No_Hockey

 The Francophone press is not talking about it this morning, but the Globe

and Mail is: the CBC's contract to provide hockey has expired and is not 

being renewed. And that means the end of free hockey in Canadian media...

Seems unthinkable, doesn't it...

Hockey Night in Canada, gone...

https://archive.ph/LZE1m

Copilot:

But I just read the CBC will no longer be offering free hockey, its agreement with Sportnet has ended...

You’re absolutely right, Louise — and the news is real and confirmed.

CBC will no longer broadcast NHL games, including the traditional Saturday Night Hockey Night in Canada, starting with the 2026–27 season. This is because CBC and Sportsnet failed to renew their sublicensing agreement.

Here’s the clear, sourced explanation of what changed and what it means for you.

🧊 What happened? (Confirmed by multiple sources)

CBC announced that it could not reach a new sublicensing deal with Sportsnet, the national rights‑holder, so Hockey Night in Canada will no longer air on CBC at all.

CBC said the agreement “expired at the end of the Stanley Cup playoffs” and was not renewed. 

Sportsnet confirmed that CBC will no longer carry NHL broadcasts as it shifts to new sports programming. 

This ends a 74‑year run of Saturday night NHL games on CBC. 

CBC will still own the “Hockey Night in Canada” trademark, but no longer airs the games. 

🏒 So… is hockey still free anywhere?

Unfortunately: No.  

With CBC out, there is no longer a free national broadcaster carrying Saturday night NHL games.

📺 Where Saturday Night Hockey moves now

All Saturday night NHL games will now be exclusively on Sportsnet, because they hold the national rights.

Sportsnet will air all Saturday games under its new 12‑year NHL deal. 

This means you must have Sportsnet (TV or Sportsnet+) to watch the Saturday night game.

💰 What’s the cheapest way now?

Since CBC is no longer an option, the lowest‑cost way to watch Saturday Night Hockey is:

Sportsnet+ STANDARD — $29.99/month

This tier includes the national Saturday night game.

You do not need the Premium tier unless you want out‑of‑market games.

🎯 Your new “no‑frills” Saturday Night setup

Sportsnet+ STANDARD ($29.99/month)  

→ This is now the minimum required to watch the Saturday night game in Québec.

If you want, I can break down:

whether blackouts affect you in Québec,

whether your TV provider already includes Sportsnet,

or whether Sportsnet+ is cheaper than your current setup.

I am assuming this is true for French language Hockey Night as well..

Yes, Louise — the same situation applies on the French‑language side.

There is no separate French‑language “Hockey Night” equivalent on CBC/Radio‑Canada, and the end of CBC’s sublicensing deal with Sportsnet affects all national Saturday broadcasts, regardless of language.

Here’s the clear picture, based on the confirmed reporting:

🇫🇷 French‑language NHL broadcasts: What changes?

1. CBC losing NHL rights affects only the English network

CBC (English) lost the ability to air any NHL games because its sublicensing deal with Sportsnet expired and was not renewed. This is confirmed across multiple sources. 

2. French‑language NHL rights are separate — and held by TVA Sports

In Canada, the exclusive French‑language national broadcaster for the NHL is TVA Sports, not Radio‑Canada.

This arrangement is part of the same Rogers/Sportsnet national rights deal, which includes a French‑language sublicensing agreement with TVA Sports (not CBC/Radio‑Canada).

3. TVA Sports continues to hold French national rights

Nothing in the recent announcements indicates that TVA Sports is losing its French‑language NHL package.

All reporting about the end of sublicensing refers only to CBC, not to TVA Sports.

CBC’s exit is tied to its own English‑language sublicensing deal ending. 

4. There was never a free French‑language Saturday night broadcast

Unlike English CBC, Radio‑Canada has not aired NHL games for years.

So there is no French‑language equivalent of “free Saturday night hockey” disappearing — because it didn’t exist in the first place.

🧊 So what does this mean for you in Québec?

To watch Saturday night NHL games in French:

👉 TVA Sports remains the French‑language broadcaster.

You need:

A TV package that includes TVA Sports, or

A streaming service that carries TVA Sports (depending on your provider).

To watch Saturday night NHL games in English:

👉 You now need Sportsnet (TV) or Sportsnet+ STANDARD (streaming), because CBC no longer carries the games. 

🎯 Bottom line

English CBC: No more NHL — including Saturday night.

French Radio‑Canada: Did not have NHL rights anyway.

French TVA Sports: Still the home of French‑language NHL broadcasts.

*Saturday night hockey now requires Sportsnet (English) or TVA Sports (French).

If you want, I can tell you exactly which channels you’d need in St‑Jean‑sur‑Richelieu depending on whether you prefer French or English commentary — and whether your current provider already includes them.