Sportsnet today announced it has reached a three-year broadcast rights agreement with the Montreal Canadiens, becoming the official English-language regional television rights holder.
The new agreement begins this season and includes 42 regional games. When combined with the national package of 40 Canadiens games, the NHL on Sportsnet will deliver to fans all 82 regular season games across nine channels including CBC, City, Sportsnet (East, Ontario, West, and Pacific), Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet 360 and FX Canada. The deal runs through the 2024/17 season, making Sportsnet the exclusive Canadian English-language broadcaster of the Montreal Canadiens.
“The Canadiens are one of the most storied franchises in all of sports,” said Scott Moore, President, Sportsnet and NHL, Rogers. “Today’s agreement, combined with our national package, allows us to serve Eastern Canada and connect Habs fans to their beloved team by creating a one-stop-shop to watch all of the games.”
“The Montreal Canadiens are pleased to have concluded an English-language regional broadcasting agreement with Sportsnet that will enable a greater number of Habs hockey fans in the province of Quebec and in Eastern Canada to see the Canadiens in action,” said Kevin Gilmore, Canadiens’ Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “Over the years, Sportsnet has acquired a strong reputation with the quality of their hockey broadcasts and this agreement will continue to enhance the hockey experience on television for our fans.”
The Habs’ regular season broadcast schedule kicks off Wednesday, Oct. 8 on Sportsnet as the Canadiens pay a visit to Toronto to renew the oldest rivalry in the NHL on opening night of the NHL regular season.
Sportsnet’s regional television broadcast schedule begins on Monday, Oct. 13 on City Montreal as the Habs visit the Lightning in Tampa Bay. Sportsnet East will be home to 39 regional Habs games, with three additional regional games airing on City Montreal.
Highlights from Sportsnet’s regional Habs schedule include:
Seven Original Six matchups featuring Boston, Detroit, New York and Chicago
Eight all-Canadian showdowns on Sportsnet East and City Montreal
Two matchups against defending Stanley Cup Champions Los Angeles Kings
The NHL on Sportsnet will air 40 national Montreal Canadiens matchups this season, marking more national games available than ever before. Highlights from the Habs national broadcast package include:
22 Saturday night matchups on Hockey Night in Canada beginning Saturday, Oct. 11, as the Habs host the Flyers in Montreal (channel allocations to be announced on a weekly basis)
6 Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey games, beginning Wednesday, Oct. 8 as the Habs face off vs. the Leafs in Toronto on Sportsnet
5 Rogers Hometown Hockey Sunday matchups, the newest national night on the NHL schedule
In addition to Sportsnet’s Montreal Canadiens regional broadcasts, the NHL on Sportsnet will deliver more than 500 national and regional regular season NHL games across nine networks, including CBC, City, Sportsnet (East, Ontario, West, and Pacific), Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet 360 and FX Canada. The NHL on Sportsnet has exclusive Canadian broadcast coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Stanley Cup Final, NHL All-Star Game, NHL Draft Lottery, NHL Draft, and the NHL Awards. Sportsnet is also the official regional television broadcast rights holder for the Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs (including radio rights on Sportsnet 590 The FAN) and Calgary Flames (including radio rights on Sportsnet 960 The FAN).
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