Amazon’s Prime Video is set to broadcast exclusive Wednesday night national NHL regular-season games in Canada in both English and French starting next season. This development comes as part of a fresh 12-year sub-licensing agreement with Rogers Communications Inc. Notably, the streaming service will also air select Stanley Cup playoff series, including two first-round series and one second-round matchup each year, as per the newly announced deal.
Under the terms of the agreement, Prime Video will have rights to at least 26 national regular-season games beginning on September 30. These games will be offered to Prime members in Canada at no extra charge, while Rogers-owned Sportsnet will continue to hold the majority of national NHL games.
The deal aligns with the entirety of Rogers’s 12-year NHL national media rights agreement through the 2037-38 season. Jay Marine, head of global sports at Prime Video, expressed excitement about the expanded partnership with the NHL and Rogers, emphasizing the added premium live sports content for Prime members in Canada.
The recent agreement follows the decision last month that Rogers and CBC would not renew their sub-licensing agreement, leading to the discontinuation of Hockey Night in Canada on the public broadcaster after the 2025-26 season. Additionally, Citytv, also owned by Rogers, will no longer air national NHL games, marking the end of NHL broadcasts on free-to-air television.
Furthermore, the shift towards streaming platforms in sports continues with this partnership. John Shannon, a veteran sportscaster and TV producer in Canada, sees the move to streaming as inevitable, citing examples like the CFL’s upcoming streaming deal and Major League Soccer’s collaboration with Apple TV. Shannon highlights the attractiveness of sports content to streaming platforms and the parallel to traditional cable subscriptions.
The financial terms of the Prime Video sub-licensing deal have not been disclosed. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman commended the deepened relationship between Prime Video and Rogers, emphasizing their joint commitment to providing premium NHL content to English- and French-speaking hockey fans in Canada for the long term.
Moshe Lander, a sports economist at Concordia University, views the agreement as beneficial for Rogers in recouping part of the substantial investment made for the NHL rights. Lander notes that the extended contract duration also contributes to stability in the league amidst potential labor disputes.
Regarding viewer experience, Lander foresees challenges for avid hockey fans navigating through multiple streaming packages. The evolving landscape of streaming services raises questions about the actual cost of piecing together various subscriptions compared to traditional cable bundles.
As of now, there is no official announcement from Rogers regarding a sub-licensing agreement for the remaining French-language broadcast rights in Canada. However, reports suggest that TVA Sports will continue as the French-language national rights holder, expanding its coverage of Montreal Canadiens games for the upcoming season.
In conclusion, the evolving NHL broadcast landscape underscores the industry’s adaptation to changing viewer preferences and consumption habits. The current agreement reflects the shifting dynamics of sports broadcasting towards digital platforms and the strategic importance of securing premium content for viewers.