In October 2014, Christmas will arrive early for Canada's hockey fans. Today in Toronto---the hockey capital of the world---NHL commissioner Gary Bettman arrived to finalize the details surrounding the landmark 12 year, $5 billion agreement between the NHL and Rogers Communications, the owners of Sportsnet and various other Canadian TV channels. Under the new deal, Sportsnet and other Rogers-owned channels like City-TV will show more than 500 live NHL games during the upcoming season which can also be viewed and streamed online. CBC will continue to air "Hockey Night In Canada" on Saturday nights and that means more Don Cherry to watch each week! (By the way, "Grapes" turns 80 today!!:) ) The entire breakdown of how this will work is shown here:

---Story from Yahoo.ca---


Rogers's NHL programming strategy for the 2014-15 season

* 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 (My favourite part! :) :) )

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


Who really needs the other networks when you have a chance to watch hockey every night? I can't wait!

That is really cool. I don't have a sports package, so I only get to see my absolute favorite team, the Red Wings, on choice Wednsday and Saturday games.

Very Lucky to have a cool deal like that.