Rogers Secures NHL Broadcasting Rights for Another 12 Years
Rogers Communications is preparing to unveil a staggering $11 billion agreement that will extend its control over Canadian NHL broadcasting rights for an additional 12 years.While this monumental deal may appear beneficial at first glance, it also means that hockey fans in Canada will continue to face notable challenges, including regional blackouts and the need to navigate multiple platforms to catch their favorite games.
The Current Landscape of Hockey Broadcasting
As it stands, Rogers already holds the primary national broadcasting rights for hockey in Canada. This means that not much will change in terms of where fans can watch games. most matches will still be available through Sportsnet, while bell-owned ESPN retains local broadcasting rights for teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, and Winnipeg Jets. Additionally, Rogers has partnered with amazon to stream Monday night games.
A report from the Toronto Star indicates that this new deal does not encompass international hockey rights; though, itS likely that Rogers will have the first opportunity to negotiate those rights if thay become available. Given last year's successful ratings during events like the Four Nations Face-Off tournament, it's reasonable to assume that Rogers would be interested in acquiring more hockey content.
The Impact of recent Playoff Success
The recent playoff run by the Edmonton Oilers played a crucial role in convincing Rogers to invest further into hockey broadcasting. The excitement surrounding their playoff journey attracted many new subscribers; reports suggest that around 15 million Canadians tuned into their final game alone. With several strong Canadian teams expected this season, Rogers is banking on continued interest and engagement from fans across the country.
This marks another long-term commitment by Rogers as they secure a second 12-year bundle of NHL broadcast rights. Their initial package was acquired back in 2013 for $5.2 billion—a significantly lower amount compared to today's figure—indicating how much more valuable these sports broadcasts have become over time.
Facing Competition from Streaming Services
In recent years, streaming services such as Netflix and Prime Video have made strides into live sports coverage. Many anticipated increased competition would pressure traditional broadcasters like Rogers when negotiating these deals this time around. As a notable example, Prime Video has secured Monday night hockey broadcasts through its partnership with Rogers while Apple TV has ventured into baseball and MLS soccer coverage.
Sports programming remains one of the few areas where traditional television still thrives amidst growing digital alternatives; however, only time will reveal whether or not continuing support for NHL broadcasts was a wise decision on Roger's part.
Despite some spikes in viewership during key moments—like during Edmonton’s Stanley Cup run—the overall trend shows a decline in NHL viewership numbers according to various statistics sources. This raises questions about whether streaming platforms are truly invested in covering hockey or if they prefer othre sports with broader appeal outside Canada and northern U.S regions.
What Lies Ahead?
As we look forward at what lies ahead for both viewers and broadcasters alike within Canada's vibrant sports scene—especially concerning ice hockey—it’s clear there are many factors at play influencing viewer habits today: team performance trends alongside shifting media consumption patterns could reshape how we experience our favorite pastimes moving forward.
With all eyes now on how well this hefty investment pays off amid changing viewing preferences among audiences everywhere—it’ll certainly be interesting watching developments unfold throughout future seasons!
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