The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation confirmed on June 16, 2026 that it will not broadcast National Hockey League games during the upcoming season, a move that ends the long‑standing tradition of “Hockey Night in Canada” on the public network.
The announcement came during a joint press conference where CBC executives outlined the rationale behind the decision and highlighted the end of a partnership that has delivered live NHL coverage to Canadian households since the 1950s.
Rogers Sportsnet, which has held the exclusive rights to NHL broadcasts since 2014, will continue to produce the flagship Saturday night program under the same “Hockey Night in Canada” banner, but the show will now air on the company’s own streaming and cable platforms.
For millions of Canadians who have relied on the CBC’s free over‑the‑air signal, the shift means they will need a Rogers Sportsnet subscription or a compatible streaming service to watch live NHL action, prompting concerns about accessibility and the future of publicly funded sports coverage.
A new era for NHL coverage
Industry analysts say the move underscores a broader trend in which premium sports content is increasingly locked behind private pay‑walls, a development that could reshape the landscape of Canadian sports broadcasting.
While the CBC will continue to produce a slate of other sporting events and original programming, the loss of NHL coverage represents a symbolic departure from a cultural touchstone that has united fans across the country for generations.
The transition also opens the door for Rogers Sportsnet to experiment with enhanced graphics, multi‑angle feeds and interactive features that were not possible under the previous broadcast arrangement.