The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation will no longer air National Hockey League games following the expiration of a sublicensing agreement with Rogers Communications [1].
This shift ends a historic partnership between Canada's public broadcaster and the nation's most popular sport. For millions of viewers, the loss of these games on a free, over-the-air network removes a primary point of cultural access to professional hockey.
The agreement between CBC and Rogers Communications lasted 12 years [3]. It expired at the end of the 2025-26 season, coinciding with the conclusion of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs this month [5, 6]. The two parties did not reach a new deal to extend the partnership [4].
Rogers Communications and its subsidiary, Sportsnet, remain the national rights holders for the NHL [1]. The company previously secured these rights through a deal valued at $11 billion [4]. Moving forward, Sportsnet will carry the Hockey Night in Canada broadcasts exclusively [2].
The departure of the NHL marks the end of a 74-year run for Hockey Night in Canada on the CBC network [1]. Some reports describe the tenure as nearly 75 years [2]. This broadcast tradition has served as a staple of Canadian weekend television for decades — a legacy that now transitions fully to private cable and streaming platforms.
CBC has not provided further details on how the loss of this programming will affect its autumn schedule. Sportsnet will now manage the full distribution of the league's national games across its own network of channels.
“The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation will no longer air National Hockey League games”
The transition of Hockey Night in Canada from a public broadcaster to a private entity signals a broader shift in sports media consumption. By consolidating rights within Sportsnet, Rogers Communications maximizes the value of its $11 billion investment by driving viewers toward subscription-based services and away from free public television.
