Hockey Night in Canada is no longer on CBC. On June 16, 2026, Rogers Sportsnet ended the deal that let CBC broadcast NHL games for free. For the first time in decades, Canadians can no longer watch games on public television.

Here's what happened: Twelve years ago, Rogers paid $11 billion for the right to broadcast all NHL games in Canada through 2038. But Rogers didn't own that right outright—it could do what it wanted with the games. So Rogers let CBC broadcast some games for free, while Rogers kept others on its own cable and streaming channels. This arrangement was called a sublicense.

On June 16, that sublicense ended. Rogers decided it no longer needed CBC's help getting hockey onto Canadian screens. Now all NHL games are on Rogers' services—either on cable, through their streaming app, or on Amazon Prime Video for Monday night games. None of these are free.

Why Rogers Made This Move

Rogers isn't just a broadcaster—it's also building up more ownership in the actual hockey teams themselves. In 2026, Rogers announced it would buy more of the Toronto Maple Leafs and other teams through a company called MLSE. When one company owns both the broadcast rights and the teams playing the games, it gains enormous leverage. It can charge cable and streaming companies more for access, and it controls who gets to broadcast.

Twelve years ago, Rogers kept the CBC deal as a gesture—a nod to the fact that hockey mattered to the public. But once Rogers had all the infrastructure it needed (cable channels, a streaming app, and team ownership), it didn't need CBC anymore. From a business standpoint, it made sense to pull out.

What Changed for Viewers

Before June 16, you could watch Hockey Night in Canada on your TV antenna for free. Now you need either a cable or streaming subscription. For people without those subscriptions—especially in rural areas or younger people who cut the cord—it means paying to watch games that used to be free.

The talent and brand moved years ago. Ron MacLean, who hosted Hockey Night on CBC for 28 years, switched to Rogers Sportsnet back in 2016. The production and talent followed. What CBC had was reach—the ability to broadcast to millions of Canadians for free. That's what's gone.

What Happens Next

Canadian regulators are likely to pay attention. The CRTC, which oversees broadcasting, has always treated hockey as more than just business—it's seen as part of Canadian culture. Rogers putting all games behind paywalls might prompt questions from lawmakers about whether that's acceptable. But Rogers' rights deal lasts until 2038, so even if there are complaints, real change would be hard to force.

For now, the oldest sports broadcast partnership in Canadian television has ended. Hockey games are still being played and broadcast. Canadians just have to pay to watch them.