CBC will no longer air Hockey Night in Canada as 12-year partnership comes to an end

Don Cherry with co-host Ron MacLean. The duo worked for decades together for Hockey Night in Canada. Photo by Postmedia Network

Article content

Hockey Night in Canada is disappearing from CBC on Saturday nights.

Article content

Rogers-owned Sportsnet will be taking over the decades-long tradition that began on CBC Radio in 1923, before moving to the television airwaves in 1952, becoming a pillar of CBC Sports’ coverage.

Article content

Article content

In a joint announcement with CBC today, the two broadcasters announced that Canada’s public broadcaster “will no longer carry NHL broadcasts after the current season.”

Article content

The announcement cited a “new sports programming strategy following the unprecedented success of the Milano/Cortina Olympic Games.”

Article content

Further details were not provided. National Post has reached out to Rogers for comment.

Article content

Article content

Article content

The CBC retained the rights to the “Hockey Night in Canada” brand, licensing the name to Rogers for the last 12 years. It’s unclear from today’s announcement if that licensing arrangement will continue.

Article content

Article content

However, Sportsnet did state: “Watching hockey on Saturday night is a time-honoured tradition for Canadians and Sportsnet is privileged to continue delivering that tradition.”

Article content

Dave Reynolds interviews Boston Bruins great Bobby Orr during Hockey Night in Canada in the mid-1970s. (File photo) SUPPLIED

Article content

Sportsnet said the collaboration with CBC, which evolved since the 2014-15 season when Rogers obtained the exclusive national multimedia rights to NHL games in Canada, sub-licensing Saturday night and playoff games to the CBC, “has been a terrific partnership.”

Article content

It add that “both parties look forward to continued opportunities to collaborate in the future.”

Article content

Hockey Night in Canada has been available on CBC, SportsNet channels and Rogers-owned Citytv. Going forward hockey fans will be able to see it on SportsNet, Citytv and stream it through SportsNet+.

Article content

In a separate statement, CBC Sports said it plans to launch a new Saturday night prime time show featuring Canadian athletes competing at home and at the biggest events around the world. It will air on CBC TV as well as the public broadcaster’s streaming platform, CBC Gem.

Article content

Article content