Full Breakdown
CBC Ends Hockey Night in Canada Broadcasts After 74 Years
6/17/2026, 1:32:54 AM
End of an Era
CBC announced Tuesday it will stop airing NHL games after the 2025-26 season. The move follows the expiry of a 12-year sublicensing deal with Rogers Sportsnet, ending the Saturday-night “Hockey Night in Canada” broadcast on the public network.
Background, Timeline, Finances
CBC first televised NHL games in 1952, creating a national Saturday tradition. In 2013 Rogers bought exclusive Canadian NHL rights for C$5.2 billion and sublicensed a portion back to CBC, preserving HNIC for 12 years. The sublicense ended after the 2025-26 season. Rogers renewed the league’s rights in March 2025 with a 12-year contract reported at C$11 billion by some sources and C$11.2 billion by others, effective October 2026.
Official Statements
CBC said the shift follows a new sports-programming strategy after the Milano/Cortina Olympic Games. Rogers emphasized that Saturday night NHL hockey remains a core Canadian tradition and will continue on Sportsnet. NHL communications officer Jon Weinstein pledged uninterrupted Saturday-night coverage.
Criticism & Reaction
Fans lamented the loss, calling it “another nostalgic benchmark eliminated,” and warned that moving NHL games to subscription services could erode the family-gathering vibe of Saturday-night hockey.
Conflicting Reports
Sources differ on the renewed rights value, citing C$11 billion and C$11.2 billion. It is also unclear whether Rogers will sublicense future games to Amazon Prime Video or TVA Sports.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It's fair to say CBC will no longer be carrying NHL hockey, however, we own the HNIC mark and will be using the iconic brand in different ways going forward,” — Chuck Thompson, CBC head of public affairs
- “As Canada’s Olympic network every day through 2032, our increased commitment will include more in-depth storytelling, more live sport, and more coverage of Canadian athletes at home and abroad,” — Chris Wilson, CBC Sports executive director
- “Saturday night NHL hockey is woven into the fabric of Canada and our partners at Sportsnet will continue this great tradition, as they have for the last 12 years,” — Jon Weinstein, NHL chief communications officer
- “After a successful 12-year partnership, Sportsnet and CBC today announced the public broadcaster will no longer carry NHL broadcasts after the current season as it moves forward with a new sports programming strategy following the unprecedented success of the Milano/Cortina Olympic Games.” — Joint statement, CBC & Rogers Sportsnet
Future Programming
CBC will debut a Saturday-night show spotlighting Canadian athletes, with a French-language version on ICI TÉLÉ, and will expand Olympic coverage through the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games and the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps.
