CBC will no longer carry NHL broadcasts following the end of the current season.
In a joint statement released Tuesday morning, Sportsnet and the public broadcaster said that after a successful 12-year partnership, CBC is moving forward “with a new sports programming strategy following the unprecedented success of the Milano/Cortina Olympic Games.”
“Watching hockey on Saturday night is a time-honoured tradition for Canadians, and Sportsnet is privileged to continue delivering that tradition,” the statement continued. “This has been a terrific partnership, and both parties look forward to continued opportunities to collaborate in the future.”
The move sees Hockey Night in Canada leave CBC television after airing for 74 years on the network. Prior to its television debut in 1952, the franchise had aired on CBC Radio since 1936.
While CBC has continued to air Hockey Night in Canada under a sub-licensing and partnership agreement, Rogers Sports & Media has held the national broadcast rights since 2013.
Rogers announced a new 12-year, $11 billion multi-platform media rights agreement with the NHL through the 2037-38 seasons in April of last year. One of its more recent sub-licensing partners is Amazon Prime Video, which holds Monday night streaming rights.
Raises questions about access to cultural tradition: Friends
Media advocacy group and CBC watchdog, Friends of Canadian Media, said the announcement that the public broadcaster will no longer carry NHL broadcasts “raises important questions about access to one of Canada’s most cherished cultural traditions.”
“Hockey Night in Canada has been a shared national experience for generations,” the organization said in a statement provided to Broadcast Dialogue. “Its departure from free television raises important questions about whether Canada should adopt anti-siphoning rules, similar to those used in other countries, to ensure that events of exceptional cultural and national significance remain accessible to all Canadians rather than exclusively to paying subscribers.”
Friends says that as NHL broadcasts move further behind paywalls, Canadians risk losing access “to a cornerstone of our cultural life.”
“At a time when affordability remains a growing concern, public access to the stories, traditions, and events that connect us should not be treated as a luxury,” the statement continued. “This development underscores the vital role of public broadcasting in ensuring that Canadian cultural experiences remain accessible to everyone. Unlike private corporations, the CBC exists to serve Canadians, not subscribers. Its mandate is to bring Canadians together through shared stories, events, and experiences that reflect who we are as a country.”
“While we recognize the commercial realities of sports broadcasting, the loss of NHL games from Canada’s public broadcaster represents a significant reduction in universally accessible Canadian programming. We encourage policymakers, regulators, broadcasters, and streamers to consider the broader public interest when negotiating the future of major cultural and sporting events.”
“Canadians deserve access to the moments that bring us together. Hockey is part of our national story, and that story should remain available to all Canadians.”
