The Future of Hockey: Will TVA Sports Retain Its NHL Rights?
For hockey fans across Quebec, the question on everyone’s mind is simple: Where will we watch the NHL next season? As the deadline for broadcasting agreements looms, the future of French-language coverage remains a topic of intense negotiation and speculation.
Pierre Karl Péladeau, President and interim CEO of Groupe TVA, recently addressed the media, confirming that negotiations are currently underway to ensure that TVA Sports retains the rights to broadcast NHL games in French. Since 2013, TVA Sports has been the primary destination for Francophone hockey enthusiasts, and the network is fighting to keep it that way.
The Billion-Dollar Game: Rogers and the NHL
To understand the complexity of these negotiations, one must look at the massive scale of the NHL’s national media deals. The NHL has entered a staggering $11 billion CAD agreement with Rogers, which will run from the upcoming season through 2037-2038.
In previous years, the landscape was slightly different. Under a prior $5.2 billion deal spanning 12 years, a sub-license worth approximately $800 million was granted to TVA Sports, allowing them to bring the game to French-speaking audiences. The current challenge for Quebecor is to secure a similar arrangement within the new, more expensive Rogers framework.
Competitive Pressure and Regional Rights
While TVA Sports fights for national rights, the competition is heating up. RDS (Réseau des Sports) has already made strategic moves, announcing a new agreement with the Montreal Canadiens. Starting in the 2026-2027 season, RDS will broadcast 45 regional games per season, ensuring they have a firm grip on the local market.
This creates a fragmented landscape for the viewer, where national rights and regional broadcasts may be split between different providers, making the outcome of the TVA Sports negotiations even more critical for fans who want a seamless viewing experience.
A Struggling Television Industry
Beyond the thrill of the game, Péladeau highlighted a more sobering reality: the decline of private television. During the Groupe TVA annual general meeting, he painted a grim picture of the industry, citing a significant drop in advertising revenues.
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- Digital Shift: More viewers are moving toward streaming services.
- Ad Revenue Drop: Traditional TV commercials are losing their grip on the market.
- High Costs: The cost of acquiring premium sports rights continues to skyrocket.
This financial pressure makes the negotiation for NHL rights not just a matter of sports passion, but a critical business survival strategy for the network.
What This Means for the Fans
For now, Péladeau remains optimistic, stating that negotiations are “very advanced” and that it is indeed possible that Saturday night hockey will remain on TVA Sports next year. While nothing is signed in stone, the desire to keep the most popular sport in Canada on the air remains a top priority for Quebecor.
Stay tuned as we continue to monitor the developments of the Rogers and TVA Sports agreements. One thing is certain: the battle for the ice is just as intense off the rink as it is on it.
