Maple Leafs fans outraged as Sportsnet’s ‘Monday Night Hockey’ will cost $13 per month: ‘I’m done’ - Toronto Star

Monday night NHL games will be streamed exclusively on Sportsnet+ which will cost an extra $12.99 subscription fee per month for non-Rogers customers.

Hockey fans who pay for Rogers cable will have Sportsnet+ for free. Others aren’t so lucky.

In Wednesday’s announcement about lifting regional broadcast blackouts, Sportsnet boasted about giving hockey fans “unprecedented access” to NHL games, stars and moments.

Tucked in was word that Monday night games will be streamed exclusively on Sportsnet+ for $12.99 per month.

That provoked instant anger and frustration from fans in Canada who were already lamenting the loss of “Hockey Night in Canada,” which will no longer air on its longtime CBC home and has been rebranded “Saturday Night Hockey” on Sportsnet.

The launch of “Monday Night Hockey” on Sportsnet+ quickly became a hot topic on social media, especially among Maple Leafs fans  already dealing with a ticket price hike for the upcoming season.

“I’m not paying $13 a month all season to watch 13 Leaf games,” one fan wrote in a subreddit thread where hundreds expressed their displeasure. “That’s me, I’m out. For everyone stupid enough to pay this, enjoy another 60 years of sucking.”

“Hard pass, I pay way too much for cable as it is,” another one wrote. “Screw Rogers. They should buy fewer sports teams and stadiums if they are so hard up for cash.”

The new add-on subscription fee targets those who get TV services from the telecom giant’s competitors. Rogers customers who already have Sportsnet in their packages will get “Monday Night Hockey” programming free of charge. But customers who pay for Sportsnet in packages with rival companies will have to pay extra. On Wednesday, Rogers said it is working with other Canadian distribution partners in hopes of giving TV subscribers more options.

Some fans pointed fingers at both Rogers and the NHL for maximizing revenue instead of improving the product and finding ways to attract more fans. Others called for a boycott of the streaming service.

“About the only way you can force them off this BS idea is if Rogers loses ratings from the biggest fan base in the country without seeing a cent of subscription revenue,” a fan posted on X.

Similar to ticket price hikes, however, complaints about streaming costs don’t necessarily lead to mass cancellations, said independent sports business consultant Paul Beirne. 

“Hockey demand in Canada is famously inelastic and Rogers is likely betting, correctly, that the outrage fades faster than the habit of watching,” he said. “Expect this to settle into background noise within a season, or sooner.”

According to Beirne, the timing of squeezing more out of customers isn’t helping Rogers, just months after the company acquired 100 per cent control of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment in addition to already owning the Blue Jays, Sportsnet and exclusive national NHL rights.

“In a tight economy, having one company control every layer of the pipeline — team, arena, network, and now the streaming toll — is exactly the kind of concentration that draws government scrutiny, fair or not,” said Beirne, who previously worked in MLSE’s front office.

Breaking news, interactive polls, video, and voice notes. Star stories you’ll want to share, delivered where you’re already chatting. Follow the Star on WhatsApp.

The potential damage could come from a generation that grew up watching “Hockey Night in Canada” for free on CBC, while accessing Sportsnet has always required a cable package or streaming subscription, Beirne added. For that generation, this is not just a switch from one paid service to another. It’s a shift from free to paid service.

“That’s a much bigger ask than switching packages, and I’d expect a real chunk of that older, habitual audience to simply not make the jump rather than pay their way in,” he said. “If Saturday night viewership drops, that hits what Sportsnet can charge their advertisers.”

Still, some hockey fans who are upset about the additional fees to watch their favourite sport on Mondays — which comes in addition to “Wednesday Night Hockey” on Amazon Prime — appear to have lost hope of things getting any better.

“I’m done with Rogers (and) Sportsnet, can’t listen to hockey radio, can’t watch it,” commented an X user. “Hockey will die in Canada, the generation that never gets to see the game will not carry the torch.”

Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request.

There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again.

You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply.

Gilbert Ngabo is a Toronto-based sports reporter for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @dugilbo.