The joint statement from Sportsnet and CBC confirmed that the current season will be the last under the existing arrangement, marking the conclusion of a 74‑year legacy of NHL coverage on the public broadcaster.
CBC first ventured into televised hockey in 1952, and the broadcasts became a cultural touchstone under the banner Hockey Night in Canada, a program that remained a staple of the network’s sports schedule through the 2013‑14 season.
The financial realities of the market emerged when the NHL struck a 12‑year, $5.2 billion exclusive agreement with Sportsnet in November 2013, a deal later renewed in March 2025 for $11 billion over another dozen years, terms that CBC could not meet.
A new direction for CBC Sports
Consequently, CBC has been gradually scaling back its sports offerings, and the network now plans to replace the iconic Hockey Night in Canada slot with a new Saturday primetime show that will feature Canadian athletes across a range of disciplines, a format that will also debut on ICI TÉLÉ in French.
Executives say the move reflects a broader refocus on Olympic sports and other national competitions, while acknowledging that the end of the long‑standing NHL broadcast is a significant loss for the network’s heritage.