Hockey Night on CBC Is GONE After 70 Years, and Sportsnet Just Went ALL IN For the Next Decade

Holy smokes, did you hear the news that just dropped? "Hockey Night in Canada" on CBC is officially a wrap! Yeah, you read that right. After decades of Saturday night tradition, the public broadcaster and Sportsnet announced this week that their broadcast partnership is ending. It's wild to think about, a true end of an era for so many Canadian hockey fans, and it means Sportsnet is about to take over the airwaves in a *huge* way for the next twelve years.

The End of an Era, 70 Years in the Making

Let's be real, watching hockey on Saturday night is practically a national pastime up north. And for seventy long years, CBC was at the heart of it all. They kicked off "Hockey Night in Canada" on TV way back in 1952. Think about that, 1952! They held those exclusive Saturday night rights straight through the 2013-14 season. It was *their* night, a cornerstone for generations of fans. For the last twelve years, sure, they've been carrying games through a cross-licensing deal with Sportsnet, so it wasn't quite the same as the exclusive days. But still, the CBC logo, the tradition, it was still there. Now, that chapter is officially closing. It's a bittersweet moment, for sure, even for us down here in the Emerald City who just love the game.

Sportsnet's Massive New Play and CBC's Fresh Start

So, what's next? Sportsnet isn't just picking up the slack, they're launching into a massive new era. They've inked a brand-new, twelve-year broadcast deal with the NHL that kicks off next season! That's right, twelve more years, and they'll be airing *all* Saturday games moving forward. Sportsnet is clearly doubling down on hockey, and they sound pumped. In their statement, they called it a "terrific partnership" with CBC, but also said they're "privileged to continue delivering that tradition" of Saturday night hockey. It's a huge commitment, a testament to how big the game is. Meanwhile, CBC isn't just throwing in the towel. They're moving ahead with "a new sports programming strategy" after crushing it with the Milano/Cortina Olympic Games. Good for them, finding a new path, but the landscape of Saturday night hockey is about to look very different. This is a massive shift in the hockey world, folks. Sportsnet is going all-in, securing Saturday night hockey for over a decade. Get ready for a new broadcast landscape. You know we'll be tuning in, because any good hockey is worth watching!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.