Overview
- A joint announcement on June 16 confirmed CBC will stop carrying NHL broadcasts after the current season, ending Hockey Night in Canada’s run on the public network that began in 1952.
- Rogers-owned Sportsnet holds exclusive national NHL rights under a new 12-year, roughly C$11 billion deal and will carry Saturday-night games exclusively next season.
- CBC said it will launch a new Saturday-night prime-time program focused on Olympic and high-performance Canadian athletes and increase sports content on CBC Gem.
- Under the 2013–2026 sublicence Sportsnet produced the telecasts, kept editorial control and ad revenue while CBC provided free over-the-air reach, and Sportsnet will continue to produce and distribute the broadcasts going forward.
- The change reduces free over-the-air access to marquee NHL games for some viewers and reflects a wider industry shift toward costly exclusive rights and subscription platforms while CBC leans on Olympic rights through 2032 for its sports strategy.