A familiar deal told the Associated Press that the NHL and Rogers have agreed to a new 12-year Canadian broadcasting agreement for CAD 7.7 billion.
The person spoke with the Associated Press on Monday on anonymous condition because it has not been announced yet.
The NHL signed an incumbent U.S. television and streaming rights agreement with ESPN and Turner Sports in 2021, which combined for $4.5 billion over seven years.
Sportico first reported the deal and said the owners will vote on it this week.
The news comes from Rogers’ current $5.2 billion, a 12-year rights agreement scheduled to end the 2025-26 NHL season.
Rogers and NHL representatives declined comments when contacted by Canadian media.
Rogers, which owns SportsNet Network, is expected to face fierce competition from Amazon tech giant Amazon.
Amazon is in its first year of a two-year contract for broadcasting NHL games in Canada on Monday night with its main service.
Rogers president and CEO Tony Staffieri said at a luncheon hosted by the Canadian Club in Toronto that Rogers will renew his rights agreement with the NHL.
As wage cap continues to climb, the contract is the latest source of income for the league.
The NHL signed an incumbent U.S. television and streaming rights agreement with ESPN and Turner Sports in 2021, which combined for $4.5 billion over seven years.
Even if U.S. tariffs that will take effect on Wednesday weaken the Canadian dollar, the contract will help the NHL’s revenue forecast for the near future.
Commissioner Gary Bettman expressed concern about the current economic situation at the general manager’s annual spring meeting in mid-March.
“The Canadian economy is affected by the impact, the dollar is lowered, the Canadian dollar is for the dollar, we do everything at the dollar price, so that will have an impact on our Canadian clubs and (the income related to hockey)” Bateman said. “But we hope it is a time of time that we will experience.
