Rogers Communications and Prime Video have entered into a 12-year sublicensing agreement that will make Prime Video the exclusive Canadian home of Wednesday night national NHL games beginning with the 2026-2027 season. Under the agreement, Prime Video will carry the games in both English and French atensing Agreement In Canada
Rogers Communications and Prime Video have entered into a 12-year sublicensing agreement that will make Prime Video the exclusive Canadian home of Wednesday night no additional cost to Prime members in Canada. The package will include at least 26 regular-season games each year, beginning Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
Prime Video will also receive exclusive Canadian rights to selected Stanley Cup Playoff matchups. Its annual playoff package will include two First Round series and one Second Round series.
Financial terms of the sublicensing agreement were not disclosed.
The deal significantly expands Prime Video’s NHL offering in Canada while allowing Rogers to distribute part of its national rights package through a large streaming platform.
A sublicensing agreement allows the primary rights holder to grant another media company permission to carry selected games. Rogers remains the principal national rights holder but will make the Wednesday night package and certain playoff series available exclusively through Prime Video.
Rogers and the NHL previously announced a separate 12-year national media rights agreement covering the 2026-2027 through 2037-2038 seasons. That broader agreement gives Rogers rights to NHL games across platforms in Canada.
Sportsnet will retain exclusive English-language rights to more than 500 national NHL games per season. Its schedule will include Monday and Saturday night games and most of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, excluding the series assigned to Prime Video.
Rogers said Sportsnet will also deliver more national games with fewer regional blackouts.
Blackouts occur when a game is unavailable in a particular area because of regional media rights restrictions. Expanding national coverage can make more games available to viewers regardless of where they live within Canada.
The Prime Video package creates a consistent national streaming destination for Wednesday night hockey while giving Amazon premium live programming that can encourage viewership and Prime membership engagement.
Prime Video has carried NHL programming in Canada during the past two years. The new agreement extends that relationship through a long-term package with regular-season and playoff exclusivity.
Prime Video plans to continue producing NHL broadcasts with play-by-play coverage and analysis. Additional information about the on-air team and production plans will be announced later.
The agreement is part of a broader shift in sports media as leagues and rights holders divide game packages among traditional television networks and streaming services.
Live sports can help streaming platforms attract and retain subscribers because games are time-sensitive and frequently watched in real time.
For leagues, digital distribution can provide access to viewers who increasingly consume entertainment through connected televisions, mobile devices and streaming applications rather than conventional cable packages.
Prime Video has expanded its sports portfolio across several markets. Its Canadian lineup includes NHL on Prime and the Professional Women’s Hockey League, along with access to other services through paid add-on subscriptions.
The platform also carries sports properties including the NBA, WNBA, Thursday Night Football, NASCAR, UEFA Champions League, Premier League and international tennis, soccer, cricket and baseball programming, depending on the country.
For Canadian Prime members, the NHL package will be included as part of the existing membership rather than requiring a separate sports subscription.
The combination of regular-season games and selected playoff series gives Prime Video programming across a substantial portion of the NHL calendar.
The inclusion of French-language broadcasts also expands the package’s relevance in Quebec and among French-speaking viewers across the country.
Rogers President and CEO Tony Staffieri said the partnership reinforces the value of NHL content in Canada while supporting the company’s effort to make more national games available.
Prime Video Global Sports Head Jay Marine said the agreement increases the amount of premium live sports included with Prime membership.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Prime Video has become a valuable part of the league’s Canadian media distribution and that the extended relationship reflects a shared commitment to English- and French-language fans.
The companies did not identify which teams or individual matchups will appear in the first Wednesday night schedule. Additional scheduling, talent and production details are expected before the season begins.
KEY QUOTES:
“Our partnership with Prime Video builds on the strong foundation we have established together and reinforces NHL hockey as the most valuable sports content in Canada.”
“As Canada’s home of hockey, Rogers is committed to connecting more fans to more NHL hockey and delivering more national games with fewer blackouts on Sportsnet, Canada’s number one sports media brand.”
Tony Staffieri, President and CEO of Rogers Communications
“We’re thrilled to expand our partnership with the NHL and Rogers in this landmark agreement, which brings even more premium live sports to Prime members in Canada.”
“When combined with our hit original series, blockbuster movies, and fast, free shipping on millions of items, the Prime membership is more valuable than ever for Canadian customers.”
Jay Marine, Head of Global Sports at Prime Video
“Over the past two years, Prime Video has been a valuable addition to the NHL’s media lineup in Canada, joining Rogers in bringing marquee NHL games to Canadian fans.”
“We’re excited that Prime Video and Rogers are deepening their relationship through this long-term agreement, reflecting our shared commitment to serving English and French-language hockey fans across Canada with premium NHL content for years to come.”
Gary Bettman, Commissioner of the National Hockey League
