Public broadcaster CBC will stop airing Hockey Night in Canada after the 2025‑26 season, ending a 75‑year Saturday night tradition. The sublicensing pact with Rogers Communications lapsed when the Stanley Cup playoffs concluded, and both parties chose not to extend it for the 2026‑27 campaign, the inaugural year of Rogers’ 12‑year, $11 billion NHL rights agreement. The decision aligns with CBC’s Olympic‑focused plan after Milan‑Cortina’s success.

Sportsnet will retain production and advertising control, delivering the Saturday night slot exclusively on its own channels while CBC keeps the Hockey Night in Canada trademark for potential future use. Executive director Chris Wilson called the split “an end of an era” but framed it as “an opportunity,” acknowledging that some viewers will lose free‑to‑air access. Viewers in remote areas will now need cable.

The departure removes the public broadcaster from the NHL’s national showcase, concentrating viewership on subscription‑based Sportsnet and TSN. With the Carolina Hurricanes clinching the Stanley Cup, the league now eyes a September regular‑season launch that will rely on Rogers’ platform to reach households across Canada, leaving CBC to refocus on amateur and non‑hockey programming. Fans used to free access may seek streaming alternatives.