The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / What Happens To Rogers' Sportsnet Once The NHL Deal Expires?

**Posted by RadioActive** January 30, 2025 6:16 pm

There is only one more year to go on the still jaw dropping amount of money Rogers doled out for the rights to the NHL in Canada. (Twelve years at $5.2 billion.)

Now as the contract nears its inevitable end, both the League and the broadcaster are going into a kind of sudden death overtime to see if they can reach a new agreement and what shape it might take - or whether the puck stops here.

The one thing stopping play - The NHL is raising rates and wants even more money for a deal. The fact Rogers now owns MLSE outright means it will keep its lucrative Leafs package. But what about the rest of the country?

Future of Rogers’ NHL broadcast rights uncertain as puck drops on talks for new Canadian TV deal

**Posted by Shorty Wave** January 31, 2025 9:12 am

I can see Amazon Prime laying out some big bucks to score these rights, they have pretty deep pockets and have been airing the Monday night games, or quite possibly a split deal with Amazon and Netflix. This would not go over too well with many out there! Rogers will have to fork over more to keep this deal, but will they? Stay tuned!

**Posted by Radiowiz** January 31, 2025 12:31 pm

Shorty Wave wrote:
I can see Amazon Prime laying out some big bucks to score these rights, they have pretty deep pockets and have been airing the Monday night games, or quite possibly a split deal with Amazon and Netflix. This would not go over too well with many out there! Rogers will have to fork over more to keep this deal, but will they? Stay tuned!

I'm wondering if Rogers will work out a deal with someone, even if it's Amazon itself.
While Amazon could still easily snatch up multicultural rights, I am strictly guessing Rogers will still make best effort to keep Omni coverage rights. (ie Punjabi coverage of the game)
If they do that, just tune into Omni, turn down the volume and crank up Fan 590 (or TSN 1050)
No Amazon required!

**Posted by SpinningWheel** January 31, 2025 12:43 pm

Shorty Wave wrote:
I can see Amazon Prime laying out some big bucks to score these rights, they have pretty deep pockets and have been airing the Monday night games, or quite possibly a split deal with Amazon and Netflix. This would not go over too well with many out there! Rogers will have to fork over more to keep this deal, but will they? Stay tuned!

I hope it doesn't go to streaming because it may look good on a tablet or phone but the frame rate is sometimes too slow and it ends up looking choppy on the big screen. Then there's the 4K (and Dolby 7.1 multichannel audio) options, which seem to be missing from Amazon and to me are a staple of my hockey TV viewing on the big screen. Going to streaming for the majority of games in Canada would represent the Enshittification of HNIC.
And then there's the membership fees.

Last edited by SpinningWheel (January 31, 2025 12:49 pm)

**Posted by cash** January 31, 2025 12:52 pm

The NHL is still small in the USA. It gets only $625 million a year in rights compared to almost $7 billion a year for the NBA.

**Posted by dmcjeff** January 31, 2025 1:16 pm

Apple TV is getting more involved in sports too. Even Netflix had some Boxing matches live.

**Posted by ED1** January 31, 2025 2:00 pm

I hope that Gary Bettman and the NHL still sees value in having at least the Saturday night games on broadcast TV or FAST even. All the other games during the week can be on paid streaming or cable.

**Posted by Shorty Wave** February 1, 2025 9:57 am

Radiowiz wrote:
Shorty Wave wrote:
I can see Amazon Prime laying out some big bucks to score these rights, they have pretty deep pockets and have been airing the Monday night games, or quite possibly a split deal with Amazon and Netflix. This would not go over too well with many out there! Rogers will have to fork over more to keep this deal, but will they? Stay tuned!
I'm wondering if Rogers will work out a deal with someone, even if it's Amazon itself.
While Amazon could still easily snatch up multicultural rights, I am strictly guessing Rogers will still make best effort to keep Omni coverage rights. (ie Punjabi coverage of the game)
If they do that, just tune into Omni, turn down the volume and crank up Fan 590 (or TSN 1050)
No Amazon required!

Years ago while watching a Leafs game, the audio dropped off so I did what you suggested here Radiowiz, but the radio transmission was out of sync with the game by a few seconds, which was entertaining for a bit, but not great. The TV audio eventually came back thankfully!