Canada’s beloved NHL tradition, called Hockey Night in Canada, has an uncertain future after a major broadcasting decision between Sportsnet and CBC. The program featuring NHL games on Saturday night, a staple for Canadian hockey fans, might not return next season.

This is because the Canadian public broadcaster, CBC, couldn’t renew its 12-year cross-licensing partnership deal with Rogers Communications-owned Sportsnet for it. Sportsnet PR took to their official X account to put out a joint statement on behalf of Sportsnet and CBC on the recent development.

“After a successful 12-year partnership, Sportsnet and CBC today announced the public broadcaster will no longer carry NHL broadcasts,” the statement read as tweeted on June 16. “Watching hockey on Saturday night is a time-honoured tradition for Canadians, and Sportsnet is privileged to continue delivering that tradition."

Notably, CBC held the exclusive rights to the NHL games in Canada from 1952 until the 2013-14 season, which included the Hockey Night in Canada program on Saturday night.

But in 2013, Sportsnet bought rights to all the games after paying $5.2 billion to the NHL for 12 years, starting from the 2013-14 season onwards. It led to CBC managing to reach a partnership deal with Sportsnet to continue broadcasting the NHL games on their Saturday night programming.

Apart from that, CBC also aired every game of all four Stanley Cup Playoff rounds each year as part of cross-licensing for the last decade or so.

It is important to note that CBC still has the Hockey Night in Canada trademark to its name and could bring it back, as mentioned in the report on its own website. They are instead focusing on a “new sports programming strategy” in the aftermath of the successful 2026 Winter Olympic Games earlier this year.

Moreover, Sportsnet will continue to broadcast NHL games in Canada, including ones on Saturday night, after their new 12-year, $11.2 billion deal kicks in next season.

Fans React to the Uncertain Future of Canada’s Beloved NHL Tradition

While Sportsnet and CBC might rub their hands about ending their deal with a press release, the hockey fans let their frustration about the matter be known on social media.

Most of them weren’t happy about the two broadcasting institutions for seemingly getting rid of the longstanding NHL tradition, quite beloved to the Canadians.

Hockey Night in Canada has been an emotion over the past seven decades, which left a fan upset.

“You’re ruining a Canadian tradition. Simple as that,” the fan was straightforward on X in the comments section of Sportsnet PR.

The recent development came off as a profit-driven move that undermines hockey traditions and disrespects loyal Canadian viewers, according to a fan.

“Everyone in your management and affiliated should be embarrassed today. You just took a giant d*** on a national institution, and while doing so insulted every Canadian who watched hockey and also made you a very rich corporation. I hope you’re proud of yourselves,” he dropped a lengthy statement.

The voices of Dick Irvin, Bob Cole, Ron MacLean, Don Cherry, Dave Hodge and Foster Hewitt helped define the hockey experience for countless Canadians.

“It's not hockey night in Canada anymore good job guys you destroyed a Canadian tradition that's existed for generations,” an upset fan wrote.

A supporter of hockey questioned the decision while alluding to CBC becoming paid with its premium service.

“If Canadians have to pay to watch hockey night in Canada then a traditional has just died why are we paying for CBC now, and not even getting free games ?” a supporter said.

What do you think of CBC ending NHL broadcast partnership? Let us know in the comments.

Read more at NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Arjun Sharma

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar