2008-2009 REGULAR SEASON BROADCASTING INFORMATION
As of now, the Tampa Bay Lightning will make at least
15 national television appearances this season.
No full broadcast schedule has been finalized for both the NHL Network and NBC, but will be announced soon.
All other Lightning games will be televised locally by
Sun Sports. No word yet on whether or not that includes the two season-opening games against the New York Rangers in Prague, Czech Republic on October 4th and October 5th.
It has not been confirmed yet that Sun Sports will televise the Lightning's season opener on October 4th from
O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic. This is not to be confused with the larger venue in London, England by the same name. It is the first of two games against the New York Rangers in the National Hockey League's second
NHL Premiere series in league history. The second game can be seen exclusively on Versus.
Versus (4):
October 5, 2008 - Tampa Bay vs. New York Rangers at Prague, Czech Republic (exclusive cablecast)
November 10, 2008 - Tampa Bay at Washington
December 2, 2008 - Tampa Bay at Philadelphia (exclusive cablecast)
March 3, 2009 - Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay
The Sports Network (TSN) (4):
October 28, 2008 - Tampa Bay at Toronto
March 11, 2009 - Tampa Bay at Ottawa
March 17, 2009 - Toronto at Tampa Bay
March 26, 2009 - Tampa Bay at Montréal
Le Réseau des Sports' (RDS) (4):
December 11, 2008 - Tampa Bay at Montréal
December 30, 2008 - Montréal at Tampa Bay
January 27, 2009 - Montréal at Tampa Bay
March 26, 2009 - Tampa Bay at Montréal
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) (2):
October 4, 2008 - New York Rangers vs. Tampa Bay at Prague, Czech Republic
March 29, 2009 - Ottawa at Tampa Bay
NBC (potentially 1)
For more on the league-wide national television schedules, see these news sources below.
National Hockey League official site (August 14):
League releases TV schedules for 2008-2009
The Sports Network's (TSN) NHL page (August 14):
TSN announces 2008-2009 NHL broadcast schedule
2008-2009 NHL on TSN schedule
NHL: Hockey Lives Here (video clip)
CBC Sports' hockey page (August 14):
Hockey Night in Canada unveils season schedule
Versus' NHL page (August 14):
Versus announces schedule for 2008-2009 NHL regular season
Much to see on Versus this season
Versus' 2008-2009 broadcast schedule
Tampa Tribune's Bolts Report blog (August 14):
NHL national television schedule released
St. Petersburg Times' Lightning Strikes blog
(August 14):
4 Lightning games on Versus
(August 27):
Espo back on radio, says defense is fine
Kukla's Korner blog (August 15):
The Eye on the Media 2008-09 National TV Guide: Team-by-Team Network TV Schedules