What began as a quiet price update has erupted into one of the most dramatic fan backlashes Canadian hockey has seen in years. Sportsnet’s recent announcement of a significant price hike for its Sportsnet+ streaming service, set to take effect just before the 2025–26 NHL season, has left fans nationwide furious.
In hours, angry subscribers took to social media, flooded cancellation pages, and even crashed Rogers’ billing system. For thousands of Canucks fans and hockey lovers nationwide, the issue isn’t just the money; it’s the principle.
Sportsnet’s 2025-26 Price Hike Sparks Outrage, Mass Cancellations from Canadian Hockey Fans
On Thursday, July 10, Rogers Sportsnet announced a price increase for its streaming service, Sportsnet+, and the timing couldn’t be worse. With the NHL’s 2025–26 season just around the corner, loyal hockey fans, especially followers of the Vancouver Canucks, who rely heavily on the platform, are now facing subscription costs that some have called nothing short of “robbery.”
Under the new pricing, the standard yearly plan for Sportsnet+ will rise from $199.99 to $249.99, and the annual premium plan, which includes out-of-market games and is essential for fans outside the Canucks’ broadcast region, will jump from $249.99 to $324.99.
Monthly rates are also increasing: the standard monthly subscription will be $29.99 (up $5), and the monthly premium plan will rise to $42.99 (up $8). That equates to a $96 annual increase for those on a premium monthly plan.
To make matters worse, this marks the second price increase within a single calendar year. In January 2025, Sportsnet+ raised its standard annual plan from $179.99 to $199.99. That means fans who signed up at the beginning of the previous Canucks season will have seen their price rise by $70 in just one year, nearly a 30% increase overall.
How Did Fans React to the Sportsnet+ Price Increase?
The backlash was immediate and intense.
So many fans tried to cancel their subscriptions following the announcement that Rogers’ billing system reportedly crashed. According to multiple user reports, the Sportsnet website and app were experiencing outages and were seemingly overwhelmed by a flood of cancellation requests.
Lol absolutely NOT pic.twitter.com/H805TXLdob
— Mike Gould (@miketgould) July 10, 2025
On social media, especially X (formerly Twitter), the reaction was scathing. One fan wrote, “I’ll be cancelling as well, Sportsnet. The cost is absolute robbery. Thanks for nothing.” Another added, “It would be awfully inconvenient if this 33% price hike led to mass cancellations.” Another fan mentioned, “Yeah, that is insane. I use ESPN+ because how absurd the prices are getting.”
Fans expressed confusion over why anyone would continue paying, suggesting alternatives like ESPN+, which offers NHL coverage in the U.S. for about USD 119.99/year (around CAD 164), significantly cheaper than Sportsnet+’s new pricing.
Sportsnet+’s repeated technical issues in the past year add fuel to the fire. Fans frequently report blackouts, streaming errors, and inaccurate regional restrictions, especially during Canucks games. For many subscribers, these reliability issues only complicate the price hike.
For Rogers, this may be a significant misstep. Not only are they risking massive subscription losses, but the timing suggests prioritizing revenue over fan satisfaction at a time when Canadians are already battling rising costs across the board.
It also puts them at a growing disadvantage compared to U.S. streaming platforms that offer smoother experiences at more competitive rates.
