The National Hockey League (NHL), North American ice hockey’s elite competition, has confirmed a lucrative 12-year, $7.7 billion media rights extension with Canadian telecommunications giant Rogers from the 2026-27 campaign onward.
This new agreement increases the number of nationally broadcast games and reduces the number of regional broadcast blackouts.
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NHL and Rogers struck this renewal in an exclusive negotiating window that was triggered earlier this year as part of the ongoing 12-year national broadcast rights agreement between the two sides – signed in 2013 and worth $3.6 billion.
The massive uptick in media rights values is a major boon for the NHL at a time when the salary cap is growing and shows confidence in the league despite US viewership shrinking.
The final year of the current 12-year tie-up will take place during the 2025-26 campaign, with the next agreement set to begin in the autumn of 2026.
This expanded deal includes unilateral national rights covering all broadcast platforms ITV, digital, and streaming) for every national game, with rights covering both English and French language telecasts.
Additionally, national rights to the showpiece Stanley Cup finals, and special events such as the league’s all-star game, are also included, as are out-of-market rights for regional broadcasts.
Under the deal, Rogers hold the exclusive category sponsorship rights for both the NHL itself in Canada, as well as any major NHL event held in the country.
Speaking on the renewed ties, Rogers president and chief executive Tony Staffieri stated: “The NHL has been a terrific partner for over a decade, and we’re proud to continue our partnership and bring more great fan experiences and best-in-class broadcasts to Canadians.”
Last year, the NHL and Rogers also signed an exclusive two-year streaming deal with e-commerce giant Amazon for its Prime Video service.
Through the agreement, which covers the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons, Prime Video streams Monday regular-season games in Canada. That agreement will conclude alongside the end of Rogers’ current deal.
Rogers is heavily involved in sports in Canada, owning the MLB’s Toronto Blue Jays, as well as 37.5% of Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, the NBA’s Toronto Raptors, MLS’ Toronto FC and the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts.
In the US, meanwhile, national broadcast rights to live NHL action are held by ESPN, and by Warner Bros Discovery-owned TNT. Those agreements run for seven years from 2021.
The 2024-25 NHL regular season got underway in early October, and runs through until April 17, to be followed by the post-season playoffs and Stanley Cup Finals.
Late last month, the league expanded its relationship with Palo Alto Networks as a commercial partner, in a multi-year tie-up.
