As far back as I can remember, regional blackouts within hometown territory has been wrecking viewership and game growth. I remember living half a block away from the PNE Forum in Vancouver and not understanding why I couldn’t see the Canucks game on TV. “They want fans to come to the games,  well I’m not paying 20 bucks for a beer & hot dog!” my Pops would tell me..  What a marketing strategy, either come to the game or listen to it on the radio. What a way to grow fan viewership, a strategy that has worked so well for the CFL....

 As I grew up, I started to follow other teams and players. I couldn’t understand why watching a Flames featuring the Habs in Calgary would be blacked out in Vancouver - wasn’t the point to drive fans in the stands? 

  That approach would have vaguely made sense in the 90’s when the Pacific Coliseum and other NHL venues were struggling to keep fans in the stands. But not in the mid aughts...remember when the ‘Nucks had 7 SOLD OUT seasons at GM Place in the 00’s and 10’s? 

 Now that arenas were selling out, the owners of the NHL and Cable TV providers seen potential. A bidding war ensued, and Canadian NHL Cable Television rights exchanged hands. Hockey as we knew it was about experience a drastic change.

 Wanting to capitalize on the success of streaming networks, big time corporations found new reasons for exploiting fans. Providing multiple cable channels, holding blackouts on such stations, and urging fans to pay for additional streaming services. 
 

 Fast forward to today; and times have changed, and so too, has the reasoning for regional blackouts.

  We have been told by the NHL Network “Regional Blackout Restrictions exist to protect the local television telecasters of each NHL game in the local markets of the teams”.That’s a whole lot of mumbo-jumbo that ‘seems’ to protect the interest of smaller broadcast stations; though, that’s not the case at all.  

Rogers / SportsNet holds the rights to ALL games in Canada. 

In fact, they recently wrote a colourful article announcing how they were “Fighting for our rights as viewers..” by declaring Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday, as ‘Regional Restriction Free Days’  

                    How generous of them.

I found their explanations to be nothing more than an ad for Sportsnet.  Having 10+ sports channels in Canada should produce more than 1 game, during a prime-time slot in the last week of the regular season (8 games available/in-action). 

Ultimately, all Blackouts do is force Hockey-Loving Canadians to use / pay for additional streaming services - which is contrary to “Protecting local Television Telecasters”..

Regional Blackouts do not and will not, help the game of Hockey grow. It is an out-dated strategy that only exists to restrict viewership and force Canadians to spend more money.   

We are also, as if you could forget.. in a Worldwide Pandemic due to COVID-19 which has kept many citizens inside their homes - with black screens when they turn to a game! 

      ITS TIME TO HAVE OUR VOICE HEARD.  

Sign our petition to improve the Canadian Hockey experience of fans across Canada; regardless of their location, social, and economic status.