The league is assisting teams with centralized production resources, and other clubs are experimenting with various mixes of pay‑TV, streaming and free broadcast options. Recent examples include the Dallas Stars’ Victory+ streaming service, the Anaheim Ducks’ departure from that platform, and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ shift to an exclusive streaming model.

The Blues’ search for a new pay‑TV partner reflects broader uncertainty in the sports‑media landscape as cord‑cutting reduces cable subscriber bases while teams seek to preserve revenue streams previously guaranteed by RSN contracts.