Rogers Communications Reportedly Reaches 12-Year NHL Extension

Rogers Communications has reportedly secured a substantial 12-year extension valued at CAD$11 billion (AUD$12.25 billion) for broadcasting rights with the NHL, marking a strategic move to further solidify its dominance in the Canadian sports market.

While the deal is viewed as a significant development, it remains pending approval from NHL owners, as highlighted by Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun.

The league’s media and executive committees have already signalled their support, recommending that the deal be formalised.

Set to commence in the 2026-2027 season, this new contract represents a notable increase from the existing agreement Rogers signed back in 2013.

Longley emphasises that in a landscape where traditional broadcasting agreements are evolving at a rapid pace, securing a guaranteed financial influx of this magnitude would be hard for team owners to overlook.

As the current broadcasting deal draws to a close after the 2025-26 season, Rogers reportedly has an exclusive window to negotiate an extension, potentially positioning them favourably in the broadcasting arena.

There were earlier speculations suggesting that the NHL might consider distributing its broadcasting rights among multiple networks and streaming platforms. However, at these financial terms, Rogers’ proposal appears to have overshadowed those considerations.

In terms of additional content, Kevin McGran from the Toronto Star reports that the agreement does not encompass the rights to the World Cup of Hockey scheduled for February 2028, however, Rogers is believed to hold the right of first refusal for this event.

The ongoing relationship between Amazon Prime Video and Rogers, having initiated a deal to stream games on Monday nights this season, also stands to benefit, as it is likely that Prime Video will continue to sublease games from Sportsnet.

This new agreement effectively excludes TSN from holding any national broadcast rights, even though the network has secured regional rights to cover teams such as the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, Senators, and Jets.

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