Free ‘Hockey Night in Canada’ Ends as CBC and Rogers Fail to Reach Deal
The iconic Saturday night hockey broadcast “Hockey Night in Canada” will no longer be available on free over-the-air television after the CBC and Rogers Sportsnet could not agree on a sub-licensing arrangement.
End of a long-standing tradition
Canada’s national broadcaster, CBC, has announced that its decades-old free broadcast of Saturday night NHL games is coming to an end. Rogers Sportsnet, the rights holder for the National Hockey League, and CBC failed to secure a sub-licensing deal that would have allowed the public broadcaster to continue airing the games.
As a result, “Hockey Night in Canada” – a weekly ritual deeply embedded in Canadian culture – will now be available only on pay television. It remains unclear whether another network might step in to provide free coverage, but the collapse of negotiations means millions of Canadians who relied on free over-the-air TV must find alternative ways to watch NHL games on Saturday nights.
This marks a major shift in Canada’s sports media landscape, as “Hockey Night in Canada” was more than just a broadcast; it was a symbol of national unity and a cherished Saturday night tradition. Neither CBC nor Rogers Sportsnet have commented on future plans.
