Triple B Media launches SLVR FAST channel with live Kings games

The arrival of live NHL and AHL games on free ad-supported streaming television represents a significant pivot for regional sports rights holders facing the decline of traditional cable bundles. By bypassing the legacy RSN model, the Los Angeles Kings are prioritizing reach and accessibility across major platforms like Samsung TV Plus and Prime Video. This move pressures other professional franchises to evaluate whether FAST channels can provide sufficient ad revenue to offset lost carriage fees. As the market fragments, the success of this partnership will serve as a benchmark for the viability of local sports on non-exclusive digital tiers. Watch for the full live game schedule announcement to see how many regular-season matchups migrate to the free tier.

The SLVR channel arrives amid a broader wave of professional sports teams launching their own FAST channels to bypass traditional regional sports networks. In August 2025, the NHL announced a multi-year partnership with ESPN+ and Disney+ to stream out-of-market games, signaling the league's continued shift toward direct-to-consumer distribution. The Kings' move to place live games on free ad-supported platforms represents a more aggressive step than the league's national deals, as it targets local fans without requiring a paid subscription. Several other franchises have experimented with similar models: the Arizona Diamondbacks and Phoenix Suns launched a FAST channel through the Diamond Sports Group bankruptcy proceedings, and the Utah Jazz became one of the first NBA teams to stream all local games free on a FAST platform in 2024, establishing a template that SLVR now extends to hockey.

On the business side, Samsung TV Plus and Plex have been actively courting sports content to differentiate their FAST lineups from competitors like Tubi and Pluto TV. Samsung TV Plus added more than 40 new channels in the first half of 2025, with sports and live news among the fastest-growing categories, according to the company's mid-year content update. Plex, meanwhile, has positioned itself as a destination for niche and regional sports, announcing a partnership with the Professional Bull Riders in early 2025 to stream live events on its free tier. The inclusion of SLVR on both platforms simultaneously suggests Triple B Media is pursuing maximum distribution breadth rather than an exclusive arrangement, a strategy that prioritizes audience scale over per-platform licensing fees.

From a technical and measurement standpoint, FAST channel data transparency issues face distinct challenges around ad insertion and audience verification compared to traditional linear broadcasts. Nielsen began incorporating FAST channel viewership into its national TV ratings in late 2024, but advertisers have noted that live sports on ad-supported platforms still lack the granular targeting available on connected TV. The SLVR channel's ability to deliver measurable audiences for the Kings' local sponsors will likely determine whether other NHL franchises follow suit. Sean Tabler, who leads Silver Sports & Entertainment, has emphasized that the channel will carry full game broadcasts rather than highlights, a commitment that increases both production costs and the potential for premium ad inventory during live play.