The Amazon Prime Video streaming service will exclusively host NHL games on Mondays for the next two seasons in Canada.
The news was announced Thursday by Amazon Prime Video, the NHL and Canadian telecom giant Rogers, whose 12-year, $5.2 billion deal to broadcast games nationally on their platforms expires in 2026 This is the first time the NHL has entered into a broadcast deal with a Canadian-based streaming service.
Starting with the 2024-25 season, Amazon Prime Video will offer “at least” 26 games during its Monday broadcasts, according to Magda Grace, head of Prime Video for Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
“We’re always looking to add more value to Prime,” Grace said. “We know that our customers across Canada love hockey. Monday is one of three national hockey championship nights. So it’s really the ideal solution for a service like Prime Video.
Sportsnet became available on Prime Video last October in Canada, allowing subscribers to stream NHL games and other sports through the platform.
“This has been extremely effective in helping more fans access Sportsnet,” said Sportsnet President Greg Sansone. “And based on that experience, working together on this deal just made sense.”
According to a press release, the Monday broadcasts will not be a simulcast of current Monday Night Hockey broadcasts on Sportsnet. “We’re going to bring in new talent, different graphics and our own production teams to create a new experience,” Grace said.
This is similar to Amazon’s direction with the NFL for its Thursday night games.
Some believe Amazon could get more games once the NHL’s national broadcast deal in Canada closes in two years, but Grace declined to comment. Sansone added that Sportsnet is focused on broadcasting the Stanley Cup Playoffs this spring.
“Our goal right now is to continue to make the NHL on Sportsnet and now, Prime Monday Night Hockey, a success,” Sansone said.
Currently, games in Canada can be seen nationally on Sportsnet and other Rogers-owned platforms like CityTV, OMNI and FX. Saturday night and playoff games are also broadcast on CBC. Toronto Maple Leafs regular season games are split between Sportsnet and TSN. Sportsnet also has regional deals with the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers. TSN has regional agreements with the Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators and Winnipeg Jets.
Also Thursday, Amazon Prime Video and the Seattle Kraken reached a multi-year deal agreement for non-national games broadcast exclusively on their platform for viewers in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. Starting next season, Kraken games will be simulcast on local TV stations in those states, all owned by U.S. broadcast company TEGNA. The Kraken’s previous broadcast was ROOT Sports.
(Top photo of Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid: Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images)