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Hockey’s streaming spree means there’s one fewer thing holding Canada together
NHL games are becoming harder and more expensive to watch in Canada as broadcasts move behind several paid streaming services. The shift matters because hockey has long been a shared national experience, carried across the country by radio and public television; losing that common access may weaken one of the traditions Canadians see as part of their identity.
Some Oilers games require a $12.99 monthly Sportsnet+ subscription, while selected matches are available only through Amazon Prime. The CBC has also ended its Saturday night Hockey Night in Canada broadcasts, which it had aired since 1952, after failing to reach a new deal with Rogers, the NHL’s Canadian rights holder. In an Angus Reid survey, 79% said following their team had become too expensive, 78% objected to needing extra subscriptions, and 74% called the CBC’s withdrawal a major loss; 90% said hockey was important or defining to Canadian identity.
In short
- NHL access in Canada is increasingly split across paid streaming services.
- The CBC has ended its Saturday night hockey broadcasts.
- Many Canadians see the cost and loss of shared viewing as a national concern.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Moving games behind multiple paid services makes a longstanding shared pastime less accessible, especially for people who cannot afford several subscriptions. CBC’s Saturday broadcasts offered a common, widely available point of connection, and their loss may diminish a tradition many Canadians regard as part of their national identity.
The case against
Professional hockey rights are costly, and paid streaming deals can help broadcasters and rights holders fund coverage while offering viewers more ways to watch. A changing mix of services does not necessarily end hockey’s cultural role: fans can still follow teams through available broadcasts, radio and other coverage, even if access is less universal.
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