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Inside Amazon's first year streaming the NHL and whether their Rogers deal will continue

When the NHL and Rogers announced last April that Amazon had signed a two-year deal to produce and stream Monday NHL games exclusively in Canada, it was reasonable to wonder about Amazon Prime Video’s long-term play. Now that the league has announced a 12-year extension of Rogers’ exclusive Canadian broadcast rights — beginning at the […]

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4 weeks ago

April 4, 2025

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Inside Amazon's first year streaming the NHL and whether their Rogers deal will continue

Now that the league has announced a 12-year extension of Rogers’ exclusive Canadian broadcast rights — beginning at the end of next season, when the current deal expires — we have more insight into the future of hockey broadcasts on Canadian screens. Prime Video launched “Monday Night Hockey” this season by subletting one night’s worth of those rights from Rogers. It will continue next season, essentially giving Amazon a two-year audition for a larger portion of NHL broadcasting rights in the future.

If Prime Video pulled off “Monday Night Hockey” with any degree of success, could the streaming giant angle for a bigger piece of the Canadian NHL deal after its first two years are up?

Tony Staffieri, Rogers president and CEO, said on Wednesday that Rogers has every intention of subletting its exclusive rights.

“Yes, we’ll look to it — as a possibility and as a strong possibility,” Staffieri said. “Today, we sublicense French content as well as streaming with Amazon. Those have been terrific partnerships and as we look to the next 12 years, the agreement with the NHL is that we’ll look for opportunities to continue to sublicense where they make sense.”

Amazon declined to comment on how Rogers’ announcement affects the future of Prime Video and NHL broadcasts. Still, it has to be good news when the president of Rogers is asked about your existing sub-lease and says, “Those have been terrific partnerships.”

Rogers paid $11 billion for 12 years’ worth of exclusive Canadian rights starting in 2026-27. One way to recoup some of its investment — and spare itself from taxing Sportsnet staff with the heavy lift of broadcasting every Canadian game — is to continue those subleasing agreements, whether to Amazon, RDS or on new frontiers.

Whether Prime Video continues its Monday night broadcasts, picks a new night or expands to add a second night remains to be seen; what’s clear is that there is opportunity for it to grow its NHL footprint heading into 2026-27.

“There is nothing more valuable in this country from a media standpoint than having the rights to the NHL,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said at the joint news conference.

How much of that value will belong to Amazon? Now that Prime Video has completed most of its first season, we have insight into how they’ve approached it. There are elements of Amazon’s production during their Monday night broadcast (and in its behind-the-scenes documentary series “Faceoff”) that are resource-intensive. Prime Video has committed budget in the form of on- and off-air broadcasting talent that travels from one city to the next. It broadcasts with features like AI-enhanced slow-motion replays, Dolby 5.1 surround sound and warm-up footage, using a 1080p HD resolution other Canadian broadcasts don’t yet match.

In an effort to put a focus on the Canadian cities, the broadcast team is traveling from city to city for all 26 games. Prime Video’s goal is to make each city feel like a character in the broadcast — something they’ve achieved in part through that travel and in part through the collection of additional footage of each city. The other way Prime Video has made the most of its resources is hiring top on- and off-air talent, said Mark Shopiro, head of Prime Video Canada.

John Forslund was one of Prime Video’s key NHL hires, topping a talent list that includes Adnan Virk, Andi Petrillo, Thomas Hickey, Blake Bolden, Jody Shelley and Shane Hnidy. Forslund, whose nearly 40 years of play-calling experience include TNT, ESPN, NBC, and a host of other American broadcasts, recalls that Prime Video’s pitch to him was unique.

“In my career, no one’s ever asked me, ‘What’s your opinion on how to call a hockey game?’” Forslund said. Forlsund told his wife after the interview that it was the first time in his career that it felt like someone cared how he thought a hockey game should be presented. The feeling stuck with him.

Forslund said the beauty of an NHL game is that there are 20 players on each team who could become the story on any given night. He does his homework on each one, so that he’s ready no matter what happens instead of trying to shoehorn topics into the game in advance.

Shopiro also points to Prime Video’s hiring success behind the camera. Each Prime Video game is directed by Mark Askin, who produced Toronto Maple Leafs games for 36 years, including for “Hockey Night in Canada.” He was coaxed out of retirement. Seated at the front of the truck, watching the live action through all of Amazon’s angles simultaneously, Askin spends each broadcast calling out instructions to the team of technicians who turn live audio and video into the produced broadcast. Every time there’s a big play — or a subtle, important one — Askin calls cues to his crew, with staff responsible for preparing each color-coded feed in real time.

Is all of this investment working? Prime Video says it is.

Their “Monday Night Hockey” broadcast delivers significantly younger audiences than other broadcasts, according to data provided by Prime Video. The median age for their viewings is 43 years old, compared to 55 for last season’s Monday night games and 54 for “Hockey Night in Canada” this season, with growth in various demographic ranges from age 18 to 54. Prime Video’s analytics also show that the average length of a watching session has increased by 33 percent compared to last season.

Live sports are part of the next streaming boom, with Prime Video, Apple TV and others competing with each other for the eyeballs they don’t already get from film and TV series. Now that Rogers has secured another 12 years worth of broadcast rights, will Prime continue its partnership?

“I can’t speculate on future rights. I think what I can say is that we remain committed and focused to getting the game right in our first season of the deal that we’re on,” Shopiro said. “We’re always looking at opportunities for how we can bring value and enhance the Prime membership and believe that live sport has a big part to play in that.”

(Top photo of the Prime Video broadcast truck: Courtesy Kendra Hope Penner)

Related Topics:big broadcasting camera live matter media new news night photo production season show sports team tv video working

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Mount Union men’s track and field extends conference title streak

The streak continues for the Mount Union men’s track and field team. The Purple Raiders won their 14th straight conference title at this week’s Ohio Athletic Conference Championships in Wilmington. It is also the team’s 41st OAC title overall. Mount Union’s Nick Franitti was selected the most outstanding sprinter of the meet. He won the […]

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13 minutes ago

May 4, 2025

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The streak continues for the Mount Union men’s track and field team.

The Purple Raiders won their 14th straight conference title at this week’s Ohio Athletic Conference Championships in Wilmington. It is also the team’s 41st OAC title overall.

Mount Union’s Nick Franitti was selected the most outstanding sprinter of the meet. He won the 110- and 400-meter hurdles.

Head coach Kevin Lucas and his coaching staff were named the OAC Staff of the Year for the men’s side.

The Purple Raiders finished second in the women’s meet. Ohio Northern won the team title.

Here is a rundown of Mount Union’s OAC champions:

MEN
Nick Franitti, 110 hurdles, 400 hurdles; Vincent Giumenti, 1,500; Vinny Zeren, 200, 400 relay; Nick Scherson, 1,600 relay; Josh Fouche, 1,600 relay; Logan Butcher, 1,600 relay; Yahir Hill, 1,600 relay; Ryder Greenwood, 400 relay; Donovan Geiger, 400 relay; Brailon Wilcox, 400 relay; Tyler Kohlman, 800, 3,200 relay; Xavier Neal, triple jump; Brady Burrey, javelin; Josh Schoonover, 3,200 relay; Ty Pratt, 3,200 relay; Curtis Joppeck, 3,200 relay
WOMEN
Mary Mason, 800, 1,600 relay, 3,200 relay; Kenadee Wayt, 1,600 relay; Maddy Miles, 1,600 relay; Carlie Besecker, 1,600 relay; Madeline Burgess, triple jump; Meghan Schwartz, 3,200 relay; Taylor Hennessey, 3,200 relay; Halle Cochran, 3,200 relay

Walsh’s Joel Brown earns top honor at G-MAC Track and Field Championships

Walsh’s Joel Brown now knows his comeback is complete.

Brown was named the men’s freshman of the meet at this week’s Great Midwest Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships. He won the decathlon with a total of 6,910 points.

A former Perry High School standout, Brown spent the past year recovering from two sports hernia surgeries and surgery for a broken wrist.

Here is a rundown of Walsh’s G-MAC champions:

MEN

Joel Brown, decathlon; Micah Graemling, 100; Brody Pumneo, 800

WOMEN

Claire Rethman, 1,500

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Men’s Track & Field Wins New England DIII Outdoor Championships

Story Links NEW LONDON, CT. – Marking 80 points to top a field of 47 collegiate institutions, the Wesleyan’ men’s track and field team took first place at the New England Division III Outdoor Championships for the first time in program history, breaking three school records in the process as they walked […]

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May 4, 2025

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NEW LONDON, CT. – Marking 80 points to top a field of 47 collegiate institutions, the Wesleyan’ men’s track and field team took first place at the New England Division III Outdoor Championships for the first time in program history, breaking three school records in the process as they walked away with 17 Top 10 finishes at the United States Coast Guard Academy.

Saturday afternoon marked the third time the Cardinals finished in the Top 10 team rankings at the New England Division III Championships, but the first time at the head of the table. The Cardinals placed 10^th in 2019 but previously tied for sixth at the 1993-94 indoor championship.

Leaving New London with two broken records and a first-place finish, Steve Paul ’28 opened the weekend with a Friday night record break in the 100m dash. Breaking a 13-year record previously held by LaDarius Drew ’15, Paul ran a 10.60 in the preliminary heats of the event, besting Drew’s previous record of 10.69. On Saturday morning, Paul finished as the runner-up, clocking a final 10.68. Paul followed his performance in the 200m, breaking his own outdoor record with a first-place final of 21.24, beating the previously set 21.56 set on April 19.

The record breaking was not finished. Ethan Singleton ’28 cracked his own week-old record in the men’s 400m, as he crossed the line in second place with a 47.83. At the NESCAC Championships on April 26, Singleton completed a 48.37.

A second Cardinal victory was the result of the 5000m distance race. Noah Mahoney ’27, a national contender in the cross country circuit, placed first with a final clocked time of 15:11.26 for the Cardinals. Mahoney’s runner-up was teammate Will Wise ’26, finishing 23 seconds behind at a 15:34.17.

Making up half of the Top 10 contenders in the 1500m, the Cardinals dominated with a pack led by Rob D’Aquila ’26. D’Aquila placed fourth (3:57.19), Liam Calhoun ’26 took fifth (3:57.32), Bruce Lenes ’26 was seventh (3:59.75), Alex Kermath ’26 finished eighth (4:00.04), and Zach Allen ’27 rounded out the club in ninth (4:00.59).

Fourth and fifth place in the 800m went to George Lepska ’25 and Nate Fogarty ’25. Lepska earned fourth place, kicking up a 1:52.51 while Fogarty was on his heels in fifth with a 1:53.90. The final of the individual track events went to Philip Keith’s ’25 sixth-place final in the 10,000m, clocking in a solid 32:37.89.

Fielding a relay team for the 4×800, Fogarty, D’Aquila, Lepska, and Ben Taffet ’26 combined forces for a fourth-place finish and a time of 7:50.92.

The field events were headlined by Javier Orelanna’s ’25 performance at shot put. Throwing for 15.33m, Orellana placed third. Eli Liedtka’s ’27 discus throw of 44.22m earned him a finish at eight.

The Cardinals look ahead to the Open New England Championships on Friday, May 9, and Saturday, May 10.

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High school beach volleyball: Final results

GIRLS BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS FRIDAY’S RESULTS CITY SECTION FINALS At Tournament Beach, Santa Monica DIVISION I Venice 3, Taft 0 SATURDAY’S RESULTS SOUTHERN SECTION FINALS At Long Beach City College DIVISION 1 Redondo Union 3, Mira Costa 2 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DIVISION 2 Long Beach Wilson 3, Millikan 2 DIVISION 3 Long Beach Poly 3, […]

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45 minutes ago

May 4, 2025

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GIRLS BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

CITY SECTION

FINALS

At Tournament Beach, Santa Monica

DIVISION I

Venice 3, Taft 0

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

SOUTHERN SECTION

FINALS

At Long Beach City College

DIVISION 1

Redondo Union 3, Mira Costa 2

DIVISION 2

Long Beach Wilson 3, Millikan 2

DIVISION 3

Long Beach Poly 3, Anaheim Canyon 2

Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Women’s Track and Field Wins 2025 Division III New England Championships

Story Links NEW LONDON, CONN. (May 3, 2025) – The Tufts University women’s track and field team secured victory at the Division III New England Championships after another excellent day of competition down in New London at the United States Coast Guard Academy. Senior Harper Meek became the first Jumbo to […]

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May 4, 2025

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NEW LONDON, CONN. (May 3, 2025) – The Tufts University women’s track and field team secured victory at the Division III New England Championships after another excellent day of competition down in New London at the United States Coast Guard Academy.

Senior Harper Meek became the first Jumbo to score points on day two, finishing second in the high jump with a massive mark of 1.66m. Her second place finish was enough for the 16th best mark in the NCAA Division III.

First year Mia Kurtz became the next Jumbo to score points with her eighth place finish in the discus throw. Her mark of 39.02m picked up a point for the Jumbos, helping to keep them atop the team standings.

Simisola Lawal and Makayla Moriarty made consecutive finishes in the 100m dash finals as Lawal took sixth with a 12.19 and Moriarty seventh with a 12.24. Both finishes were inside the Top 100 fastest times in the NCAA Division III.

Carly Rinko and Phoebe Bryar also took consecutive finishes in the 800m run. Rinko was third with a season-best 2:14.95 for the 60th best time in the NCAA Division III, while Bryar broke the facility record with a personal best time of 2:13.24.

First year Grace Doyle finished just outside the podium in the 3000m steeplechase with a fourth place finish in a personal best time of 11:33.04. Junior Lexi Dean was just a bit behind her in fifth with an 11:39.33.

The Jumbos relay teams saw two facility records fall in both of their races. The 4x100m relay team of Lawal, Chechile, Moriarty and Cumberland took third in a track-best time of 47.17. It was the fastest time posted by the squad this season. The 4x400m relay finished in a track-best time of 3:51.26 for second place. It was the best time posted by the squad of Smith, Moriarty, Chechile and Kral.

The heptathlon’s conclusion saw sophomore Tessa Player leapfrog ahead into first place for the win. Her day started with a fourth place finish in the long jump before she rattled off back-to-back first place finishes in the javelin throw and 800m run. Her points total of 4257 was just 55 points ahead of the runner-up from Bowdoin.

The Jumbos took first place by an overwhelming 34 points with 94 to Connecticut College’s 60. They will have the week off before heading out west to compete in the NEICAAA Championships at UMass Amherst.

–JUMBOS–

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SUNY Geneseo Takes the 2025 Empire 8 Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship

Men’s Outdoor Track and Field | 5/3/2025 7:47:48 PM Story Links 2025 Empire 8 Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship Central SUNY Geneseo won the 2025 Empire 8 Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship from Bob Boozer Field at Eunice Kennedy Shriver Stadium on […]

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May 4, 2025

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Men’s Outdoor Track and Field | 5/3/2025 7:47:48 PM

SUNY Geneseo won the 2025 Empire 8 Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship from Bob Boozer Field at Eunice Kennedy Shriver Stadium on the Campus of SUNY Brockport on Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3. Geneseo finished with 303.5 points, while host SUNY Brockport finished second with 199 points and St. John Fisher University was third with 104 points.

The Knights had 10 individuals/relay teams win events and set five Empire 8 Championship records in its first season as a league member.

Sophomore Emerson Comer of was named 2025 Empire 8 Outdoor Track Athlete of the Meet after setting a pair of Empire 8 Championship meet records in winning the 3,000-meter steeplechase and 5,000-meters. He began the meet on Friday with a win in the 3,000-meter steeplechase by over seconds in a record time of 9:04.73. He came back on Saturday to win the 5,000-meters in a meet record time of 14:28.20.

St. John Fisher senior Brandon Kaplan was named 2025 Empire 8 Outdoor Track Athlete of the Meet. On Friday, Kaplan won the hammer throw with a toss of 60.87 meters, which shattered former NCAA Champion Luis Rivera of Nazareth University’s mark of 59.22 meters, set in winning the 2015 NCAA National Championship. Kaplan’s mark is now the sixth best in Division III to date this season.

Jack Pomykaj of Nazareth broke his own Empire 8 meet record in winning the decathlon with 6,173 points. He was the top E8 finisher in the 100-meters, long jump, 110-meter hurdles, and pole vault. He also moved into the top-30 nationally with his score.

Utica’s Hunter Logan won his fourth straight league title in the shot put with a toss of 15.79 meters. Fellow Utica standout Louis Pinto annexed the high jump with a leap of 1.96 meters.

Ryan Hagan of SUNY Geneseo out-dueled Jonathan Zavala in a stirring battle to win the 1,500-meters in not only an E8 Championship meet record, but all-time E8 record time of 3:49.78.

Geneseo’s Jacob Miller, who broke the E8 record in the 400-meters Friday night, won the 200-meter dash Saturday in 21.85 seconds.

Geneseo’s 4 x 100-meter relay team of Trey Feirman, Andrew Kent, Jack Towns, Jackson Burton began the day with a win in 41.92 seconds. Brendan Style of Geneseo won the 110-meter hurdles in 14.87 seconds, while Matthew Sheehan took the 800-meters in 1:52.16.

Derek Grimshaw of host Brockport won the 100-meters by one, one-hundredth of a second in 11.00 seconds, while teammate Jeremy Chen won the 400-meter hurdles in 54.18 seconds.

The St. John Fisher duo of Manuel Sepulveda and Daniel Davis emerged victorious in field events. Sepulveda won the triple jump with a leap of 14.58 meters, while Davis won the discus with a toss of 40.43 meters.

2025 Empire 8 Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship Award Winners

Track Athlete of the Meet – Emerson Comer, So., Distance, SUNY Geneseo

Field Athlete of the Meet – Brandon Kaplan, Sr., Throws, St. John Fisher

2025 Empire 8 Outdoor Championship Final Team Scores

SUNY Geneseo – 303.5 points

SUNY Brockport – 199

St. John Fisher University – 104

Utica University – 94.5

Nazareth University – 61

Houghton University – 42

Alfred University – 25

Russell Sage College – 13

Hartwick College – 13

2025 Empire 8 Outdoor Championship Individual Relay/Award Winners (Friday)

3,000-meter Steeplechase: Emerson Comer, SUNY Geneseo – 9:04.73 *

400-meter dash: Jacob Miller, SUNY Geneseo – 47.24 *^

4 x 800-meter relay: Amos Bixler, James Eustace, Henry Sardina, Aidan Fish, Houghton – 7:56.56

10,000-meter run: Micah McCulley, SUNY Geneseo – 32:45.73

Long Jump: Ellis Urgent, Utica – 7.24 meters (23′ 9″)

Hammer Throw: Brandon Kaplan, St. John Fisher – 60.87 meters (199′ 8″) *^

Pole Vault: Hayden Penna, St. John Fisher – 4.90 meters (16′ 0.75″) *

Javelin Throw: Kaiden Simpson, Russell Sage – 50.87 meters (166′ 10″)

2025 Empire 8 Outdoor Championship Individual Relay/Award Winners (Saturday)

4 x 100-meter relay: Trey Feirman, Andrew Kent, Jack Towns, Jackson Burton, SUNY Geneseo – :41.92

1,500-meter run: Ryan Hagan, SUNY Geneseo – 3:49.78 *^

110-meter hurdles: Brendan Style, SUNY Geneseo – :14.87

100-meter dash: Derek Grimshaw, SUNY Brockport – :11.00

800-meter run: Matthew Sheehan, SUNY Geneseo – 1:52.16

400-meter hurdles: Jeremy Chen, SUNY Brockport – :54.18

200-meter dash: Jacob Miller, SUNY Geneseo – :21.85

5,000-meter run: Emerson Comer, SUNY Geneseo – 14:28.20 *

4 x 400-meter relay: Arjun Ojha, Dawson Wadsworth, Jacob Miller, Matthew Sheehan, SUNY Geneseo – 3:15.29 *

Shot Put: Hunter Logan, Utica – 15.79 meters (51’ 9.75”)

Triple Jump: Manuel Sepulveda, St. John Fisher – 14.58 meters (47’ 10”)

Discus Throw: Daniel Davis, St. John Fisher – 40.43 meters (132’ 7”)

High Jump: Louis Pinto, Utica – 1.96 meters (6’ 5”)

Decathlon: Jack Pomykaj, Nazareth – 6,173 points *

* Empire 8 Championship Meet Record

^ All-Time Empire 8 Record

ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE

The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit www.empire8.com.

EMPIRE 8 SOCIAL MEDIA

YouTube – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram

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Sports

Big Green Has Four Top Ten Placements in Final Regular Season Meet

By: Maddie Omana Story Links DEDHAM, Mass. – The Dartmouth men’s and women’s track and field teams had four top ten performances during the Jay Carisella Coaches Invitational on Saturday, marking a successful regular season finish. “This was a great tune-up meet for the team as we head into the outdoor […]

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1 hour ago

May 4, 2025

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By: Maddie Omana

DEDHAM, Mass. – The Dartmouth men’s and women’s track and field teams had four top ten performances during the Jay Carisella Coaches Invitational on Saturday, marking a successful regular season finish.

“This was a great tune-up meet for the team as we head into the outdoor Ivy League Championships next weekend. We had several great performances and added a few more names to the top ten lists. Go Big Green!” Mike Nelson, the Marjorie & Herbert Chase ’30 Director of Dartmouth Track & Field and Cross Country, said.

Mariella Schweitzer won the 100m hurdles for the Big Green with her 13.75 finish, putting herself at second all-time in program history. She also won the long jump with a 5.92m mark. Daniela Ruelas Lomeli followed closely behind in the 100m hurdles, placing second in the event and seventh in program history with her 14.50 finish.

J’Voughnn Blake was the runner-up in the 800m, but put himself at second all-time in the event with his 1:47.72 finish. Emma Kerimo won the 5000m, clocking a 17:45.38 finish.

On the throwing side, Zaneta Pivcova now ranks tenth all-time in the shot put after her 14.34m performance. Max Klein won the men’s shot put with a 17.57m throw.

The Big Green will begin their championship season next weekend in New Haven, Conn., at the Ivy League Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

ALL-TIME RESULTS

Women’s 100m Hurdles