Commissioner Gary Bettman said the money took some work, but the negotiation process was simple for his new transmission rights agreement in Canada.
Rogers Communications Inc. and the National Hockey League announced a new 12 -year agreement on Wednesday valued at $ 11 billion for national media rights to NHL games on all Canada platforms.
“Based on how Rogers discussions and resolution were going to retain and our determination to try to continue making the association work, we actually expand the exclusive negotiation period to get to a point that we both feel comfortable,” Bettman said.
“It was not what I would describe as controversial in the least. I think we were more or less on the same page. We had to work a little in money, but that also joined. But in the final analysis, we wanted to be together. And that’s how it joined, as fast as he did.”
The agreement is worth more than twice the agreement of current rights between Rogers and the NHL, which cost $ 5.2 billion in 12 years and will expire next season. The new agreement extends during the 2037-38 season and has a mechanical staircase structure, and less is paid at the beginning of the agreement.
When the current agreement was signed in 2013, $ 5.2 billion worth $ 4.91 billion of the US.
Income doubled since 2013
Rogers executive director Tony Staffieri said the finances have worked and will continue to operate with the new agreement. Sportsnet says that their income has more than duplicated since 2013.
“The value of live sports content continues to appreciate, and is really rooted in the audience that continues to grow,” he said. “If we look at our NHL agreement in the last decade, the audience grew by 50 percent.
The NBA US Rights Agreement increased by 160 percent from 2016 to 2025 and the NHL Rights Agreement in the United States increased by 213 percent from 2011 to 2021. The Rogers agreement is an increase of 111 percent of 2014 to 2026.
The agreement includes national rights on all platforms, including television, digital and transmission, for all national regular seasonal games, in all languages, as well as rights outside the market for all regional games.
It is still not clear if the CBCThat has televised NHL Saturday night games since 1952 will be involved in the New Deal.
However, Rogers Sports & Media president, Colette Watson, left the door open for any future participation with the CBCand “will seek if there is a continuous association.”
Chuck Thompson, head of the CBC Public matters echoed the position of Watson.
“Any opportunity that may be submitted to this new agreement will be considered in the next 18 months,” he told CBC News. “Meanwhile, we are excited to be able to carry this year’s playoffs and then next season in our current agreement with Sports Network“
The announcement came with a promise of less blackouts, and Watson said that part of the negotiation implied opportunities to convert the regional games in which they are analyzed nationwide.
“We have assured the right of up to 10 more games in certain teams,” he said. “But it will be a decision based on each season, based on clashes.
“So I really can’t give you quantified numbers, but there is the opportunity to convert all our regional games for Canucks, Flames, Oilers and half of our sheet games, our half and some additional games of the Winnipeg Jets and the Senators of Ottawa.”
“And you have unlimited rights to bring us clashes to the content of your heart, or until the hearts of fans are happy,” Bettman added.
It also includes national rights to all playoff games, the Stanley Cup final and all special events, in all languages. The agreement allows the strategic subitension for a subset of rights, including the national French language and an exclusive national package of a single night.
Rogers currently subgresses its French content, in addition to climbing their transmission rights to Amazon for the games Monday night.
Staffieri said Rogers “will seek opportunities to continue to undertake where it makes sense.”
