Columbus finally has an answer. Blue Jackets games are on the Blue Jackets Hockey Network, and Prime Video is the only place to stream it inside Ohio this season, at $19.99 a month or $99.99 for the year. You do not need an Amazon Prime membership to buy it — a free Amazon account is enough. Eighty-two of the 84 regular-season games are included, which is the most of any club in this deal.
Where can I watch Blue Jackets games in 2026-27?
On the Blue Jackets Hockey Network, announced on 2 September 2026 and produced with the NHL after FanDuel Sports Network Ohio shut down. Prime Video is the exclusive in-market streaming home. The network will also be carried by cable and satellite providers, but channel positions have not been published and the club says they will come before the regular season.
What does it cost?
$19.99 a month, or $99.99 for the year. Because Columbus have only two nationally exclusive games, that subscription covers 82 of the 84 regular-season games — the highest share of the season of any club in the Prime Video deal, and the best value of the four markets that charge for it.
Do I need an Amazon Prime membership?
No, and this is where most coverage has gone wrong. The Blue Jackets subscription is a standalone product bought through Prime Video with a free Amazon account. It is not included with Prime and it does not require Prime. If you already pay for Prime, that does not get you Blue Jackets games and it does not reduce the price.
Are any Blue Jackets games free over the air?
The club says select games will air on local over-the-air stations and that the channel details will be announced before the season. No stations, no channel numbers and no game count have been published. For reference, in 2024-25 five games aired on WSYX ABC 6 and WWHO — that is precedent, not a commitment for this season.
Am I in-market?
The Blue Jackets territory covers most of Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky, and it explicitly excludes Lucas County — that is Toledo — and the eastern Ohio counties near the Pennsylvania line. If you live in one of those, you are out-of-market and need NHL Power Play through the ESPN app or NHL Center Ice.
Who calls the games?
Steve Mears on play-by-play with Jody Shelley on colour, Brian Giesenschlag hosting, Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre on pregame and postgame and Dave Maetzold at ice level, with 30-minute shows either side of every game. Radio stays on 97.1 The Fan but now carries the television call: the separate radio broadcast has been eliminated and Bob McElligott, the radio voice for 17 years, was not renewed.
When do the Blue Jackets open?
Thursday 1 October, at home to Buffalo. It is not a national game, so it is on the Blue Jackets Hockey Network — the first game the new subscription actually has to work for.
| Local network | Blue Jackets Hockey Network, announced 2 September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Streaming | Prime Video, exclusive in-market |
| Price | $19.99 a month · $99.99 a year |
| Amazon Prime required? | No — a free Amazon account is enough |
| Games included | 82 of 84 |
| Cable and satellite | Planned; channel positions not announced |
| Free over the air | Select games promised; stations not announced |
| Blackout territory | Most of Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky, excluding Lucas County and eastern Ohio near the Pennsylvania line |
| Radio | 97.1 The Fan — now a simulcast of the TV call |
| TV team | Steve Mears, Jody Shelley, Brian Giesenschlag, Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre, Dave Maetzold |
| National TV games | 2 — the fewest in the Eastern Conference |
| Opening night | Thu 1 October, home v Buffalo |
Last verified 7 September 2026. Prices and carriage change — see our guide to watching every NHL team in 2026-27 for the national packages and how blackouts work.
