Amazon Prime Video and Rogers Secure 12-Year Deal for NHL Broadcasts in Canada
Canadian hockey fans will no longer have to rely on public broadcasting institutions and network television to watch their beloved NHL games, as Amazon Prime Video has secured a 12-year sublicensing agreement with Rogers Communications to broadcast national games in Canada.
The deal, announced on Tuesday, will see Prime Video exclusively broadcast Wednesday night national NHL games in English and French, starting with the 2026-2027 season. This means that at least 26 national regular-season NHL games, beginning on Wednesday, September 30, will be available exclusively on the streaming platform.
Rogers, which operates Sportsnet, has an existing $11 billion media rights deal with the NHL through the 2037-38 season. The company's President and CEO, Tony Staffieri, said in a statement, "Our partnership with Prime Video builds on the strong foundation we have established together and reinforces NHL hockey as the most valuable sports content in Canada."
This partnership is part of a larger shift in the way Canadians consume hockey. In June, Sportsnet and the CBC announced that the public broadcaster will no longer carry NHL broadcasts after the current season, ending Hockey Night in Canada's run there after over seven decades. Citytv, also owned by Rogers, will no longer showcase national game telecasts.
The conversation around sports viewership in Canada has become driven by concerns that it will become harder and harder to find games and watch them without paying a fee. However, Rogers doesn't seem fazed by those concerns, given their extensive portfolio of sports teams, including the Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC, and Toronto Argonauts.
As part of the deal, Amazon's streaming arm will also have exclusive rights to select Stanley Cup Playoff series in Canada, including two First Round playoff series and one Second Round series each season. Jay Marine, Head of Global Sports, Prime Video, said in a statement, "We're thrilled to expand our partnership with the NHL and Rogers in this landmark agreement, which brings even more premium live sports to Prime members in Canada."
This move is likely to have a significant impact on the way Canadians consume hockey. With the NHL games now available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, fans will have to subscribe to the streaming service to watch their favorite teams play. This could lead to a further shift away from traditional broadcast television and towards streaming services.
The 12-year deal between Amazon Prime Video and Rogers is a significant development in the world of Canadian sports broadcasting. As the NHL continues to grow in popularity, it will be interesting to see how this partnership evolves and how it affects the way fans consume hockey in the country.
Source: Yahoo Sports