Golden viewership, Milan Cortina in the rearview, and the NHL’s Keith Wachtel

What this episode covers

This week on the SBJ Sports Media Podcast, host and SBJ media reporter Austin Karp delivers his takeaways from the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, including a look at NBC’s cross‑platform strategy that helped drive record viewership for the USA–Canada women’s hockey gold‑medal showdown. Later in the episode, the president of NHL Business Keith Wachtel joins the show to share on‑the‑ground insights from his Olympic experience and to lay out why the league views major global events as a cornerstone of its long‑term plan to expand hockey’s international reach. From record‑setting viewership for the women’s USA–Canada gold medal matchup to the massive 18.6 million audience for the men’s overtime thriller, the episode unpacks how time slots, platforms, and distribution choices shape audience behavior. The conversation goes further with NHL Business President Keith Wachtel, who shares firsthand insights from Milan, reflects on NHL players' return to the Olympics after a 12‑year absence, and explains why the league sees global events as a long‑term strategy to grow hockey’s footprint, not just a ratings play .

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