TV providers accuse Rogers of competition violation over Monday hockey

Three Canadian television providers have accused Rogers Communications Inc. of violating competition rules by moving Monday night hockey broadcasts exclusively to its Sportsnet Plus streaming service for the current NHL season.

In a letter to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) on Tuesday, Cogeco Inc., Eastlink and SaskTel said Rogers is forcing fans to pay a $12.99 monthly add-on fee to access Monday night hockey games unless they already subscribe to Sportsnet on Rogers TV or Sportsnet Plus.

The providers asked the CRTC to order Rogers to immediately offer the content to independent companies for distribution to their customers for free, "ensuring parity" with Rogers' offering.

"Without swift, decisive, and binding regulatory intervention by the commission, this predatory siphoning of must-have live sports content will inflict immediate and irreversible structural damage on the Canadian broadcasting ecosystem," the letter stated.

The companies described the situation as a "predatory rate squeeze" that forces independent distributors to "absorb severe content devaluation" or pass inflated costs onto consumers. They said the dynamic is "deliberately degrading the user experience on other distributors' platforms."

In September, Rogers announced Monday night NHL games would stream exclusively on Sportsnet Plus this season. Rogers, Rogers West and Shaw Direct customers with Sportsnet in their TV package receive access at no extra charge, while subscribers to Sportsnet through other TV providers must pay the additional $12.99 per month.

Sportsnet spokesperson Jason Jackson said the company would address all issues raised through the CRTC proceeding, "including Sportsnet's right to distribute content exclusively on Sportsnet Plus."

"Rogers Cable has paid Sportsnet fair market value to provide Sportsnet Plus exclusive content to their TV customers and decided to make it available to them at no extra cost," Jackson said.

"All TV providers, including Cogeco, Eastlink and SaskTel, have the same opportunity to make the content available as part of their TV offering, but so far have chosen not to. Fans can contact their TV provider about this option."

The complaint also alleged Rogers' move violates conditions of its 2023 merger with Shaw. The $26-billion takeover was approved by the CRTC subject to requirements that Rogers preserve competitive market dynamics, including a commitment to "refrain from entering into any agreement for exclusive or referential distribution of any online programming service or rights necessary for its distribution."

The current NHL season is the first under Rogers' 12-year, $11-billion national TV rights deal for English broadcasts. Rogers also raised the annual cost of Sportsnet Plus for premium subscribers to $344.99, a $20 price hike.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 11, 2026.

Sources

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