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Hockey Night in Canada Shifts Focus to Women's Hockey with PWHL Collaboration

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CBC's Hockey Night in Canada will spotlight women's hockey with eight prime-time PWHL games, enhancing visibility and accessibility for the league.

CBC/Radio-Canada Revives Hockey Night in Canada with PWHL Collaboration

Canada's long-standing sports institution, CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada, is set for its 90th season, marking a significant pivot from its usual NHL coverage to spotlight women’s hockey, featuring eight prime-time broadcasts of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL).

Eight Prime-Time Games and Special Weekend Features

CBC Sports ·
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Composite image of the Hockey Night in Canada and PWHL logos.
Starting December 5, Hockey Night in Canada will showcase eight prime-time games from the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), as confirmed by CBC. (Hockey Night in Canada, PWHL)

This fall, CBC is bringing back its cherished Hockey Night in Canada brand, but with a notable twist. The iconic program will transition from extensive NHL coverage to focus solely on the PWHL, airing eight significant games during prime-time Saturday slots.

The inaugural match will kick off on December 5, featuring the Montreal Victoire, last season's champions, taking on the new Hamilton expansion team. This shift signifies a deliberate move to enhance visibility for women’s hockey, integrating comprehensive pre- and post-game analysis and dynamic digital content via CBCSports.ca and social media platforms.

Earlier this year, CBC took a bold step by announcing it would end its NHL broadcasts due to unresolved negotiations with rights-holder Rogers Sportsnet. While this might seem like a setback, retaining the Hockey Night in Canada branding allows CBC to reimagine its approach and embrace a new audience.

WATCH | Brianne Jenner on the impact of women's hockey on HNIC:

Brianne Jenner on women's hockey's role at HNIC

5 hours ago|
Duration
5:56

'A New Chapter in Sports History'

The collaboration is being touted as a milestone. Chris Wilson, CBC's executive director of Sports and Olympics, stated, “Our partnership with the PWHL opens a new chapter in sports history.” This initiative aims to connect with a growing fan base while ensuring audiences across Canada have free access to world-class hockey.

As the PWHL embarks on its fourth season starting December 5, it will unveil a full schedule on October 2. The league is expanding, now featuring 12 teams after incorporating new franchises in cities like Detroit, Las Vegas, San Jose, and Hamilton.

In keeping with HNIC tradition, all games will highlight Canadian teams. Amy Scheer, the PWHL’s executive vice-president of business operations, emphasized that the CBC partnership is pivotal for the league’s accessibility and its future growth trajectory.

“Hockey Night in Canada has long been a staple of Canadian sports culture," she noted. “Being part of this iconic experience marks a significant step for the PWHL.”

CBC Sports Primetime Launches in October

Beyond these eight featured games, CBC/Radi-Canada secured exclusive audio rights to broadcast all Victoire games in Canada throughout the 2026-27 season. This fall also sees the debut of CBC Sports Primetime, a new weekly Saturday show hosted by Andi Petrillo, which premieres on October 3. Another program from Radio-Canada, Rendez-vous Podium, will begin airing on October 18, showcasing not just sports but also the narratives behind the athletes, their journeys, and their preparation for events such as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

To honor its commitment to gender equity in sports coverage, Wilson stated, “We’re dedicated to delivering equal representation of women’s sports across all our platforms." CBC Sports will bring a range of professional events to light, as it aims to elevate the athletes and stories integral to their sports.

This reconfiguration of CBC's sports programming exemplifies a significant shift in approach, indicating a broader acknowledgment of women’s sports in the Canadian sports broadcasting climate.

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Source: Robert Miller · www.cbc.ca

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