Canadian Hockey’s Worst Year Yet: More Bad News Looms
- The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has confirmed it is in advanced negotiations to end its 80-year partnership with Rogers Communications, which has produced Hockey Night in Canada (HNIC),...
- The potential cancellation of HNIC—first aired in 1952—would mark the most significant disruption to Canadian sports broadcasting since the 2014 split between the CBC and TSN over NHL...
- The CBC’s board is expected to vote on the proposal in August, with a final decision likely by October.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has confirmed it is in advanced negotiations to end its 80-year partnership with Rogers Communications, which has produced Hockey Night in Canada (HNIC), the country’s most iconic sports broadcast. According to internal CBC documents obtained by The Globe and Mail, the network is weighing a full exit from the NHL’s English-language rights by 2027, citing escalating costs, declining viewership, and a broader shift in Canadian media consumption.
The potential cancellation of HNIC—first aired in 1952—would mark the most significant disruption to Canadian sports broadcasting since the 2014 split between the CBC and TSN over NHL rights. Rogers, which has held the rights since 2014, has not publicly commented on the CBC’s intentions, but industry sources tell Sportsnet that the broadcaster is exploring alternatives, including a scaled-back digital-only presence or a partnership with a streaming service.
Why is the CBC considering this move?
The decision stems from three interlocking pressures:
- Financial strain: CBC’s annual cost to produce HNIC has risen from $15 million in 2014 to an estimated $40 million by 2026, according to CBC’s internal budget reviews. This represents nearly 10% of the network’s total sports budget.
- Viewership decline: Linear TV ratings for HNIC have dropped 30% since 2020, with the under-35 demographic now accounting for just 12% of viewers, per Numeris data cited by The Star.
- Streaming competition: The NHL’s own league pass, NHL.TV, and regional sports networks (RSNs) like Sportsnet have siphoned off younger fans, forcing CBC to rethink its model.
What happens next?
The CBC’s board is expected to vote on the proposal in August, with a final decision likely by October. If approved, the network would begin phasing out HNIC by the 2027–28 season, replacing it with a mix of digital highlights, analyst shows, and potential partnerships with smaller leagues like the AHL or ECHL. Rogers, meanwhile, is in talks with other broadcasters—including Bell Media and Amazon—to offset the loss of CBC’s audience share.
How would this affect Canadian hockey culture?
HNIC is more than a broadcast; it is a cultural institution, with its theme song ("Star-Spangled Banner" followed by "O Canada") and iconic callers like Ron MacLean and Bob Cole becoming national symbols. A CBC exit would:
- Accelerate the decline of traditional TV: The NHL’s shift to streaming aligns with global trends, but Canada’s aging broadcast infrastructure may struggle to adapt.
- Reduce local coverage: CBC’s regional broadcasts, which often feature amateur and junior leagues, could be eliminated, leaving a gap in grassroots hockey promotion.
- Intensify corporate control: With Rogers and Bell dominating rights, independent voices in hockey commentary—historically a CBC strength—may vanish.
Reactions from stakeholders
- NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman told ESPN that the league is "monitoring the situation closely" but has no immediate plans to renegotiate rights deals.
- Rogers Sports & Media CEO Phil Lind declined to comment, but insiders say the company is "not panicking," given its strong RSN portfolio.
- Former CBC Sports President Randy Ambrosie warned in a Toronto Star op-ed that the move would "hollow out Canadian hockey storytelling," comparing it to the loss of Front Row (CBC’s long-running hockey magazine show) in 2020.
What’s the timeline?
- June–August 2026: CBC board deliberations.
- September–October 2026: Final decision on HNIC’s future.
- 2027–28 season: Potential phase-out of linear broadcasts, with digital alternatives announced by spring 2027.
The CBC has not confirmed whether it will continue producing any hockey content post-2027, though sources suggest a reduced but still prominent role. For now, fans and analysts alike are left wondering: Is this the end of an era, or just another chapter in the evolution of Canadian sports media?
"Hockey Night in Canada isn’t just a show—it’s a ritual. Losing it would be like taking the national anthem off the ice." — Historian David MacFarlane, University of Toronto, to The Globe and Mail