On Monday, the NHL achieved a milestone at the Bell Centre, as Amazon Prime Video aired its first-ever game on the platform, featuring a matchup between Montreal and Pittsburgh.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was present to greet his new financial partner and addressed the audience before the game, focusing on the future of game broadcasts.
With the expiration of Canadian broadcasting rights approaching and Amazon’s entry into the market, questions arise about how fans will watch their games moving forward. The commissioner did not offer much reassurance to those who prefer to watch the Canadiens on platforms like TVA Sports, RDS, TSN, or Sportsnet.
Could this signal the end of Montreal Canadiens games on traditional television? Based on Bettman’s remarks, it appears likely that the next Canadian broadcaster might be a streaming service rather than a conventional cable network. He noted, “The world is moving away from cable TV. The trend of cutting the cord continues, and the reach of cable and satellite is diminishing. The industry is shifting towards new forms of distribution, and we are very aware of that. Remember, Prime has a broader reach in Canada than anything else.”
It’s worth mentioning that Amazon recently secured the rights to broadcast NHL games on Monday nights through Rogers for the next two seasons, which aligns with the end of the NHL’s Canadian broadcasting rights agreement with Rogers. If things progress favorably, it wouldn’t be surprising for the American giant to compete for these rights in the future.
