As the new NHL season approaches, a familiar ritual will be missing from Canadian living rooms. For the first time, Hockey Night in Canada will not be broadcast by the CBC when the schedule kicks off this fall, marking the end of a decades‑long partnership.
Roots of a National Ritual
The program’s origins trace back to October 11, 1952, when Canada’s first televised NHL game reached viewers, with René Lecavalier providing French‑language play‑by‑play and Foster Hewitt delivering the English commentary that would become a national touchstone.
Early innovations set the stage for a cultural institution. In 1955 producer George Retzlaff introduced instant replay using a kinescope, and two years later the broadcast expanded coast to coast, allowing Canadians from coast to coast to share the same live action.
The 1960s brought further milestones: colour transmission began in 1966, and 1968 saw the debut of The Hockey Theme, a musical signature that still resonates with fans. The arrival of the Vancouver Canucks in 1970 added a third Canadian franchise, while the 1979 expansion welcomed the Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets and Quebec Nordiques, broadening the show’s scope.
The personalities who shaped the broadcast read like a hall of fame. Don Cherry joined in 1980, launching the now‑iconic Coach’s Corner segment, while Dave Hodge’s tenure ended in 1987 after a on‑air critique of the CBC. Ron MacLean succeeded Hodge as host, and later George Stroumboulopoulos took the reins in 2014 before the CBC reinstated MacLean in 2016.
The Business of Broadcast Rights
Behind the scenes, corporate shifts reshaped the landscape. Rogers Communications secured national rights in a $5.2 billion deal in 2013, and a subsequent $11 billion agreement in 2025 extended its reach across all platforms. A 2019 controversy involving Don Cherry’s remarks sparked a public debate that culminated in his departure, and a new seven‑year sub‑licensing arrangement with the CBC was signed in 2017.
The most recent development came on June 16, 2026, when Sportsnet and the CBC announced that the sub‑licensing agreement for Hockey Night in Canada would not be renewed, closing a chapter that has defined Canadian sports broadcasting for generations.