Rogers Communications has received a landmark $5.2 billion dollar ($4.94 US Billion) for 12-year hockey rights deal.
According to Deadline, this deal will give the cable company exclusive rights to Canada’s two national sports; hockey and lacrosse. With this deal there will be a freeze on The Sports Network (TSN), Canada’s top-rated English language sports channel, which previously held the NHL’s television rights.
Rogers Communications stated this is “the first time a premium North American-wide sports league has granted all of its national (Canadian) rights to one company on a long-term basis.”
If approved, the agreement will give Rogers national rights to TV Broadcast and TV everywhere streaming (including out of home) for regular season, playoff games and special events, including the Stanley Cup Final. Along with all this they will get sponsorship rights to the NHL Shield logo and Canadian ad sales on NHL.com.
Keith Pelley, Rogers Media President, says, “Our vision is to build on the NHL’s legacy in Canada with an emphasis on storytelling, innovation, and technology — weaving the NHL, its teams and its stars even deeper into the fabric of Canadian culture.”