Montreal Canadiens and Bell Media have announced a landmark, long-term partnership extension, ensuring that TSN and RDS will remain the regional broadcast home of the Canadiens for years to come. The deal ensures that Canadiens games will continue to air on TSN and RDS, as well as their digital platforms, for subscribers in Quebec and Atlantic Canada.
The agreement will give Montreal fans access to games on multiple platforms. 50 games will be broadcast on TSN, and 45 on RDS.
France Margaret Bélanger, President of Groupe CH Sports and Entertainment, expressed her enthusiasm for the extended collaboration, stating, "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". She added that the agreement will allow fans to enjoy their Canadiens in various forms with industry-leading production, whether through live games or other programming.
Shawn Redmond, VP of Bell Media Sports, echoed Bélanger's sentiments, calling the Montreal Canadiens "an iconic franchise with a dynamic roster of exciting young stars". He added, "With this new long-term agreement in place, we look forward to continuing to bring Canadiens games to TSN and RDS subscribers". Redmond also acknowledged the strong and successful partnership between Bell Media and the Canadiens, emphasizing that regional broadcasts are a key element of TSN and RDS's hockey programming.
While the exact length and financial details of the deal were not disclosed, the agreement solidifies the relationship between the Montreal Canadiens and Bell Media.
Notably, beginning in 2026, RDS will broadcast fewer games, decreasing from 60 to 45 per season. Meanwhile, TSN will continue to broadcast 50 regular-season games each year. Rogers announced that they had renewed their national rights deal with the NHL in the spring for 12 years for $11 billion. Sportsnet or other Rogers-controlled channels will broadcast the remaining 34 games in English.
The agreement 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. BCE, the owner of Bell Media, owns 18 per cent of the Canadiens' parent company.
In addition to live game coverage, viewers can get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the Canadiens with Crave's "THE REBUILD: INSIDE THE MONTREAL CANADIENS". The documentary series became a success in Quebec and Canada in 2024 and ranked among Crave's Top 5 non-fiction titles in French and English. The current season follows the team throughout the 2024-25 season.
