TBL

What channel is the Tampa Bay Lightning game on tonight? (Scripps Sports (The Spot) & ESPN+)

Unofficial Fan Resource

US ZIP Code Broadcast & Blackout Calculator to find out exactly how to watch the Lightning without blackouts.

🇺🇸 US View | 🇨🇦 Switch to Canada

1. US ZIP Code & Subscriptions

Official US Rules
📍 Default View: In-Market (Central & North Florida (Tampa Bay, Orlando, Jacksonville, Gainesville & Sarasota)). Enter any 5-digit US ZIP code above to switch between in-market RSN (Scripps Sports (The Spot)) and out-of-market (ESPN+) blackout rules.
Your Active Subscriptions & Channels:
Full Season Coverage (84 Games) 0% Watchable
0 / 84 GAMES
Watchable Without Blackout 0 games (0%)
Blacked Out in Your ZIP 0 games (0%)
Missing Required Subscription 84 games (100%)

In-Market Full Season Setup

In-market fans in Central & North Florida (Tampa Bay, Orlando, Jacksonville, Gainesville & Sarasota) need Scripps Sports (The Spot) (70 regional games) plus ESPN/TNT for national exclusives. Out-of-market US fans can stream 73 Tampa Bay Lightning games on ESPN+.

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Add Lightning Guide to Home Screen Instant 1-tap US blackout check before game time.
Next Lightning Game Thu Nov 12 2026 • 7:00 PM ET Game 19 of 84

@ Blue Jackets

Nationwide Arena

Broadcast: The Spot ESPN+
Available on ESPN+ (OOM) / Local RSN
Available on ESPN+ / Subject to local RSN blackout (The Spot)
Upcoming Schedule Snapshot:
#19 @ Blue Jackets
Thu Nov 12 2026 • 7:00 PM ET
The Spot ESPN+
#20 vs Red Wings
Sat Nov 14 2026 • 7:00 PM ET
The Spot ESPN+
#21 vs Capitals
Tue Nov 17 2026 • 7:30 PM ET
ESPN+ Hulu / Disney+
#19 @ Blue Jackets
Tampa Bay Lightning at Columbus Blue Jackets • Nationwide Arena
Thu Nov 12 2026 • 7:00 PM ET
ESPN+ / RSN
The Spot ESPN+
Regional RSN / ESPN+
Available on ESPN+ / Subject to local RSN blackout (The Spot)
#20 vs Red Wings
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Detroit Red Wings • Benchmark International Arena
Sat Nov 14 2026 • 7:00 PM ET
ESPN+ / RSN
The Spot ESPN+
Regional RSN / ESPN+
Available on ESPN+ / Subject to local RSN blackout (The Spot)
#21 vs Capitals
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Washington Capitals • Benchmark International Arena
Tue Nov 17 2026 • 7:30 PM ET
ESPN+ Exclusive
ESPN+ Hulu / Disney+
ESPN+ / Hulu Exclusive
National Streaming Exclusive on ESPN+ / Hulu (No local RSN blackout)
#22 vs Oilers
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Edmonton Oilers • Benchmark International Arena
Thu Nov 19 2026 • 7:30 PM ET
ESPN+ Exclusive
ESPN+ Hulu / Disney+
ESPN+ / Hulu Exclusive
National Streaming Exclusive on ESPN+ / Hulu (No local RSN blackout)
#23 vs Sabres
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Buffalo Sabres • Benchmark International Arena
Sun Nov 22 2026 • 5:00 PM ET
National TV
The Spot NHLN
NHL Network / Local RSN
In-market on The Spot / Out-of-market on NHL Network (Blacked out on ESPN+)
#24 vs Hurricanes
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Carolina Hurricanes • Benchmark International Arena
Wed Nov 25 2026 • 7:00 PM ET
National TV
TNT HBO MAX
US National Exclusive
National TV Exclusive on TNT (Blacked out on ESPN+ & local RSN)
#25 vs Senators
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Ottawa Senators • Benchmark International Arena
Fri Nov 27 2026 • 3:00 PM ET
ESPN+ / RSN
The Spot ESPN+
Regional RSN / ESPN+
Available on ESPN+ / Subject to local RSN blackout (The Spot)
#26 @ Panthers
Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers • Amerant Bank Arena
Sat Nov 28 2026 • 6:00 PM ET
ESPN+ / RSN
The Spot ESPN+
Regional RSN / ESPN+
Available on ESPN+ / Subject to local RSN blackout (The Spot)
#27 @ Canadiens
Tampa Bay Lightning at Montreal Canadiens • Centre Bell
Wed Dec 2 2026 • 7:30 PM ET
National TV
TNT HBO MAX
US National Exclusive
National TV Exclusive on TNT (Blacked out on ESPN+ & local RSN)
#28 @ Senators
Tampa Bay Lightning at Ottawa Senators • Canadian Tire Centre
Sat Dec 5 2026 • 7:00 PM ET
ESPN+ / RSN
The Spot ESPN+
Regional RSN / ESPN+
Available on ESPN+ / Subject to local RSN blackout (The Spot)
Showing the 66-game Tampa Bay Lightning upcoming broadcast schedule Schedule verified: Nov 12, 2026 • Auto-synced with local clock

Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey Broadcast Rights & Regional Blackout Guide (2026–27 Lightning Season)

Following the Tampa Bay Lightning regular season across the United States requires understanding how NHL broadcast territory rights are split between regional sports networks and national streaming partners. For Tampa Bay Lightning fans, games are divided across Scripps Sports (The Spot), ESPN+, ESPN/ABC, TNT, and NHL Network.

Regional Tampa Bay Lightning Games (Scripps Sports (The Spot))

Scripps Sports (The Spot) holds the official in-market regional broadcast rights for the Tampa Bay Lightning (70 regular-season games) across Central & North Florida (Tampa Bay, Orlando, Jacksonville, Gainesville & Sarasota). If your US ZIP code falls inside the Tampa Bay Lightning local broadcast territory, regional games are blacked out on ESPN+ and must be watched via Scripps Sports (The Spot).

If you live outside the Tampa Bay Lightning local broadcast territory in the US, regional Lightning games stream live on ESPN+ (unless the Tampa Bay Lightning are playing an opponent whose local broadcast territory includes your ZIP code).

National Lightning Games (ESPN, ABC, TNT & NHL Network)

When the Tampa Bay Lightning are selected for an exclusive national US broadcast on ESPN, TNT, or NHL Network (16 games), the broadcast is blacked out on ESPN+ nationwide unless simulcast on ABC/ESPN+.

Viewers across all US ZIP codes need access to the designated national television channel or streaming tier (such as Max for TNT simulcasts) to watch these national exclusives.

Quick Summary for Lightning Fans: Use the US ZIP Code Lookup above to check your local market status. In-market ZIP codes (Central & North Florida (Tampa Bay, Orlando, Jacksonville, Gainesville & Sarasota)) watch regional games on Scripps Sports (The Spot); out-of-market US ZIP codes stream regional games on ESPN+.

Blackout Rules & FAQ

Game Type Network Blackout Status
Regional (In-Market ZIP) Scripps Sports (The Spot) Blacked Out on ESPN+ (Watch on Scripps Sports (The Spot))
Regional (Out-of-Market ZIP) ESPN+ Stream on ESPN+ (Unless Opponent Is Local to Your ZIP)
US National Exclusive ESPN / ABC / TNT / NHL Network Requires National Channel (Unless ABC/ESPN+ Simulcast)

Why are Tampa Bay Lightning games blacked out on ESPN+?

ESPN+ only carries out-of-market NHL games. If you live inside the Tampa Bay Lightning local broadcast territory, regional games are blacked out on ESPN+ and must be watched on Scripps Sports (The Spot). Additionally, any game airing nationally on ESPN, ABC, TNT, or NHL Network is blacked out on ESPN+ nationwide unless explicitly simulcast.

What channel broadcasts regional Tampa Bay Lightning games in-market?

In-market regional Tampa Bay Lightning games are carried by Scripps Sports (The Spot). Viewers inside the designated local broadcast territory need cable, satellite, a live TV streamer, or a direct-to-consumer RSN subscription that includes Scripps Sports (The Spot).

How do I watch Tampa Bay Lightning games if I live out of market in the US?

Out-of-market fans in the United States can stream regional Tampa Bay Lightning games live on ESPN+ (carrying both the Scripps Sports (The Spot) feed and the opponent feed), except when the Tampa Bay Lightning play a team whose local broadcast territory includes your ZIP code or when the game airs exclusively on a national network.