Hockey games will be inescapable under NHL broadcast deal with Rogers

The Canadian Press

TORONTO - Clear your schedule sports fans, there’s about to be a lot more hockey on television.

Nearly 500 regular season games will air in Canada as part of the blockbuster 12-year agreement between Rogers Communications (TSX:RCI.B) and the National Hockey League.

That’s a jump of more than 400 per cent from the number of games shown during the regular season on the CBC, which currently holds the broadcast rights.

The details were unveiled by Rogers in a preview of its plans for advertisers. Rogers says hockey games will be broadcast across 13 different Canadian TV channels, including Citytv, Sportsnet and cable channel FX Canada.

Some games will also be shown through a sublicensing agreement with the CBC and on TVA, a private-sector francophone network in Quebec. Further hockey content will be available on radio and digital platforms owned by Rogers.

In total, more than 1,250 hours of nationally televised hockey will be broadcast.

Rogers also announced plans for “Hometown Hockey,” a Citytv program that’s hosted from different community rinks across the country on Sunday nights. The series will include NHL player profiles, as well as content that focuses on the local community.

Last November, Rogers reached a $5.2-billion agreement with the NHL that gives it exclusive multimedia rights to league games starting with the 2014-15 season.