Canadiens games will remain on TSN and RDS for several more years, though possibly fewer on RDS starting next season.
On Friday, Bell Media announced the renewal of regional television rights deals in English and French for the franchise “for years to come.” The exact length of the deal was not disclosed, nor were any financial details of the deal.
“We’ve been fortunate to count TSN and RDS as valued partners for many years, and we’re thrilled to formally extend this collaboration for years to come,” France Margaret Bélanger, president of Groupe CH Sports and Entertainment, said in a statement.
Under the agreement, TSN will continue to broadcast 50 regular-season Canadiens games each year, but RDS will see its share drop to 45 from the current 60 as of 2026, despite the number of games going up to 84 a season.
In the spring, Rogers announced it had renewed its national rights deal with the NHL, originally signed in 2013 for $5.2 billion, for another 12 years for $11 billion, so the remaining 34 games in English will be on Sportsnet or other Rogers-controlled channels. Rogers resold French-language national rights to TVA Sports for 2014-2026, but no announcement has been made for French national NHL rights beyond 2026.
Friday’s announcement does not affect radio rights. Cogeco, which owns 98.5 FM in Montreal and other talk stations in Quebec, announced a multi-year extension in 2023. TSN 690 broadcasts all Canadiens games in English and faces little competition, since CJAD 800 is also owned by Bell.
Bell Media owner BCE owns 18 per cent of the Canadiens’ parent company.