Rogers Communications announced this week that it has locked in an $11 billion contract that will keep it at the helm of Canadian NHL broadcasting through the 2037‑38 season, securing exclusive rights to the league's coverage.
A New Broadcast Landscape
The deal eliminates the long‑standing sub‑licensing arrangement that had allowed the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to air national games on Saturday nights and all playoff rounds, a staple of Canadian sports culture since the 1950s.
As a result, the iconic program ‘Hockey Night in Canada’ will no longer be televised on CBC beginning next season, ending a nearly 75‑year tradition that was synonymous with weekend family viewing.
While Rogers continues to own the ‘Hockey Night in Canada’ brand, the show will now be delivered exclusively through its Sportsnet platform, meaning Canadian viewers will have to tune in via the network’s own channels rather than the public broadcaster.
Industry analysts say the transaction reflects both the growing financial muscle of private media conglomerates and the NHL’s strategy to centralize its broadcast rights in a single, high‑profile partner.