NHL Preview: Content Strategy for the 24-25 Season

Wednesday, October 9 | 10:00 AM ET

NHL Preview: Content Strategy for the 24-25 Season

What we will cover:

Top executives from the NHL and the Anaheim Ducks provide insight into the content strategies of the league and its clubs ahead of the 2024-25 season. Topics will include:

• "Faceoff: Inside the NHL,” the league’s new behind-the-scenes docuseries on Prime Video
• The Ducks’ significant investment in audio programming as a driver of fan engagement
• Content distribution relationships, including the NHL’s Amazon partnership and the Ducks’ new local broadcast deal with Victory+
• Leaguewide efforts to raise the profiles of individual stars
• 2024-25 schedule highlights, including the new 4 Nations Face-Off, Winter Classic and Stadium Series

Who should attend:

• NHL team and league representatives
• Media companies and brands working with the NHL and NHL teams
• Vendors working with the NHL and NHL teams
• Agencies doing business with the NHL, teams and associated brands
• Anyone else interested in learning more about the most important business storylines for the 24-25 NHL season

Featured Speakers (Additional to be announced)

Steve Mayer joined the NHL in December 2015 as Executive Vice President and Executive Producer of Programming & Creative Development. In September 2016, Mayer was promoted to Chief Content Officer and Senior Executive Vice President. In his role, Mayer’s day-to-day duties are focused on Broadcast Production Relations, Creative Services and Entertainment and the production and distribution of all original NHL content. In addition, he has some oversight over Event Communications, Player Development, Social Media and Fan Engagement.

Since joining the NHL, he has been the creative force behind several of the League’s most buzzworthy moments and storytelling initiatives.

As the head of NHL Productions, Mayer has delivered a myriad of successful NHL projects from concept to completion, including Quest For The Stanley Cup, Road to the NHL Winter Classic, Amazon’s All or Nothing: Toronto Maple Leafs, Hockey 101 with Snoop Dogg, The Great One on 1 with Wayne Gretzky, Skates Off, Cup Confidential, Behind the Glass, Lazlo Holmes, as well as the Sports Emmy-winning Welcome to the NHL.

For the 2024-25 season, Mayer is an executive producer of the trio of programming Amazon is introducing to Prime members – Prime Monday Night Hockey, which will stream national regular-season games in English to fans in Canada; the NHL Coast to Coast live, weekly wrapround studio show available in Canada; and the FACEOFF: Inside the NHL docuseries produced in collaboration with Box To Box and NHL Productions available worldwide.

Mayer also is the executive producer for each NHL tentpole event, including the NHL Winter Classic, NHL All-Star Game, NHL Stadium Series, NHL Heritage Classic, NHL Awards and NHL Draft, among other events. Due to his strong connections in music and entertainment, Mayer and his team have organized and booked top talent for NHL events and initiatives, including Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper, Drake, Keith Urban, Jonas Brothers, Kenan Thompson, Tate McRae, Michael Bublé, Will Arnett, Green Day, Lil Nas X, Snoop Dogg, Keith Urban, Fall Out Boy, The Killers and many others.

Prior to joining the NHL, Mayer spent 20 years with IMG. Most recently, he served as IMG’s Executive Producer and SVP of IMG Productions, the world’s largest producer of sports programming. Mayer was the producer of several network variety specials, including NHL Awards (NBC), NBA All-Star All-Style (TNT), Hall of Game Awards (Cartoon Network), Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular (CBS), Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials (CBS), Tony Awards Preview Show (CBS), Miss Universe (NBC/FOX) World’s and Year’s Funniest Commercials (TBS/ Spike), and Christmas at Rockefeller Center (NBC).

Mayer also has a number of highly-acclaimed reality and documentary shows on his production resume, including A Season with Notre Dame Football (Showtime), Hoops U (Showtime), NHL Revealed (NBC/CBC), Race to the Altar (NBC), I’d Do Anything (ESPN), Manhunt (Bravo), Battle of the Network Stars (NBC), Better Half (Bravo), Battle of the Gridiron Stars (ESPN) and Beer Money (SNY). In addition, he has produced hundreds of live sporting events, including NFL Hall of Fame Enshrinement, Ryder Cup Opening and Closing Ceremonies and numerous halftime shows for the NFL.

A winner of 11 Emmys and three Ace Awards, Mayer has produced five Olympic games, including Bravo’s Olympic coverage from London in 2012, as well as producer of the Morning Show at the Olympic games in Sydney for NBC. Over his career, Mayer has produced hundreds of tennis events and has been lead producer for the Australian, French and U.S. Opens. For ten years, Mayer was the Executive Producer of the New York City Marathon for ESPN.

Mayer is a graduate of Ithaca College. The native of Union, N.J. currently lives in West Caldwell, N.J. with his wife and two daughters

Aaron Teats serves as President of the Anaheim Ducks Hockey Club and Chief Executive Officer of the San Diego Gulls Hockey Club. Named to his current post in February 2022, Teats continues to have oversight of OC Sports and Entertainment’s sports properties, which include the Ducks and San Diego Gulls. Teats also serves as CEO of The Rinks Foundation and President of the Irvine Ice Foundation.

Now in his 30th season with the Ducks, most recently served as Anaheim’s President of Business Operations, where in addition to his leadership role with the Gulls and The Rinks, he led all ticket sales, premium seating, business intelligence, broadcasting, communications, community relations, entertainment, fan development, marketing, merchandising, publications/digital content and social networking.

He also spent six years as the club’s Chief Marketing Officer, where he was integral in several business initiatives advancing the brand and financial impact of the Ducks in the community as well as the front office. He created the Ducks’ internal merchandise division in 2014, which included the design and creation of the new Ducks Team Store, and a business intelligence division in 2017.

Teats oversees the club’s broadcast agreements, and led the team’s efforts to bring innovative television, streaming and audio broadcasts to Ducks fans. In 2024, he spearheaded partnerships with A Parent Media Co. Inc. (APMC) and KCOP-TV (Fox 11 Plus) to stream/televise all regional Ducks games free of charge to 100% of the team’s regional market via stream (Victory+ via APMC) or traditional television (KCOP). In the fall of 2022, he oversaw the team’s creation of Ducks Stream, a 24/7 audio network with the most comprehensive team-focused coverage in the NHL.

Teats has helped lead an organization recognized as a leader in charitable programming and community engagement. He also helped create programs benefitting public education, health and wellness, access to youth hockey, and grassroots marketing. Twice in recent years, Ducks were named a finalist for Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year by ESPN (both 2018 & 2019). The award “represents a sports club/team that demonstrates how teamwork can create a measurable impact on a community or cause.” The club has also been continually recognized by ESPN The Magazine in its annual “Ultimate Standings” edition for successes both on and off the ice. The magazine has recognized the Ducks as a top franchise among 122 professional sports teams (NHL, NFL, MLB & NBA), ranking in the top eight three times.

Teats began his career within the broadcasting ranks in 1994. He served 11 years as both an Emmy Award-winning producer and director of the Ducks radio and television broadcasts before permanently transitioning to the business office in 2007.

During his Ducks tenure, Teats has spearheaded successful initiatives which led to organizational growth. He helped lead the launch of the John Wayne Airport Breakaway Bar and Grill (2011) and its move to a larger location in 2024, a Ducks-themed restaurant at Orange County’s international airport. Teats was also instrumental in the celebration and honoring of Ducks legends Teemu Selanne (2015), Paul Kariya (2018) and Scott Niedermayer (2019), who each had their jerseys retired by the club. Kariya and Niedermayer’s jersey retirements took place during the club’s 25th Anniversary Season (2018-19), which was also led by Teats. He also oversaw the club’s 2024 brand evolution launch with new logo, home and away jerseys.

Additionally, Teats is on the Advisory Council for Anaheim Boys & Girls Club after serving on the board of directors for the previous 13 years, and the Advisory Committee for Cal State Fullerton’s “PRactical ADvantage” student-run advertising for the last three years. He is also on the Board of Directors for the newly formed OC Sports Commission.

Teats began his career for the then-California Angels in 1992. He received his bachelor’s degree from Cal State Fullerton in 1992.

Registration is free. All registrants will receive a link to watch the recording once the session concludes.

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