Amazon’s Prime Video secures exclusive rights to showcase Wednesday night national NHL regular-season games in Canada, in both English and French, starting from the upcoming season. This development arises from a new 12-year sub-licensing agreement with Rogers Communications Inc. As part of this deal revealed on Tuesday, Prime Video will also feature select Stanley Cup playoff series yearly, including two first-round matchups and one second-round game.
Under a draft system, Prime Video will have the fourth and fifth picks from the eight first-round series and the third selection from the four second-round matchups. The Prime Video lineup will consist of a minimum of 26 national regular-season games, commencing on September 30, accessible to Canadian Prime members at no extra cost. Meanwhile, Sportsnet, owned by Rogers, will retain the bulk of national NHL games.
This agreement aligns with the entirety of Rogers’ 12-year NHL national media rights deal in Canada, extending through the 2037-38 season. Jay Marine, the head of global sports at Prime Video, expressed excitement about expanding their collaboration with the NHL and Rogers to bring premium live sports content to Prime members in Canada.
The recent pact follows the decision that Rogers and CBC would not renew their sub-licensing agreement, leading to the conclusion of ‘Hockey Night in Canada’ on the public broadcaster after the 2025-26 season. Citytv, also a Rogers-owned platform, will cease airing national games, marking the end of NHL broadcasts on free-to-air TV.
Prime Video’s involvement in broadcasting NHL games in Canada began with Monday night games over the past two seasons. This move underlines the NHL’s trend towards streaming platforms. Moshe Lander, a sports economist at Concordia University, views this deal as a means for Rogers to recoup some of the substantial investment made for NHL rights. Lander also highlights the potential for labor stability in the league due to the lengthy contract duration, potentially avoiding shortened seasons resulting from labor disputes.
The evolving broadcasting landscape reflects a shift towards streaming services, as emphasized by John Shannon, a former Sportsnet panelist and industry expert. This shift signifies a broader trend observed in sports broadcasting, with streaming platforms increasingly becoming key players in delivering live sports content to audiences. The agreement between Prime Video and Rogers signifies a shared commitment to providing high-quality NHL content to English- and French-speaking hockey fans in Canada for years to come.