St. Louis Blues Announce New Thursday Television Package Including Quincy Market
St. Louis Blues Announce New Thursday TV Package, Quincy Included in Expanded Broadcast Territory
QUINCY, Ill. St. Louis Blues fans in the Quincy television market are getting another way to watch their team this season, with the Blues and Gray Media announcing a new multi-year agreement that will bring 10 regular-season games to over-the-air television during the 2026-27 season.
The new “Thursday Night Blues” package was announced Oct. 12 and will feature 10 selected Blue Note+ broadcasts airing in St. Louis and across 10 additional Gray Media markets. Quincy, Illinois, is specifically included among the communities receiving the expanded distribution, along with Peoria, Kansas City, Springfield, Missouri, Cedar Rapids, Davenport and other Midwestern markets. GlobeNewswire
The package begins Thursday, Oct. 22, when the Blues host the Vegas Golden Knights at 7 p.m.
For Blues fans accustomed to following the team through regional sports networks, streaming services or radio, the new agreement represents a return of additional NHL hockey to traditional over-the-air television.
Gray Media and the Blues said the expanded distribution will make the games available across a territory reaching more than 4.8 million television households. Depending on the local affiliate, viewers may be able to receive the broadcasts through an antenna as well as participating cable, satellite and streaming television providers.
“Our priority in building a robust distribution strategy for Blue Note+ is to provide our fans with wide access and multiple viewing options that enables them to watch Blues hockey on their preferred platform,” Blues President and CEO of Business Operations Chris Zimmerman said in announcing the agreement.
The Quincy market’s inclusion is particularly noteworthy for western Illinois Blues fans, who have long been within the geographic footprint of the St. Louis franchise but have seen the television landscape for professional sports change considerably in recent years.
Gray Media owns television properties in the Quincy market, including WGEM. However, the Oct. 12 announcement does not specifically identify which Quincy channel will carry the new Thursday package. Gray and the Blues are directing viewers in affiliate markets to check local listings for the broadcast channel and availability for individual games.
The 10-game schedule begins with Vegas on Oct. 22 and continues Nov. 6 at New Jersey, Nov. 19 at Pittsburgh, Dec. 17 at Boston and Dec. 31 at Vegas. The package resumes Jan. 21 at Montreal, followed by Colorado on Jan. 28, Vancouver on Feb. 25, San Jose on March 11 and the New York Islanders on March 25.
Most of the games are scheduled for Thursday evenings, although the New Year’s Eve matchup in Vegas is set for a 2 p.m. start.
The broadcasts will use the Blue Note+ production and feature play-by-play announcer Chris Kerber and game analyst Joey Vitale. Andy Strickland will serve as studio host, with Bernie Federko, Jamie Rivers and Cam Janssen among the analysts. The over-the-air simulcasts will not include the Blue Note+ pregame or postgame shows.
Blue Note+ is scheduled to carry 73 Blues games during the 2026-27 regular season, while all 84 regular-season games will also be available on 101 ESPN Radio and throughout the Blues Radio Network.
For Quincy-area Blues fans, the most immediate date to circle is Oct. 22.
