The NHL and Rogers Announce Monumental 12-Year National Media Rights Deal
Rogers Communications and the NHL have announced a monumental $11 billion CDN national media rights agreement spanning 12 years through the 2037-38 season. The deal, starting in 2026-27, extends their strategic partnership beyond two decades.
The new agreement provides national rights across all platforms including TV, digital, and streaming for all national regular season games, playoff games, Stanley Cup Final, and special events in all languages. Notably, fans will benefit from increased access to live national games and reduced regional blackouts.
The deal includes out-of-market rights for all regional games and exclusive category sponsorship for NHL events in Canada. Rogers maintains the option for strategic sub-licensing, including national French-language rights and a single-night exclusive national package.
Rogers Communications e la NHL hanno annunciato un accordo monumentale per i diritti media nazionali del valore di 11 miliardi di dollari canadesi, che si estende per 12 anni fino alla stagione 2037-38. L'accordo, che avrà inizio nella stagione 2026-27, estende la loro partnership strategica per oltre due decenni.
Il nuovo accordo fornisce diritti nazionali su tutte le piattaforme, inclusi TV, digitale e streaming, per tutte le partite della stagione regolare nazionale, le partite dei playoff, la Finale della Stanley Cup e eventi speciali in tutte le lingue. È importante notare che i fan beneficeranno di un accesso maggiore alle partite nazionali dal vivo e di una riduzione delle interruzioni regionali.
L'accordo include diritti per le partite regionali fuori mercato e sponsorizzazioni esclusive per eventi NHL in Canada. Rogers mantiene l'opzione per sub-licenze strategiche, inclusi diritti nazionali in lingua francese e un pacchetto nazionale esclusivo per una sola notte.
Rogers Communications y la NHL han anunciado un monumental acuerdo de derechos de medios nacionales por un valor de 11 mil millones de dólares canadienses, que abarca 12 años hasta la temporada 2037-38. El acuerdo, que comenzará en 2026-27, extiende su asociación estratégica por más de dos décadas.
El nuevo acuerdo proporciona derechos nacionales en todas las plataformas, incluyendo TV, digital y streaming para todos los juegos de la temporada regular nacional, juegos de playoffs, la Final de la Stanley Cup y eventos especiales en todos los idiomas. Es notable que los aficionados se beneficiarán de un mayor acceso a los juegos nacionales en vivo y de una reducción de los apagones regionales.
El acuerdo incluye derechos fuera del mercado para todos los juegos regionales y patrocinio exclusivo para eventos de la NHL en Canadá. Rogers mantiene la opción de sublicencias estratégicas, incluidos derechos nacionales en francés y un paquete nacional exclusivo por una sola noche.
로저스 커뮤니케이션즈와 NHL이 110억 캐나다 달러 규모의 국가 미디어 권리 계약을 발표했습니다. 이 계약은 2037-38 시즌까지 12년에 걸쳐 진행됩니다. 2026-27 시즌부터 시작되는 이 거래는 20년 이상의 전략적 파트너십을 연장합니다.
새로운 계약은 모든 플랫폼에서 국가 권리를 제공하며, 여기에는 TV, 디지털 및 스트리밍이 포함됩니다. 모든 국가 정규 시즌 게임, 플레이오프 게임, 스탠리컵 결승전 및 모든 언어의 특별 이벤트가 포함됩니다. 특히 팬들은 라이브 국가 게임에 대한 접근성이 증가하고 지역 블랙아웃이 줄어드는 혜택을 누릴 수 있습니다.
이 계약에는 모든 지역 게임에 대한 시장 외 권리와 캐나다 내 NHL 이벤트에 대한 독점 카테고리 후원이 포함됩니다. 로저스는 전략적 서브 라이센스 옵션을 유지하며, 여기에는 국가 프랑스어 권리와 단일 밤 독점 국가 패키지가 포함됩니다.
Rogers Communications et la NHL ont annoncé un accord monumental de droits médias nationaux d'une valeur de 11 milliards de dollars canadiens, s'étendant sur 12 ans jusqu'à la saison 2037-38. L'accord, qui débutera en 2026-27, prolonge leur partenariat stratégique de plus de deux décennies.
Le nouvel accord fournit des droits nationaux sur toutes les plateformes, y compris la télévision, le numérique et le streaming pour tous les matchs de la saison régulière nationale, les matchs de playoffs, la Finale de la Stanley Cup et des événements spéciaux dans toutes les langues. Il est à noter que les fans bénéficieront d'un accès accru aux matchs nationaux en direct et d'une réduction des coupures régionales.
L'accord comprend des droits pour tous les matchs régionaux hors marché et un parrainage de catégorie exclusif pour les événements de la NHL au Canada. Rogers conserve l'option de sous-licences stratégiques, y compris des droits nationaux en langue française et un package national exclusif pour une seule nuit.
Rogers Communications und die NHL haben eine monumentale Vereinbarung über nationale Medienrechte im Wert von 11 Milliarden kanadischen Dollar bekannt gegeben, die sich über 12 Jahre bis zur Saison 2037-38 erstreckt. Der Vertrag, der in der Saison 2026-27 beginnt, verlängert ihre strategische Partnerschaft um mehr als zwei Jahrzehnte.
Die neue Vereinbarung bietet nationale Rechte auf allen Plattformen, einschließlich Fernsehen, Digital und Streaming für alle nationalen regulären Saisonspiele, Playoff-Spiele, das Stanley Cup Finale und spezielle Veranstaltungen in allen Sprachen. Besonders bemerkenswert ist, dass die Fans von einem erhöhten Zugang zu Live-Nationalspielen und reduzierten regionalen Blackouts profitieren werden.
Der Vertrag umfasst auch Rechte für alle regionalen Spiele außerhalb des Marktes sowie exklusive Kategoriesponsoren für NHL-Veranstaltungen in Kanada. Rogers behält die Option für strategische Unterlizenzierungen, einschließlich nationaler Rechte in französischer Sprache und einem exklusiven nationalen Paket für eine einzige Nacht.
- Secures valuable NHL media rights through 2037-38, maintaining market leadership
- Expected to be accretive to shareholders from the start
- Expanded content offering with more national games and fewer blackouts
- Maintains Sportsnet's position as Canada's #1 sports media brand
- Includes comprehensive rights across all platforms and languages
- Substantial financial commitment of $11 billion CDN over 12 years
- Escalating annual payments structure could impact future cash flows
- Significant long-term financial obligation carries inherent market risks
Insights
Rogers' renewal of NHL rights represents a cornerstone strategic asset that solidifies their dominance in Canadian sports media through the 2030s. The
The agreement's comprehensive structure grants Rogers control over national games, playoffs, and special events while allowing strategic sub-licensing for French-language broadcasts and a single-night package. This flexibility optimizes monetization opportunities while maintaining strategic control over the content ecosystem. The enhanced coverage with more national games and fewer regional blackouts directly addresses consumer pain points, potentially improving audience retention and engagement.
From a competitive standpoint, this renewal represents both a defensive and offensive move—preventing rivals from acquiring these crown jewel rights while strengthening Rogers' Sportsnet as "Canada's #1 sports media brand." This positions Rogers to withstand ongoing disruption in the broader entertainment landscape by owning content that Canadians value enough to maintain subscriptions across traditional and emerging platforms.
This
The explicit statement that the deal will be "accretive to Rogers shareholders" and "drive profitability for Rogers Sports & Media from the outset" signals management's confidence in the ROI calculation. NHL content typically delivers predictable advertising revenue streams while supporting subscriber retention across multiple platforms—critical factors for long-term business stability in an era of media fragmentation.
The sub-licensing provisions for French-language rights and a single-night package represent immediate opportunities to offset costs while maintaining strategic control. This creates financial flexibility within the framework of the agreement. For investors, this deal provides exceptional visibility into a significant portion of Rogers' media business through 2038, reducing uncertainty and allowing for more effective long-term planning. The renewal reinforces Rogers' integrated telecommunications and media strategy, potentially creating cross-platform synergies that enhance overall corporate performance beyond the direct media revenue.
Renews highly coveted and valuable hockey rights long term
Will deliver more national games and fewer blackouts to hockey fans
Rogers is proud to remain the home of NHL hockey
TORONTO, April 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rogers Communications and the National Hockey League (NHL) today announced a 12-year agreement for the national media rights to NHL games on all platforms in Canada through the 2037-38 season. The
“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,” said Tony Staffieri, President and CEO, Rogers. “Hockey is Canada’s game and we’re proud to be the home of hockey. Sports are core to our company, and these rights are the most valuable sports rights in Canada.”
“For more than a decade, Rogers has done an incredible job of conveying what NHL hockey, our players and our teams mean to hockey fans and their communities from coast to coast to coast,” said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. “We’re thrilled to continue our landmark partnership for an additional 12 years. The NHL and Rogers have a shared commitment to best serving Canadian fans and the unmatched passion that they have for our game, and we are particularly excited that through this agreement, we’ll bring more live games to more fans across Canada.”
Under the new agreement, fans will have access to more live national games than ever before and fewer regional blackouts. Other highlights include:
- National rights across all platforms, including TV, digital, and streaming, for all national regular season games, in all languages.
- National rights to all playoff games, the Stanley Cup Final and all special events, and tentpole events, in all languages.
- Out-of-market rights for all regional games.
- The exclusive category sponsor for the NHL and all NHL tentpole events held in Canada.
The agreement allows for the possibility of strategic sub-licensing for a subset of these rights, including national French-language and a single-night exclusive national package.
“Hockey is part of the fabric of Canadian culture and our long-term relationship with the NHL helped make Sportsnet Canada’s #1 sports media brand,” said Colette Watson, President, Rogers Sports & Media. “Canadians overwhelmingly choose Sportsnet, and we are investing in this partnership, so fans have access to more games, more content and more choice from their favourite teams across the league.”
This agreement is expected to be accretive to Rogers shareholders and continue to drive profitability for Rogers Sports & Media from the outset. The financial terms are comprised of escalating annual payments that will total
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may include “forward‐looking information” and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, “forward-looking information”). Rogers cautions that forward‐looking information is inherently subject to change and uncertainty and that actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. A comprehensive discussion of risks associated with forward-looking information can be found in Rogers’ public reports and filings, including the risks outlined in the section entitled “Risks and Uncertainties Affecting our Business” in its management’s discussion and analysis of its audited consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ended December 31, 2024, which are available under its profile at www.sedarplus.ca, and are also available at www.sec.gov. Rogers is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any such obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
About Rogers Communications Inc.
Rogers is Canada’s leading communications and entertainment company and its shares are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI). For more information, please visit rogers.com or investors.rogers.com.
About the NHL
Visit nhl.com/info/about-the-nhl
For more information:
Rogers
media@rci.rogers.com, 1-844-226-1338
NHL
Jon Weinstein, joweinstein@nhl.com, 929-614-2045
Jennifer Neziol, jneziol@nhl.com, 212-789-2042
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