Gary Bettman announces that it could possibly be the end of Canadiens games on cable TV

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Elias Adaime
October 15, 2024 (12:05)

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The NHL experienced a first on Monday at the Bell Centre as Amazon Prime Video broadcasted its first game on the platform, a match between Montreal and Pittsburgh.

For the occasion, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was in town to welcome his new financial partner. He spoke before the duel between the Canadiens and the Penguins, and the discussion focused on the future of game broadcasts.

With the Canadian broadcasting rights soon expiring and Amazon entering the picture, it raises the question of how we will be able to watch our games in the future.

On this topic, the commissioner wasn't very reassuring for those who enjoy watching the Canadiens on TVA Sports, RDS, TSN or Sportsnet.

The end of Montreal Canadiens games on traditional television?

From what we gather from his comments, it wouldn't be surprising if the next Canadian broadcaster is a streaming platform and not, as usual, a traditional cable network.

"The world is moving away from cable TV. The cord-cutting, cord-nevers continues, and the reach of cable and satellite (linear) is not where it was. The world - putting us aside - is moving towards other forms of distribution, and we're very mindful of that. And keep in mind that Prime is distributed in Canada more broadly than anything else.»

- Gary Bettman

Let's recall that Amazon recently acquired the rights to broadcast NHL games on Monday nights via Rogers for the next two seasons. This coincides with the expiration of the NHL's Canadian broadcasting rights agreement with Rogers. It wouldn't be surprising, if all goes well by then, for the American giant to enter the race to acquire these rights.

Ironically, Bettman explained all this through a cable network, as he spoke with Alain Crête of RDS...

See his last response, which speaks volumes.

«Isn't this abandoning the anglophone fans who have long been accustomed to watching hockey on cable or CBC?» asked Stu Cowan to Commissioner Bettman.

«The world is moving away from cable, the whole planet is changing!» Bettman replied.

Wow.