CBC to drop Hockey Night in Canada for 2026-27 season

A long-standing Canadian television tradition has come to an end as Hockey Night in Canada will not air on the CBC next season. The public broadcaster and Rogers Sportsnet announced on Tuesday that their sublicensing agreement has expired and will not be renewed for the 2026-27 NHL season, marking the first time in nearly 75 years the iconic Saturday night program will not be available on CBC.

The decision concludes a partnership that began in 2014, when Rogers first secured national NHL broadcast rights. Under the arrangement, Rogers produced the games and managed advertising, while CBC broadcast them, helping to maintain the program's widespread reach. The most recent seven-year sublicensing deal, finalized ahead of the 2019-20 season, has now concluded following the end of the recent Stanley Cup playoffs.

In a joint statement, the organizations described it as a successful 12-year partnership and said the CBC is moving forward with a new sports programming strategy. The broadcaster stated it plans to launch a new Saturday night primetime show focused on Canadian athletes, highlighting events like the upcoming Commonwealth Games, women's professional leagues, and numerous...