As Hockey Night in Canada departs CBC television after 74 years, the network has announced a new raft of sports programming, including a Saturday night primetime show spotlighting Canadian athletes.
In an announcement, released just moments after news broke that the public broadcaster was ending its NHL sub-licensing agreement with Rogers Sports & Media’s Sportsnet, the public broadcaster said it’s looking to significantly increase sports coverage “of high-performance athletes and events” including the 2026 Commonwealth Games, women’s professional leagues and more than 20 Major World Championships.
Spanning both English and French-language programming, Canadian athletes play prominently in CBC/Radio-Canada’s new strategy. CBC and CBC Gem will air a new primetime Saturday night show “featuring the best performances by Canadian athletes,” while Radio-Canada will launch Rendez-vous Podium, a new weekly show combining athletic performances with human stories. Hosted by Roseline Filion and Jacinthe Taillon on a rotating basis, it will air on ICI TÉLÉ and ICI TOU.TV on Sunday afternoons.
The network says both shows will provide opportunities to spotlight athletes leading up to the Olympic and Paralympic Games LA 2028, with coverage of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, PWHL Hockey, World Figure Skating Championships, World Aquatic Championships, World Athletic Championships, World Volleyball Championships, Diamond League, Northern Super League, and U Sports Championships, in addition to more than 20 other major events and championships.
“Both English and French services will also offer in-depth, documentary-style programming that tells the stories of Canadian sport and the athletes who represent the country on the world stage,” the public broadcaster said.
“As the proud home of Team Canada, we’re already investing in the LA Games in 2028 and setting a course for the French Alps in 2030,” said Doug Smith, Executive Vice President, CBC. “At the same time, our commitment doesn’t pause following the closing ceremony; we will be there between the Games – in every community, every arena, every early morning practice and every late night training session.”
“As Canada’s Olympic network every day through 2032, our increased commitment will include more in-depth storytelling, more live sport, and more coverage of Canadian athletes at home and abroad,” added Chris Wilson, Executive Director of CBC Sports and General Manager of Olympics for CBC/Radio-Canada. “We’re focused on the people at the heart of the competition, covering their achievements and sacrifices as they represent our country.”
“We want to shine a spotlight on our athletes well beyond the Olympic and Paralympic Games themselves,” said Sophie Morasse, Executive Director, Entertainment, Sports and TOU.TV. “By sharing not only their victories but also their personal journeys, we create a genuine connection between the public and this new generation of champions.”
