Amazon and Rogers announced a sweeping 12‑year partnership that will bring National Hockey League action to Prime Video across Canada, beginning in the fall of 2026. The deal marks a major shift in how Canadian fans consume live hockey, moving a portion of the league’s schedule from traditional broadcast to a streaming platform.
A 12‑Year Strategic Partnership
Under the agreement, 26 national regular‑season games will be staged on Wednesday nights and streamed exclusively on Prime Video. These contests are positioned as flagship events, giving the league a consistent prime‑time slot that aligns with Amazon’s broader strategy of investing in live sports content.
In addition to the regular‑season slate, Prime Video will broadcast select Stanley Cup playoff series in Canada. Amazon will have the authority to choose which series it airs after Sportsnet’s initial selections, while the two services will jointly cover the remaining games that are not picked by Amazon.
The arrangement will feature broadcasts in both English and French, ensuring nationwide accessibility. The partnership is slated to commence on September 30, 2026, coinciding with the start of Sportsnet’s newly signed 12‑year NHL rights deal.
Legacy and Transition
Sportsnet’s new rights agreement replaces its previous licensing arrangement with the CBC’s long‑running "Hockey Night in Canada." While the CBC will no longer hold the exclusive Canadian broadcast rights, the move reflects a broader industry trend toward digital distribution and exclusive content deals.
The transition will also see a familiar group of analysts bring their expertise to the new platform. Former NHL players Jody Shelley, Thomas Hickey and Blake Bolden, along with veteran broadcaster John Forslund, Adnan Virk and Andi Petrillo, are slated to appear in upcoming coverage. Further talent details are expected to be announced in the coming months.
For fans, the deal promises greater flexibility in how they watch the sport, while also raising questions about the future of traditional broadcast windows. Industry observers note that the partnership could set a precedent for other leagues considering similar moves toward streaming‑first models.