Amazon’s Prime Video has secured the exclusive rights to air national NHL regular-season games on Wednesday nights in Canada in both English and French, starting next season, under a new 12-year sub-licensing agreement with Rogers Communications Inc. The deal, announced on Tuesday, also includes coverage of select Stanley Cup playoff series, with Prime Video having the fourth and fifth selections among the eight first-round series and the third pick among the four second-round matchups.
Prime Video will showcase a minimum of 26 national regular-season games, commencing on Sept. 30, and will be accessible to Prime members in Canada at no extra charge. Meanwhile, Sportsnet, owned by Rogers, will continue to hold the majority of national NHL games.
This agreement aligns with the entirety of Rogers’s 12-year NHL national media rights deal in Canada until the end of the 2037-38 season. Jay Marine, head of global sports at Prime Video, expressed excitement about enhancing their collaboration with the NHL and Rogers through this significant agreement, bringing top-tier live sports content to Prime members in Canada.
Furthermore, the deal comes after the recent announcement that the sub-licensing partnership between Rogers and CBC for “Hockey Night in Canada” will not be renewed after the 2025-26 season. As a result, national NHL games will no longer be broadcast on the free-to-air television network Citytv.
The move towards streaming platforms for NHL content has been emphasized by the extension of Prime Video’s involvement in broadcasting Monday night games in Canada over the past two seasons, although this previous deal did not cover playoff matchups or French-language broadcasts.
The financial details of the Prime Video sub-licensing agreement remain undisclosed. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman expressed enthusiasm for the long-term partnership between Prime Video and Rogers, highlighting their shared commitment to providing premium NHL content to English- and French-speaking hockey fans in Canada for years to come.
The 12-year duration of the contract is seen as beneficial for ensuring stability and labor peace in the league, amid previous shortened seasons due to labor disputes. The agreement is anticipated to assist Rogers in recuperating part of the substantial investment made in securing NHL broadcasting rights.
Additionally, the evolving broadcast landscape in the NHL underscores the shift towards streaming platforms, reflecting broader trends in the media industry. The deal with Prime Video marks a significant milestone in delivering high-quality NHL content to fans across Canada through innovative digital platforms.