One of the most iconic traditions in Canadian broadcasting is coming to an end. For the first time in nearly three-quarters of a century, Canadians will not be able to watch Hockey Night in Canada on the CBC when the 2026-27 NHL season begins this fall.
The change follows the expiration of a long-standing sublicensing agreement between CBC and Sportsnet, owned by Rogers Communications. The agreement, which allowed NHL games produced by Sportsnet to be broadcast on CBC, ended following the conclusion of the Stanley Cup playoffs and was not renewed for the upcoming season.
The decision marks the end of an era for generations of Canadians who grew up gathering around their televisions every Saturday night to watch the country’s favourite sport. Since its television debut in 1952, Hockey Night in Canada has become far more than a sports broadcast. It evolved into a cultural institution that connected communities from coast to coast and became a shared national experience.
Over the decades, legendary broadcasters such as Foster Hewitt, Bob Cole, Ron MacLean, Don Cherry and others helped make the program an essential part of Canadian life. Their voices became synonymous with Saturday nights and some of the most memorable moments in hockey history.
Although CBC will retain ownership of the Hockey Night in Canada brand, NHL games will no longer be carried on the public broadcaster. Instead, Sportsnet will continue as the exclusive national English-language broadcaster under Rogers’ new 12-year, $11-billion NHL media rights agreement.
The departure of hockey from CBC reflects a significant shift in the Canadian broadcasting landscape. In recent years, sports rights have increasingly moved to private broadcasters and streaming platforms as media companies compete for valuable live sports audiences.
CBC says it plans to replace its traditional Saturday-night hockey broadcasts with a new prime-time sports program focused on Canadian athletes and amateur sports. The network intends to feature events such as the 2026 Commonwealth Games, women’s professional sports leagues, and major international championships.
For many Canadians, however, the announcement represents the loss of a cherished tradition that transcended the game itself. Hockey Night in Canada was one of the few television programs capable of bringing millions of viewers together each week, regardless of age, background, or region.
Media historian Michael McKinley described the departure as difficult to imagine, noting that hockey has long been an essential Canadian story and that CBC played a central role in telling that story for generations.
While fans will still be able to watch NHL games through Sportsnet and other platforms, the familiar experience of turning on CBC on a Saturday night to watch hockey will become part of Canadian broadcasting history.
For many Canadians, the end of Hockey Night in Canada on CBC is more than a programming change—it is the closing chapter of a tradition that helped define the country’s cultural identity for almost 75 years.