Puck drops on new-look NHL broadcasting scene after major off-season changes

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“You have to buy into something. And if your cable provider is feeling generous or competitive they might provide it for you but if they’re not, then it’s on you. But I really think that that’s how it’s going to roll from now on.”

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In addition, TVA Sports secured French-language rights for 12 years via a sub-licensing deal between Rogers and Quebecor. Sportsnet also cancelled “Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition” after an 18-year run.

The headline of Sportsnet’s news release announcing its 2026-27 season plans trumpeted the lifting of 150 regional blackouts to “deliver more national NHL games than ever.”

That no doubt pleased many fans who long griped about the issue, but other plans may have given them pause.

Monday Night Hockey games will stream exclusively on Sportsnet+ this season, the network said, noting service subscribers would get that content as part of their package.

Starting Tuesday, Rogers will add three new digital channels with the exclusive content to Rogers Xfinity TV packages that have Sportsnet.

However, for those who subscribe to Sportsnet through other TV providers, they’ll have to shell out an additional $12.99 per month for an add-on package.

“You’ve got to pay extra now and that’s just where things are headed,” said Mike Naraine, an associate sports management professor at Brock University. “It’s pretty unfortunate for the end consumer.

“But that’s just kind of the oligopoly landscape that we’ve got these days.”

Notable Sportsnet on-air personalities Kelly Hrudey and Jennifer Botterill will not be returning to the network.

With Botterill’s departure, Saturday Night Hockey — the replacement title for Hockey Night in Canada — will now have a male-only panel of Kevin Bieksa, Elliotte Friedman, Colby Armstrong and host Ron MacLean.

Sportsnet declined an interview request to discuss the many changes for the upcoming season. In an email, a spokesperson said everything the network had to share was included in its news release.

It’s a media approach that’s markedly different than the ones used by Canadian sports broadcasting peers CBC and TSN, who frequently make decision-makers available for interviews.

For several years, Sportsnet has repeatedly declined requests to interview top brass on newsmaking developments.

“Rogers knows what it’s doing, it’s got its strategy,” Naraine said. “But is it best for publicly facing transparency? No.”

CBC has yet to announce its full lineup of programming for the fall and winter months. The PWHL — which aired games on CBC, Sportsnet, TSN and Prime last season — is expected to announce its Canadian broadcasting plans over the coming days.

The CBC aired PWHL Saturday games of the week last season and that’s a good bet to continue with the NHL’s departure. Curling will also fill part of the network’s weekend schedule.

The 2026-27 season will be the first time since Hockey Night’s television debut in 1952 that NHL games won’t be available to Canadian viewers via the public broadcaster.

“The nostalgic side of me says that’s unfortunate,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said at the recent NHL/NHLPA player media tour in Las Vegas. “But the reality side of me says that’s the nature of the world.

“You can’t stop and shouldn’t stop evolution, and that’s the way the world’s evolving.”

With files from Canadian Press sports reporter Joshua Clipperton.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27, 2026.

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press