Rogers Communications has launched its own Saturday Night Hockey program on Sportsnet, ending a 75-year sublicensing agreement with the CBC for Hockey Night in Canada. The transition is part of a 12-year, $11-billion NHL rights deal that emphasizes expanded digital distribution and exclusive content on the Sportsnet+ streaming platform.
The launch of Sportsnet Saturday Night Hockey signals a definitive shift toward vertical integration, as Rogers Communications consolidates premium sports rights to drive adoption of its Xfinity TV and Sportsnet+ platforms. By removing the CBC sublicensing buffer, Rogers is testing the market's willingness to pay for access that was historically free, reflecting a broader industry trend of moving high-value live sports behind proprietary paywalls. This strategy directly challenges traditional reach-based broadcasting models in favor of high-ARPU digital subscriptions. Watch for subscriber churn rates among non-Rogers cable customers who now face the $12.99 monthly surcharge for full NHL access.
The shift away from public broadcasting partnerships mirrors a broader industry trend of leveraging legacy linear assets to anchor new digital subscription ecosystems, similar to how DAZN targets national US media rights to expand its own sports footprint. As major leagues evaluate their distribution, NFL signals 2029 media rights opt-out as streaming engagement hits scale.
Rogers has launched Sportsnet Saturday Night Hockey, marking the end of a 75-year NHL sublicensing agreement with the CBC. This transition shifts marquee Saturday broadcasts exclusively to Rogers-owned platforms and Sportsnet+. The move signals a major shift toward vertical integration, forcing viewers to pay for content that was previously free.
The CBC stopped airing NHL games because Rogers ended its 75-year sublicensing agreement to consolidate premium sports rights on its own platforms, including Sportsnet+.
Starting in December, the CBC will pivot its 'Hockey Night in Canada' branding to focus on coverage of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL).
Non-Rogers subscribers must pay a $12.99 monthly add-on fee to access specific content previously available through the CBC sublicensing agreement.
Sportsnet+ serves as the primary digital hub for over 550 national NHL games.
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