Rogers Unveils NHL Programming Strategy

- More games, more choice with upwards of 500 games across 13 networks -

- Up to 7 nationally-televised Hockey Night in Canada games on Saturdays -

- New national night: Sunday on City now appointment viewing with "Hometown Hockey" -

TORONTO, Feb. 4, 2014 /CNW/ - With eight months to go until the puck drops on the 2014-15 NHL season, Rogers today unveiled its high-level NHL programming strategy which will see the company deliver more than 500 regular season games across 13 networks, up to 7 games every Saturday night, expanded NHL content on 7 platforms, exclusive windows for national broadcasts, "Hometown Hockey" every Sunday hosted from communities across Canada, and every game of the NHL Playoffs and Stanley Cup Final.

The announcement was made by Scott Moore, President of Sportsnet and NHL, Rogers Media, at the Rogers NHL Upfront at Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto. In November 2013, Rogers Communications secured a 12-year deal with the NHL for exclusive national broadcast and multimedia rights in Canada, beginning with the 2014-15 season.

"We are working together with the NHL on a strategic game schedule, which allows us to deliver the games that matter most to Canadians.  We are going where the fans are," said Moore.  "Our vision is to transform the fan experience. There will be two conventional networks to deliver increased game coverage on Saturday nights, we have created a new national night for hockey on Sundays, we will be in hockey communities across the country every week, and we are leveraging all the Rogers networks and platforms to deliver expanded NHL content.  There will be more games, more content, and more choice than ever before."

Rogers's NHL programming strategy for the 2014-15 season
* Click the link below for the "By The Numbers" addendum
* Additional details will be announced over the coming weeks and months

Saturdays - Hockey Night in Canada

• More than 130 regular season games airing nationally on Saturday nights
• Up to 7 games each Saturday, airing on CBC, City, Sportsnet, Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet 360, and FX Canada:
• 7 p.m. ET:  3 - 5 games
• 10 p.m. ET: 1 - 2 games
• Tripleheaders on occasion
• More hockey on over-the-air television on Saturdays than ever before with CBC and City
• Exclusive night; no other NHL games airing on Saturday night
• A total of 13 networks will be airing hockey games in English and French on Saturdays:
• CBC, City, Sportsnet (East, Ontario, West, Pacific), Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet Radio Network, FX Canada, TVA, TVA Sports, TVA Sports 2

Sundays - Hometown Hockey

• Nationally-televised game every Sunday at 7 p.m. ET on City (including half-hour pre-game), marking a new night for hockey in Canada
• Games to feature a Canadian team
• Doubleheaders on occasion
• Every Sunday broadcast will be "Hometown Hockey".  Each game broadcast will be hosted from a different community rink across Canada, and will feature local NHL player profiles, grassroots stories told by our hockey broadcast team, and local entertainment features
• Additional match-ups to air on Sundays on Sportsnet and Sportsnet ONE
• Exclusive window; no other NHL games airing in that window

Wednesdays - NHL on Sportsnet

• Nationally-televised games every Wednesday night on Sportsnet
• Games to feature superstar match-ups, with emphasis on storytelling
• Doubleheaders on occasion
• Complemented by US vs. US match-up on Sportsnet ONE
• Exclusive window; no other NHL games airing during Sportsnet's live game coverage

More Game Broadcasts

• More than 100 US vs. US match-ups to air nationally on Sportsnet 360 and Sportsnet ONE
• Regular Thursday night home position on Sportsnet 360
• Rogers to air all 82 regular season games for Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, and Edmonton Oilers
• Includes regional broadcast rights
• Rogers to air minimum of 53 Toronto Maple Leafs games
• 40 national; minimum of 13 regional

Specials, Features, Storytelling, and News

• Seven platforms to deliver Rogers NHL content: TV, Digital, Radio, Publishing, Wireless, Cable, Social (additional details to come)
• Expanded pre-game every Saturday and Sunday on Sportsnet, beginning at 5 p.m. ET
• Sportsnet to showcase the NHL every night of the week, with live games, Hockey Central, and Connected
• Hockey Central to air every night; expanded to one hour
• Hockey Central at Noon continues on Sportsnet Radio Network and simulcast on TV
• 50 features to be produced, profiling the NHL's top stars
• Hundreds of grassroots and community features to air during Hometown Hockey

About Rogers
Rogers is a leading diversified Canadian communications and media company.  We are Canada's largest provider of wireless voice and data communications services and one of Canada's leading providers of cable television, high-speed Internet and telephony services.  Through Rogers Media we are engaged in radio and television broadcasting, televised shopping, magazines and trade publications, and sports entertainment.  We are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:  RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI).

Image with caption: "Scott Moore, President of Sportsnet and NHL, Rogers Media, left, Mark Messier, Hall of Fame member and Stanley Cup Champion, center, Gary Bettman, NHL Commissioner, right, during the Rogers NHL Upfront at Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto. (CNW Group/Rogers Media)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140204_C7577_PHOTO_EN_36260.jpg

PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2014/02/04/20140204_C7577_DOC_EN_36263.pdf

SOURCE: Rogers Media

Media Contacts

Andrea Goldstein, 647.801.4394, [email protected]
Jennifer Neziol, 416.275.9182, [email protected]