When Rogers Sportsnet and the NHL announced a $5.2-billion, 12-year contract in 2013 that would change how the game is broadcast in Canada, it was a big deal. No more nationally broadcast games on TSN or RDS. CBC was no longer in the driver’s seat for Saturday night games and playoffs. And it became complicated enough to figure out where games were going to be broadcast that The Gazette published a guide to help.
Now, as we enter a new 12-year broadcast rights contract, everything is more. The price Rogers is paying the NHL has more than doubled to $11 billion. There are more non-exhibition games, with the regular season expanding to 84 games from 82. And there are more services you have to subscribe to if you want to watch them all.
And it’s going to cost you more, because Rogers (and TVA and Amazon, which sublicensed rights from Sportsnet) need to make that money back.