Hockey fans, brace yourselves as big changes are coming to how you watch the NHL. The league just dropped a bombshell, signing a jaw-dropping 12-year, $7.7 billion media rights deal with Rogers Communications. While executives celebrate the massive payday, fans are left wondering: is this the start of an exciting new era or just another corporate move that makes the game harder to watch?
Rogers tightens grip on canadian hockey
The deal, set to kick in from the 2026 season, cements Rogers’ dominance over NHL broadcasts in Canada. This isn’t the first time they’ve taken control, the company’s previous $5.2 billion CAD deal in 2013 reshaped how fans tuned in to games. But this time, with economic pressures mounting and the USD-CAD exchange rate in flux, the stakes are even higher.
For hockey lovers, this means national broadcasts will remain under Rogers’ umbrella for over a decade. While this could bring technological upgrades and expanded coverage, many worry about what it will mean for alternative broadcasters like CBC and TSN. Will beloved hockey voices be silenced? And more importantly, will fans still have easy access to their favorite teams?
Fans react: “12 more years of pain?”
Instead of celebrating, many fans have taken to social media to vent. Concerns about rising costs, increased blackout restrictions, and limited viewing options dominate the conversation. “Does that mean I will actually be able to watch hockey games? Or will every game still be blacked out?” one fan posted. Another joked, “Great. 12 more years of pain.”
The frustration isn’t just about accessibility. Some viewers are already bracing for another decade of the same broadcast personalities, with one fan saying, “Please can we get sportsnet a new panel if they are spending all of this money.”
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With billions on the table, Rogers and the NHL are all-in on this deal but where does that leave the fans? Will this bring a better, more immersive hockey experience, or will it mean more headaches and hidden fees? As the league moves forward with its billion-dollar gamble, hockey lovers across Canada can only hope they won’t be left out in the cold.
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