Sportsnet seeks exit of Canada, in talks with Amazon to sell rights

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Marvin Azrak
April 5, 2024 (8:36)

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Rogers, the giant telecom company, struck this mega 12-year deal with the NHL in 2014 before the 2014-2015 season kicked off. They splashed $5.2 billion on it. Yet Canadian teams haven't been shining bright in the playoffs lately, putting severe strain on Rogers' wallet. Now, they're thinking of tossing away the rights to their Monday night broadcasts, playoffs included, for the last couple of years left in the deal.

So, who's stepping in to scoop up those Monday night games? Well, Rogers has been in talks with Amazon about taking over. However, Bell Media, the people behind TSN, they're throwing their hat into the ring, too.

Canadian hockey fans are buzzing about TSN returning to the national broadcasting scene. Since Rogers took over, they've been missing the TSN. They've always been the go-to spot for hockey action, trade talks, and free agency news.

One gripe with Rogers' setup is less variety for viewers. They have many Sportsnet channels, but they're all showing the same stuff most of the time! There are also those exclusive regional broadcasts that leave fans hanging.

TSN might have to deal with the same regional stuff if they snag those Monday night games. However, there's a glimmer of hope: ESPN, who recently partnered with TSN, could bring in more options for Canadian viewers on those game-packed nights.

Right now, it seems like Amazon is leading the race to snatch up those Monday night rights. They've got the groundwork laid out. An agreement could be on the horizon sooner than we think.

Amazon isn't new to the sports scene either. They've been streaming live sports on Prime Video, featuring everything from pickleball to soccer to a slice of NFL action. Looks like they're ready to dive even deeper into the game.

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