Frustrated Canadian hockey fans irate over new streaming costs: ‘First game I missed in a decade’

See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source

How do Maple Leafs fans feel about being gouged to watch their team for 13 Monday nights this season, games that were previously part of their regular cable package?

About what you’d expect.

While news of the Rogers plan to shift all of its Monday Night Hockey contests to “exclusive streaming” on Sportsnet+ has been out for more than a month now, it hit loudest when Canada’s most popular team made its debut on the cash-grab initiative this week.

Once it became apparent that Monday’s much-anticipated contest between the Leafs and San Jose Sharks was nowhere to be found on the regular cable grid, disgruntled viewers erupted.

“I’m cancelling Sportsnet over this,” wrote one viewer on X in response to our Monday night column explaining the situation. “I already pay for every Sportsnet channel, yet I’m expected to pay $12.99 a month for Sportsnet+ to watch the Leafs?

“It’s not about the money, it’s the principle. Enough double-dipping. Sportsnet has lost another customer.”

Similar sentiment was shared by many as responses became angry and at-times profane. While Rogers isn’t the first to go down the gouging route — streaming is increasingly becoming a reality we see on both Sportsnet and TSN — the Monday Night Hockey example is certainly the most brazen example yet.

It would be one thing to have just a handful of Leafs games go down the streaming path (as happens with Apple TV Blue Jays games), but the Leafs are scheduled to appear 12 more times on Sportsnet+, including next Monday’s game against the Flames, giving Rogers the rare opportunity to fire up two Canadian markets at once.

Following are some of the responses readers fired our way (either below the online version of our story posted on Monday, or in comments on X.)

Fed up with paying up

The biggest beef, as you would expect, is the additional cost as viewers are fed up with rising cable costs for less programming and at times, eroding quality. As Rogers has pointed out, Rogers Xfinity, subscribers get the Monday Night Hockey package for no extra cost. Others, though, are forced to shell out as much as $34.99 per month for Sportsnet+.

“Can’t afford to go to the games, now I can’t afford to watch them,” wrote one responded on X.

“Sorry kids, we can’t afford tickets to the game but at least we can watch it on television. Oops. Greedy @Rogers,” opined another.

And on it went.

“(Bleeping) greedy (bleepers). I hope they go belly up.”

“I took the opportunity to watch Monday Night Football. Maybe Rogers will learn there are other options and people are sick of all the price gouging.”

“Watching hockey is now only for the rich.”

“They’ve totally lost the plot. There’s no value in a $350/year subscription that doesn’t even get you all the games. I’d say listen on the radio, but I’m not sure there’s even a point any more.”

Why are networks turning to streaming?

For the money, of course, but also in an attempt to make up for what is becoming an increasingly fractured business model.

With so many cord cutters among Canadians — those cancelling cable packages as fees continue to rise — cable companies are mining other sources of revenue.

Rogers is not the only guilty party here. TSN subscribers, it is worth noting, no longer have access to NFL games played abroad (in Europe and South America) unless they subscribe to TSN premium.

But with Rogers going all in on 13 Leafs games (and varying numbers from the other six Canadian teams) it’s a significant blow, leading frustrated viewers to wonder where it might end.

“Just the beginning,” wrote one respondent on X. “Get ready. There’s six more days to pay for over the next 12 years.”

“I hope nobody gives in and subscribes to this BS. Make the ratings flop. Listen to it on the radio. The radio broadcast tonight was excellent.”

“First Leaf game I missed in a decade. Screw ‘em.”

What are the repercussions for cable companies?

There are those who feel they can make Rogers suffer in other ways, although history shows an angry mob of frustrated hockey fans aren’t about to bring a telecommunications giant to its knees.

In the moment, though, it is a popular sentiment, once Rogers expects will just go away as viewers grudgingly accept paying more or opt to go without.

“Hey SN. I don’t need to watch hockey or support any advertisers on your platform,” suggested one angry fan. “I am not alone with this stance. You and the NHL might want to remember this.”

“I won’t be a customer of any SN advertisers, either. Enough of this gouging.”

“Rogers is the most greedy company on earth. They can piss off and count this fan out for the second season in a row after 47 years of being a diehard Leafs fan.”

“Happy to say I’ve only watched one NHL game this year. Weaning myself off Leafs and NHL. Feels good to get a life back. Thanks Sportsnet.”

What are the alternatives?

There is a vocal constituency of cord cutters out there who suggest the pirate route, even with its questionable legality.

While we’d never recommend such a measure, it does speak to the depth of the frustration that many already have.

“I watched the San Jose feed on my IPTV,” was one reply to our post on X. “Rogers are extortionists.”

And further to that chorus:

“I absolutely love that I have a IPTV subscription that completely screws Rogers. God I love sticking it to Canadian programming.”

“Forcing people back to Piracy, if that’s what they want.”

And for simplicity, there was this: “Ahoy, matey!”

You can bet Rogers (and other cable providers) take the threat seriously. If too many take the risk of going that route, not only are they losing cord cutters, but digital subscription revenue also takes a hit.

“I tried to go legit and used Sportsnet for one season,” one respondent wrote. “But then they jumped the price up by 30 per cent. These companies don’t care any more. We’re just wallets waiting to be pilfered to them.”

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

1. 

   Celebrity
2. 

   Toronto & GTA
3. 

   Toronto Maple Leafs
4. 

   Canada
5. 

   Columnists