NHL games soon to be strictly available on the web? Big news emerges

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Elias Edmonson
April 7, 2024 (3:10 PM)

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Since the 2014-2015 season, the broadcasting rights for NHL games in Canada have been owned by Rogers Communications. (including Sportsnet)

This national agreement, which was for twelve years and $5.2 billion, will already end in two years, after the 2025-2026 season.

New information suggests that these last two years of the agreement could be altered, as Rogers is reportedly cooking up a deal with Amazon to entrust them with the NHL's Monday night games.

The deal would include not only the regular season games of the next two campaigns but also the playoff games played on that day.

So, we can see that the online retail giant is already starting to position its pieces in anticipation of renegotiating the league's broadcasting rights. This will be somewhat of a test to see if the project would be viable in the long term.

Let's face it, if it all works out, a partnership between the NHL and Amazon would create a shockwave in the telecommunications market as many are still fans of traditional television.

However, nothing is settled yet, as David Pagnotta mentions, Bell (which owns TSN and RDS) would also like to get back into the picture. They could thus be in direct competition with Amazon for the rights they lost to Sportsnet in 2013.

"Lots of reported chatter this week over SN/Rogers possibly selling its Monday night broadcasts in Canada to Amazon. There's talk Bell (TSN) has also had discussions about jumping back in on the national side, in some form, too. Rogers' deal expires after the 2025-26 season."

The link between streaming platforms and sport is becoming increasingly common. Just think of MLS and its link with Apple and the NFL with DAZN or Prime Video, for example. So, it's not surprising to see Amazon trying its luck with the NHL!