Canadian sports fans are tearing into Sportsnet after they learned its streaming service will be hiking prices by double digits before the next hockey season.
Sportsnet, which is owned by Rogers Sports & Media, announced in an email to customers Thursday that it will raise the annual price of its Sportsnet+ premium package by 30 per cent, from $249.99 to $324.99 plus tax, and its standard package by 25 per cent, from $199.99 to $249.99.
The changes will take effect Sept. 9.
Jason Pike, of Halifax, who runs a Boston Bruins fan podcast, told CBC News he cancelled his subscription as soon as he saw the increase.
“When I saw the numbers, my jaw dropped. I looked at my wife and said, ‘Sportsnet’s going up 80 bucks,'” he said. “I was absolutely flabbergasted. I couldn’t believe it.”
Many customers have taken to social media to express their frustrations.
Pike says he primarily uses Sportsnet to stream hockey games, and he preferred the more affordable NHL Live streaming service that was discontinued in 2022.
Sportsnet is the only streaming service offering many NHL games through the regular season and playoffs. The standard package offers national and regional in-market games, and the premium package adds about 1,000 games from other markets.
Pike says he’ll be looking for alternatives to watch the upcoming season.
“There’s a lot of pirate sites out there. I’ve used them here and there, but they haven’t been a big thing in my life,” he said. “But now, well, you’re not leaving me a lot of options here.”
The service carries other sporting events, including NBA games, UFC cards and Toronto Blue Jays baseball games.
Price hike ‘ridiculous’: former customer
Austin Harrison of Red Deer, Alta., who covers the Edmonton Oilers on his YouTube channel, says he “burst out laughing” when he saw the email and cancelled his subscription about two minutes later.
“I thought it was ridiculous,” he said.
Harrison laments what he calls the “monopoly” Rogers has on hockey coverage in Canada, but says he’ll find other ways to watch the games next season.
“Ticket prices are already crazy, and then [merchandise] prices keep going up, and now the one thing that is pretty easy access … is just at a price that doesn’t make any sense anymore.”
He says he felt the price was high to begin with, but paid it because he makes Oilers content.
He also says he’s had numerous issues with the streaming service, including lagging and freezing, and would expect improvements to the service to justify a price increase.
At this point, he says there’s no way he’ll go back.
It’s never been more complicated, or expensive, to watch NHL hockey as the multiyear Rogers broadcast deal winds down. To watch every game of the 2024/2025 season fans will need to subscribe to Sportsnet, TSN, TVA and Amazon Prime.
“I would expect a lot more from them based on what they’re…
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