Amazon’s Prime Video has secured the exclusive rights to broadcast Wednesday night national NHL regular-season games in Canada in both English and French starting next season. This comes as part of a new 12-year sub-licensing deal with Rogers Communications Inc. The agreement also includes the streaming service carrying select Stanley Cup playoff series, featuring two first-round series and one second-round matchup annually.
Under the terms of the deal, Prime Video will have at least 26 national regular-season games, commencing on September 30, available to Prime members in Canada at no extra cost. Meanwhile, Sportsnet, owned by Rogers, will continue to air the majority of national NHL games.
The sub-licensing agreement spans the entirety of Rogers’s 12-year contract with the NHL for national media rights in Canada until the 2037-38 season. Jay Marine, head of global sports at Prime Video, expressed excitement about the expanded partnership, emphasizing the addition of premium live sports content for Prime members in Canada.
The agreement comes following the recent announcement that Rogers and CBC would not be extending their sub-licensing agreement, leading to the conclusion of Hockey Night in Canada on the public broadcaster after the 2025-26 season. Additionally, Citytv, also owned by Rogers, will no longer broadcast national games, marking the end of NHL coverage on free-to-air television.
The move towards streaming platforms for NHL content continues, with Prime Video previously streaming Monday night games in Canada over the past two seasons. The latest agreement is seen as a significant step in the evolving landscape of sports broadcasting, aligning with the trend of streaming services becoming more involved in live sports coverage.
Financial details of the Prime Video sub-licensing deal were not disclosed. The extended 12-year contract is expected to benefit Rogers economically, helping to offset the substantial sum of $11 billion paid last year for the NHL rights. The long-term nature of the agreement is also seen as a positive factor for maintaining labor peace within the league.
While the shift towards streaming platforms may present challenges for viewers, such as navigating different packages, it reflects the broader trend in the media industry towards on-demand content. The deal with Prime Video and the evolving NHL broadcast landscape highlight the changing dynamics of sports broadcasting in the digital age.