Keeping up with an NHL season has become almost as challenging as following the action on the ice, as fans are now forced to piece together multiple streaming subscriptions just to watch every game.
The growing divide between broadcast rights has transformed what was once a simple viewing experience into an increasingly expensive commitment.
With another major price increase arriving before the 2026-27 season, frustration has spread across the hockey community.
Hockey Insiders Blast Rising NHL Streaming Prices as Fan Costs Soar
Canadian hockey fans hoping to watch every NHL game this season now need access to Sportsnet+, TSN+, and Amazon Prime Video because league broadcast rights remain divided across multiple services.
Those who also follow leagues such as the NFL, Premier League, or Champions League face an even steeper bill after adding DAZN and Fubo, pushing annual streaming expenses beyond $1,070 CAD before taxes.
Sportsnet’s latest increase, which raised its Premium annual plan to roughly $349.99 CAD, became the latest flashpoint.
The higher cost immediately prompted criticism from analysts and reporters who questioned both the pricing model and the value being offered.
NHL analyst Jeff Veillette argued that the industry’s approach is driving paying customers in the wrong direction. “Hate to say it, but it’s no wonder people are turning back to piracy here, especially given that most of these are also poorly-functioning and/or incomplete services,” Veillette wrote on X. He added, “People will pay fairly for a good product but gouging them for junk isn’t going to fly for much longer.”
Veillette’s comments highlighted a concern that the issue extends beyond cost alone. For many viewers, paying premium prices becomes harder to justify when streaming quality and reliability are not up to the mark.
Winnipeg Jets reporter Scott Billeck pointed to another consequence of the fragmented broadcasting model. “This is why people just look for pirated streams these days,” Billeck wrote. “At least for Jets fans, the TSN package is relatively cheap. You get most of the games. Cable feels like a reasonable choice again.”
NHL analyst John Easthope focused on the impact the increases have on everyday viewers. “Just gross. SN is something else, just disgusting,” Easthope posted. “Folks simply wanna enjoy a past time, streaming services & telecoms are having a laugh. Horrendous.”
Others chose humor to make the same point.
Ben Barclay reacted by sharing a GIF from The Odyssey featuring Robert Pattinson, who says, “somebody get these beggars out of here,” with the caption, “Sportsnet asking for $350 a year,” a post that resonated with fans expressing shock over the latest subscription costs.
Hockey outlet Matchsticks & Gasoline also weighed in, criticizing Sportsnet for increasing subscription costs while reducing local media coverage. The outlet wrote that Sportsnet was continuing “to bend Canadians over with the cost of their subscriptions while continuing to cut local media jobs and coverage,” before adding that unofficial streams were “less laggy and less delayed than SN+ last year.”
The backlash reflects a broader issue that extends beyond one company’s latest price hike. Fans following teams such as the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, Senators, Jets, Oilers, Flames, or Canucks often need multiple subscriptions because regional games, national broadcasts, playoff coverage, and Monday Night Hockey are spread across different platforms.
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As prices continue climbing and viewing rights remain fragmented, many fans believe the cost of following the NHL has reached an uncomfortable level.
