After more than seven decades of delivering NHL games to Canadian households, the CBC announced that it will no longer broadcast the league’s contests.
The decision was made public in a joint statement from CBC and Sportsnet, which cited a strategic shift in the broadcaster’s sports programming following the recent success of the Milano/Cortina Olympic Games.
Sportsnet, the exclusive Canadian rights‑holder, will continue to show every NHL game, ensuring that fans can still follow the sport through the same network that has carried the league since 2013.
CBC plans to replace the long‑running “Hockey Night in Canada” with a new Saturday primetime series that highlights Canadian athletes competing both domestically and internationally, a program that will also be broadcast on the French‑language service ICI TÉLÉ.
The move comes amid financial pressures that have forced the public broadcaster to scale back its sports offerings, retaining only a few niche events such as the Professional Women’s Hockey League.
CBC Sports executive director Chris Wilson said the network will deepen its investment in storytelling, increase live coverage and expand the presence of Canadian athletes at home and abroad.
The end of a 74‑year tradition marks a significant cultural loss for viewers who have grown up with the familiar opening theme and the ritual of gathering around the television on Saturday nights.
A new era for Canadian sports coverage
The new programming aims to blend national pride with global competition, giving Canadian athletes a broader platform while the CBC redefines its role in the country’s sports landscape.