Rogers Extends NHL French-Language Rights to Quebecor in 12-Year Sublicensing Deal
Event summary
- Rogers and Quebecor signed a 12-year sublicensing agreement for French-language NHL games, starting with the 2026-27 season.
- TVA Sports will broadcast up to 350 regular-season NHL games, including 32 Montréal Canadiens games and exclusive rights to all Canadiens Stanley Cup Playoffs games in French.
- The deal expands Quebecor’s coverage by 10 more regular-season Canadiens games compared to the previous agreement.
- Rogers and the NHL previously agreed to a 12-year national media rights deal for NHL games in Canada, effective from 2026-27 through 2037-38.
The big picture
This deal solidifies Rogers’ dominance in Canadian sports broadcasting while deepening Quebecor’s foothold in French-language content. The expansion of Canadiens game coverage underscores the strategic importance of regional sports rights in a fragmented media landscape. With the NHL’s long-term media rights already secured by Rogers, this sublicensing agreement further cements the league’s broadcasting ecosystem in Canada.
What we're watching
- Content Differentiation
- How Quebecor’s expanded NHL coverage will position TVA Sports against competitors in the French-language sports market.
- Revenue Growth
- Whether the increased Canadiens game coverage will drive subscriber growth for Quebecor’s illico+ platform.
- Strategic Alignment
- The pace at which Rogers and Quebecor can leverage this deal to strengthen their broader sports and entertainment offerings.
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