The Seattle Kraken are breaking new ground in the NHL by launching the Kraken Hockey Network (KHN), an in-house division dedicated to producing and distributing live games. With this launch, Kraken games are now available to fans on over-the-air television and streaming platforms across Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. The decision to manage their own broadcasts reflects a growing trend among professional sports franchises to control regional production and distribution, giving the Kraken greater creative freedom to enhance the viewing experience.
Bringing Production Expertise In-House
To lead the Kraken Hockey Network, the franchise tapped Ryan Schaber and Patrick Brown, who previously worked on Kraken broadcasts for ROOT Sports Northwest. The duo brings familiarity and expertise to KHN, ensuring continuity in production quality and viewer engagement. Known for delivering some of the most extensive regional game productions in the NHL, Kraken broadcasts feature 13 operated cameras, five robotics, and five super slo-mo cameras for a more immersive experience.
“Taking the production in-house allowed us to build on our storytelling and give fans a richer, more engaging broadcast,” shared Ryan Schaber.
Expansive Reach Across the Northwest
In the Seattle area, Kraken games are broadcast on KING 5, KONG, and affiliated TEGNA, Gray, Cox, and Morgan Murphy TV stations and are also available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. Fans outside Seattle can catch the games on KGW in Portland and KREM in Spokane, expanding KHN’s reach to nearly 4 million households. The network has also added affiliates in Juneau (KYEX), Anchorage (KAUU), Yakima (KAPP-KVEW), and Eugene (KEVU-KLSR), making Kraken games accessible to even more fans across the Northwest.
An Inside Look at Kraken Game Production
Schaber and Brown have incorporated various resources and strategies into KHN’s game broadcasts to deepen the storytelling experience for viewers. Each broadcast combines high-tech camera operations with unique angles and slo-mo replays, capturing the excitement of each game in detail.
Looking Forward
As KHN continues to grow, the Kraken aim to explore more innovative production techniques and expand their fan engagement efforts. By bringing production in-house, the Kraken have created a model that not only serves their fans better but also establishes a foundation for future innovations in sports broadcasting.
The Kraken Hockey Network represents a new era for the Seattle Kraken, combining high-quality production, regional accessibility, and fan-first storytelling. As other franchises watch the Kraken’s approach to in-house production, the Kraken Hockey Network could pave the way for more teams to take control of their broadcasts.
