Are Penguins preseason games televised?

The Pittsburgh Penguins are one of the most popular teams in the NHL, with a large and dedicated fanbase. Many fans look forward to watching the Penguins take the ice for preseason games before the regular season starts. However, not all preseason games are televised. So an important question for Penguins fans is: are Penguins preseason games televised?

Penguins Preseason Television Schedule

The Penguins typically play six preseason games each year prior to the start of the regular season in October. Some of these preseason games are televised locally in the Pittsburgh market, while others are only available on radio or online streaming. Here is an overview of the Penguins preseason television schedule for the past few seasons:

As the table shows, in recent years the Penguins have typically televised 2-3 of their 6 preseason games locally in Pittsburgh each year. The televised games are usually home games at PPG Paints Arena. So in a normal year, Penguins fans can expect to watch at least a couple of preseason games on television.

Watching Televised Preseason Games

For Penguins fans in the Pittsburgh market, watching the televised preseason games is straightforward. The games are broadcast locally on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, the regional sports network (RSN) that carries Penguins games during the regular season. If you have a cable or satellite package that includes AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, you can simply tune in to the channel when the preseason games air.

Typically, the televised preseason games are also streamed on the AT&T SportsNet website and mobile apps for viewers with a cable subscription login. So fans can stream the games live online or on mobile devices through the AT&T SportsNet service.

Games that are nationally televised, such as any preseason games aired on NHL Network, can be watched the same way as regular season national broadcasts. NHL Network is available through most major cable and satellite providers in the United States.

Access for Out-of-Market Fans

For Penguins fans outside of the Pittsburgh television market, watching televised preseason games gets a bit more complicated. The local AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh broadcasts are only available in-market. So fans in other cities or regions would need to find a way to access or stream AT&T SportsNet to view these games live.

Options to access the local Pittsburgh broadcasts include:

• Subscribing to NHL.TV or DirecTV Stream, which both carry AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh for out-of-market viewers.
• Using a VPN service to make your device appear located in the Pittsburgh area in order to stream AT&T SportsNet directly.
• Finding pirated streams of the local broadcast online (which are illegal and not recommended).

As an alternative, out-of-market fans could try listening to Pittsburgh radio broadcasts of preseason games online. The Penguins’ radio network on WXDX and WBGG airs all preseason contests.

Non-Televised Preseason Games

For preseason games that are not scheduled for local television, Penguins fans unfortunately do not have many options to watch a live broadcast. Non-televised games are only accessible on the radio broadcast or potentially via illegal online streaming sources.

The NHL does not offer any official streaming for non-televised preseason games. So the only way to follow along is by listening to the radio feeds or checking for live score updates online or on mobile apps.

It’s important to note that the NHL does enforce blackout restrictions on preseason live streams just like the regular season. So using NHL.TV or other services to stream preseason games that are played in Pittsburgh will result in local blackouts.

Why Are Some Preseason Games Not Televised?

In the end, the main reason why some preseason games are not televised comes down to relatively low demand and financial costs. NHL clubs and local broadcasters determine which preseason contests warrant the expenses of a television crew, announcers, and production setup. With most fans focused on the regular season, there is limited appeal for TV or streaming for random preseason contests, especially road games.

For the games that are televised, it provides a good opportunity for fans to get their first look at the team before the games start counting. Not to mention it gives the television network some hockey content before the start of their regular season coverage. But for the games that don’t make the cut, radio feeds are considered sufficient to follow along for most preseason hockey.

Ways to Follow the Preseason

While televised preseason games are limited, there are plenty of ways for Penguins fans to follow along throughout the exhibition schedule:

• Listen to radio broadcasts on WXDX and WBGG in Pittsburgh.
• Follow beat reporters on Twitter for live updates from practice and preseason games.
• Check the Penguins team website and social media for highlights, interviews and recap stories.
• Read preseason game reports and analysis in Pittsburgh newspapers and blogs.
• Listen to Pittsburgh sports talk radio shows for discussions about preseason storylines.
• Check YouTube the day after games for unofficial highlights and footage.
• Attend a game in-person if possible to scout the action live.

While television access is limited, following the preseason closely can help fans get primed for the coming season and provide a first look at prospects and roster battles before the meaningful games begin.

Conclusion

In summary, Pittsburgh Penguins preseason games have limited local television coverage, typically 2-3 home games each preseason. Local fans can watch these games on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, while out-of-market fans have a few options to access the broadcasts. Games not scheduled for TV are only available on radio or unauthorized streaming outlets. The limited TV access is due to relatively low consumer demand and financial costs. But Penguins fans still have plenty of ways to follow the preseason preparation through other forms of media and coverage leading up to the NHL regular season.