The Anaheim Ducks enter the 2025–2026 NHL season with renewed energy and a roster stacked with rising talent and seasoned leadership. With expectations running high, every game—from the opening face-off through the high-stakes playoff chase—demands attention. Whether you're tracking Trevor Zegras' playmaking or Jamie Drysdale’s defensive finesse, missing a key matchup isn't an option.
For fans committed to following the full Ducks season, from the first preseason puck drop to a potential Stanley Cup run, platform choice makes all the difference. DirecTV delivers seamless access to live games, team coverage, and detailed analysis, making it a go-to solution for staying connected to the action without interruptions. Ready to follow every shift and goal? Here's how to make sure you never miss a moment.
The Anaheim Ducks will play 82 regular season games during the 2025–2026 NHL schedule. This breaks down to an even split: 41 games at Honda Center in Anaheim and 41 games on the road. The balanced schedule enables fans to catch the team in action both in Southern California and across North America.
West Coast road swings feature tightly packed travel weeks, including back-to-back games against division rivals. Home stretches are strategically placed throughout the season, offering several multi-game series that provide a boost for in-person fan engagement.
Matchups against long-standing and emerging rivals drive the intensity of the Ducks’ season. Here’s a closer look at the key clashes:
Preseason action kicks off in mid-September 2025, featuring six to eight tune-up games. These include split-squad matchups and neutral site appearances, all designed to finalize roster decisions. While preseason results don’t influence standings, they set the tone for October's season premiere.
Should Anaheim qualify, the Stanley Cup Playoffs will begin in mid-April 2026. The NHL follows a best-of-seven format across four rounds. Dates and opponents depend entirely on final regular-season standings, with seeding affecting home-ice advantage.
For a full month-by-month breakdown, updated start times, and arena locations, visit the official NHL schedule at the link below. This includes links to single-game tickets, broadcast info, and game stats.
The NHL continues its multi-year media rights deal with The Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros. Discovery through the 2025–2026 season. This agreement ensures that games air nationally across ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, and TNT, while supplemental content and select matchups stream on ESPN+ and Max (via Bleacher Report Sports).
Per the current rights structure:
This configuration grants DIRECTV subscribers access to nationally televised Anaheim Ducks games through their standard channel lineup—you’ll find ESPN on channels 206/209, TNT on 245, and ABC via your local affiliate.
Not all Ducks games will air nationally. In fact, the majority remain regionally broadcast through Bally Sports West, the team’s designated local TV partner.
DIRECTV carries Bally Sports West in the Regional Sports Network (RSN) package for customers within the Southern California viewing area. This includes Orange County and the Greater Los Angeles region. Outside those zones, fans will need to consider out-of-market packages like NHL Center Ice or ESPN+ for regional game access.
Here’s the practical distinction:
An accurate tracking of which games fall under each category typically becomes available shortly after the full NHL schedule is released. DIRECTV's on-screen guide, team websites, and national network schedules provide real-time availability details as the season progresses.
DIRECTV carries a full suite of national and regional sports networks, making it a central hub for NHL coverage. Subscribers get access to both marquee national broadcasts and in-market matchups—meaning complete coverage of the Anaheim Ducks' 2025–2026 campaign is within reach. The platform supports HD and 4K Ultra HD programming on select channels, and offers features like multi-game viewing and interactive scoreboards that elevate the viewing experience.
For national broadcasts of Anaheim Ducks games, DIRECTV includes coverage from all four key NHL broadcast partners in the U.S. Here are the channel numbers to bookmark:
Games selected for national TV broadcast, particularly those on TNT and ESPN, will often feature exclusive coverage, meaning they won’t be available on regional sports networks for those specific broadcasts.
For viewers in the Anaheim and greater Southern California market, regional Ducks games air on Bally Sports SoCal. DIRECTV includes Bally Sports SoCal on channel 693 for customers in-market. The channel is part of the DIRECTV CHOICE™ package and above.
Live pre-game and post-game coverage, intermission analysis, and exclusive in-market interviews are included. Bally Sports provides more than just the game—it offers homegrown coverage tailored specifically to Ducks fans.
To locate upcoming Ducks games quickly:
Game coverage adjusts throughout the season depending on national scheduling decisions. For the most reliable daily source, the DIRECTV on-screen guide updates in real time.
Bally Sports West holds the regional broadcasting rights for Anaheim Ducks games during the regular season. DIRECTV subscribers who live within the Ducks’ designated market area can access this channel as part of their standard regional sports coverage. On DIRECTV, Bally Sports West is available in high definition on channel 692, contingent on geographic eligibility and programming tier.
To ensure access, subscribers need to choose either the CHOICE™ package or any higher-tier plan, as lower-tier packages do not carry regional sports networks. DIRECTV includes a Regional Sports Fee in applicable markets, which grants access to regional games including Ducks broadcasts.
Regional Sports Network (RSN) coverage varies by location, and DIRECTV determines eligibility using your billing ZIP code. The Ducks' primary market spans Orange County, Los Angeles County, parts of the Inland Empire, and sections of southern and coastal California.
To confirm whether Bally Sports West is available in your area, use DIRECTV’s local RSN lookup tool on their website:
If Bally Sports West appears in your listings, that indicates live coverage of regional Anaheim Ducks games will be accessible in your area via DIRECTV.
Not sure if your current package includes Bally Sports West? Here’s what to check:
If Bally Sports doesn’t appear and you’re within the coverage zone, upgrading your package will resolve the issue. Otherwise, geographic blackouts may apply, which are detailed in the next section on NHL blackout restrictions.
NHL blackout restrictions exist to protect the local broadcasting rights of regional sports networks (RSNs) and national television partners. If you're watching from within the Anaheim Ducks’ designated broadcast region—primarily Southern California—you fall under in-market blackout rules. In this case, if a Ducks game airs on a regional network like Bally Sports SoCal, it won't be available on NHL Center Ice or NHL.tv alternatives in your area. You must access the feed from the authorized regional provider.
For out-of-market fans—those living outside the Ducks' territory—the equation shifts. Most Ducks games become accessible via NHL Center Ice or ESPN+ (if included in your DIRECTV package), assuming they aren’t picked up for exclusive national broadcasts. National blackouts apply when games air exclusively on TNT, ESPN, ABC, or Hulu. When that occurs, regional broadcasts are blocked across all platforms, even in-market.
DIRECTV enforces NHL blackout policies based on ZIP code, satellite receiver location, and game rights. For in-market customers, DIRECTV automatically prioritizes the regional sports network airing Ducks games. If a game is nationally televised, it becomes visible only through the network holding national rights—DIRECTV ensures the correct feed is delivered. There’s no manual intervention needed. However, if your package doesn’t include the required channel, access will be denied for that game.
Understanding the interplay between local coverage, national exclusivity, and your DIRECTV subscription setup is key to consistently watching Anaheim Ducks games without interruption. Use ZIP code lookups and channel availability tools within your DIRECTV account to confirm access—especially during high-profile matchups that shift from regional to national broadcasts.
NHL Center Ice delivers up to 40 out-of-market regular season NHL games each week during the 2025–2026 campaign. Anaheim Ducks fans living outside the Southern California broadcast region can watch nearly every game that would otherwise be unavailable due to regional blackouts. The service provides both standard and HD broadcasts, showcasing home and away feeds when available — letting you choose your preferred announcers and viewing experience.
Pricing for NHL Center Ice on DIRECTV typically ranges between $69.99 and $79.99 per season, depending on promotional offers and the point in the schedule when you subscribe. Partial season prices may apply after the All-Star break, although full-access pricing remains valid for earlier-season unlocks.
DIRECTV makes it easy to add NHL Center Ice to your subscription. Here's how:
Once activated, access to NHL Center Ice games appears on dedicated channels (typically in the 769–785 range), and games are automatically updated as part of the NHL schedule on your guide.
If you're based in cities like Denver, Chicago, or Boston and want consistent access to Ducks games, NHL Center Ice on DIRECTV eliminates regional viewing limitations. Here’s what this setup looks like in action:
NHL Center Ice also integrates seamlessly with your DVR, allowing you to record the entire Ducks season even from across the country. And for fans who follow multiple teams, the multi-game viewing layout on DIRECTV gives the option to track scores and highlights across several games concurrently.
Planning to follow Trevor Zegras’ breakout plays or John Gibson’s netminding supremacy while living in New York or Tampa? NHL Center Ice with DIRECTV gets you into Honda Center—virtually—night after night.
DIRECTV Stream gives viewers access to live NHL games, including Anaheim Ducks matchups throughout the 2025–2026 season. Subscribers with packages that include regional sports networks can stream Ducks games broadcast on Bally Sports SoCal. For national matchups, DIRECTV Stream includes channels like ESPN, TNT, and ABC, aligning with the league’s national broadcasting rights.
The Stream platform uses internet-based delivery, so no satellite equipment is required. Instead, you’ll stream directly through supported devices, unlocking both in-market and nationally televised Ducks games in high definition.
DIRECTV Stream works across a wide range of devices, making it easy to tune in whether at home or on the move. Supported platforms include:
Each device supports live streaming, pause and rewind features, closed captioning, and access to channel guides. Pairing with a high-speed internet connection ensures consistent quality during fast-paced Ducks action.
Watching Ducks games on-the-go happens seamlessly through the DIRECTV Stream mobile app, which is available on both iOS and Android. Setting up the app requires just a login with your DIRECTV account credentials. Once authenticated, users can scroll through the channel guide, watch live regional or national broadcasts, and set reminders for upcoming Ducks games.
The mobile experience also enables picture-in-picture viewing on select devices, giving fans the flexibility to keep up with the game while multitasking. Live stat overlays and tailored user interfaces make following shifts, goals, and penalties that much easier on smaller screens.
Missed a live game? DIRECTV Stream’s on-demand library often provides full replays of past NHL games when content rights allow. For Ducks fans, this means post-game viewing is available for many broadcasts aired on Bally Sports SoCal or national networks.
The service typically stores recordings for 72 hours after the original air time, depending on blackout rules and the rights attached to each telecast. Some games even include condensed versions, highlighting pivotal plays and sequences for faster catch-ups.
Replay access integrates into the same app or connected device, so there’s no need for additional platforms. Just search for the game using the date or opponent, select it from the channel timeline, and start streaming where you left off.
Accessing Anaheim Ducks games during the 2025–2026 NHL season on DIRECTV depends on the type of subscription plan and any additional sports packages selected. Here's how each plan stacks up when it comes to hockey coverage, plus pricing and add-on flexibility.
DIRECTV includes Bally Sports West with CHOICE and up for customers in the correct broadcast region. Those outside the Ducks' regional coverage may lose access to these networks due to broadcasting rights. National coverage from networks like ESPN, TNT, and ABC appears in all three packages, making each one capable of delivering national NHL games and playoffs.
DIRECTV service requires a 2-year contract on most plans, though streaming-only options under DIRECTV STREAM offer contract-free subscriptions with similar channel accessibility. Sports content availability can vary slightly between satellite and streaming formats, especially for RSNs like Bally Sports.
Preseason matchups for the Anaheim Ducks offer a first look at roster changes, rising prospects, and tactical shifts ahead of the regular season. These games won’t always follow the same broadcast protocols as the regular NHL calendar, so knowing where and how to watch them is key.
Several distribution channels carry Ducks' preseason games, but availability can vary each year. Here’s how to stay ahead of it.
Game-by-game broadcast information isn’t always released far in advance during the preseason. To verify which channel or platform will carry a particular matchup:
Missed a live stream? DIRECTV's recording features and on-demand availability often fill the gap. You’ll get more details on that in the DVR and On-Demand sections later in this guide.
©2025 American TV. All Rights Reserved
Disclaimer: All rights reserved. AmericanTV.com is a website for research and comparison as such, falls under "Fair Use". AmericanTV.com does not provide directly phone, TV, and internet service. All trademarks, logos, etc. remain the property of their respective owners and are used by AmericanTV.com only to describe products and services offered by each respective trademark holder. The use of any third party trademarks on this site in no way indicates any relationship between AmericanTV.com and the holders of said trademarks, nor any endorsement of AmericanTV.com by the holders of said trademarks.
We are here 24/7 to answer all of your TV + Internet Questions:
1-855-690-9884
1-855-690-9884