Amazon’s Prime Video has secured the exclusive rights to broadcast Wednesday night national NHL regular-season games in Canada in both English and French, starting from the upcoming season. This is part of a new 12-year sub-licensing agreement with Rogers Communications Inc. Under this deal announced on Tuesday, the streaming service will also show select Stanley Cup playoff series, including two first-round matchups and one second-round game each year.
According to a spokesperson from Rogers, the playoff games allocation will be determined through a draft format. Prime Video will have the fourth and fifth picks among the eight first-round series and the third choice among the four second-round matchups. The lineup on Prime Video will feature a minimum of 26 national regular-season games starting on September 30. These games will be accessible to Prime members in Canada at no extra charge. It’s worth noting that Rogers-owned Sportsnet will still have the majority of national NHL games.
This agreement aligns with the entirety of Rogers’s 12-year contract with the NHL for national media rights on all platforms in Canada until the 2037-38 season. Jay Marine, the head of global sports at Prime Video, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating that it brings more premium live sports to Prime members in Canada.
The deal comes after the recent announcement that Rogers and CBC would not be renewing their sub-licensing agreement, leading to the end of “Hockey Night in Canada” on the public broadcaster after the 2025-26 season. The CBC will no longer air national games on Saturdays or broadcast all four rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Rogers president and CEO Tony Staffieri emphasized the strengthening of the partnership with Prime Video and the significance of NHL content in Canada.
This move reflects the ongoing shift towards streaming platforms in the sports industry. Prime Video previously aired Monday night games in Canada over the last two NHL seasons. The extension of this partnership underscores the commitment to providing premium NHL content to English- and French-language hockey fans across Canada for years to come.
Financial details of the sub-licensing deal with Prime Video have not been disclosed. This collaboration is expected to help Rogers recover a portion of the significant investment made last year for the NHL rights. The extended 12-year contract is seen as a step towards ensuring long-term stability and revenue growth for the league. Additionally, the agreement with Prime Video and Rogers caters to the evolving preferences of viewers and the changing landscape of sports broadcasting.