Columbus is the only NHL club that still cannot tell its fans where to watch this season. Four weeks before the opener, the Blue Jackets’ own How to Watch page carries nothing but an email sign-up form. The club expects to name a broadcaster around Labor Day. Here is everything that is confirmed, and exactly what is not.
Where can I watch Blue Jackets games in 2026-27?
Nobody can say yet. Blue Jackets broadcasts will be produced by NHL Productions, the league’s new in-house arm, after FanDuel Sports Network Ohio shut down. No channel, no streaming service and no price has been named. Team vice-president Todd Sharrock said in late August that an announcement was expected “hopefully by Labor Day”, which falls on 7 September.
What is expected when it is announced?
Sharrock has indicated the club anticipates roughly the same mix as before: cable and satellite carriage, a streaming option, and a set of games free over the air on the local ABC and Fox stations, covering 82 of the 84 games. None of that is confirmed, and no price of any kind has been published.
What has already changed for Blue Jackets fans?
Two things, and the second has gone largely unnoticed. FanDuel Sports Network Ohio is gone with nothing named to replace it. Separately, from this season the television and radio broadcasts are a simulcast — identical audio on both — which ends the separate radio call. Bob McElligott, the radio voice for 17 years, was not renewed.
Who calls the games now?
Steve Mears, previously of NHL Network, takes over play-by-play alongside Jody Shelley on colour, with Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre in studio. Radio stays on 97.1 The Fan and carries the television call.
How often are the Blue Jackets on national television?
Twice. That is the fewest of any American club in the Eastern Conference — every other one has at least ten. Columbus have an ESPN+ game against Florida on 10 November and a TNT game against Philadelphia on 8 April. For a Columbus fan, the local broadcast is very nearly the only way to watch this team.
| Local network | Not announced — produced by NHL Productions |
|---|---|
| How to watch | Not announced |
| Price | Not announced |
| Free over the air | Expected on the local ABC and Fox stations; not confirmed |
| Blackout territory | Not announced; previously Ohio and adjacent states |
| Radio | 97.1 The Fan — now a simulcast of the TV call |
| TV team | Steve Mears, Jody Shelley, Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre |
| National TV games | 2 — the fewest in the Eastern Conference |
| Opening night | Thu 1 October, home v Buffalo |
