Hockey Night in Canada will cease airing on the public broadcaster CBC as NHL games move to Sportsnet under a new rights agreement [1, 2].
The transition marks a significant shift in Canadian sports media, ending decades of free, over-the-air access to professional hockey for millions of viewers. By moving the broadcasts to a specialty network, the NHL and its partners shift the viewing experience toward a subscription-based model.
The change takes effect starting with the 2024-25 NHL season [3, 4]. Under the new deal, Rogers will move the broadcasts exclusively to Sportsnet [2, 3]. This decision follows the expiration of the long-standing rights agreement that previously allowed the public broadcaster to air the games [3, 4].
There is varying data regarding the total length of the program's run. The Globe and Mail said the program aired on the public network for 74 years [4], while other reports describe the run as nearly 75 years [1]. Some sources suggest the program's total existence spans more than 90 years [5].
CBC Television has been the primary home for the program for most of its history. The shift to Sportsnet means that the broadcast will no longer be available on the public network, consolidating the league's media presence under the Rogers umbrella [1, 2].
Sportsnet will now handle the distribution of these games across its platforms. This move aligns with a broader trend of sports leagues moving content from broadcast television to cable, and streaming services to maximize revenue from rights deals [2, 3].
“Hockey Night in Canada will cease airing on the public broadcaster CBC”
The removal of Hockey Night in Canada from CBC represents the end of a cultural era in Canadian broadcasting. By shifting the NHL's primary reach from a public broadcaster to a private entity like Sportsnet, the league prioritizes the monetization of broadcast rights over universal accessibility. This move mirrors global trends where premier sporting events are migrated behind paywalls, potentially altering the accessibility of the sport for lower-income demographics in Canada.
