New streaming fee structure shuts out some Maple Leafs fans

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Even with the Maple Leafs losing three games in a row (and perhaps because of it), Monday’s game against the San Jose Sharks at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena felt like must-see TV for this early in the NHL season.

Good luck with that, thanks to Rogers latest brazen attempt to extract more cash from viewers.

Unless you were a Sportsnet+ subscriber (in some cases for as much as $35 a month) forget about seeing the ongoing drama of Leafs rookie Gavin McKenna and the lone visit to Toronto of young Sharks superstar Macklin Celebrini.

Even though it was announced a month ago, when Monday’s 7:30 p.m. puck drop at Scotiabank Arena arrived, the predicted outrage from disgruntled viewers arrived full force on social media and elsewhere.

It was the loudest reaction yet of the new reality facing the TV consumption of games played by Canada’s NHL teams.

While news has been out for more than a month now and other Canadian markets have already taken the hit, this is the first time Rogers’ new streaming plan for its Monday Night Hockey format hits broadest as the Leafs make their debut in the new format.

One of the building blocks of Rogers’ new 12-year, $11-billion deal as Canadian rights holders kicks in this season is that Monday night package, one that will cost more for the majority of cable customers in the country.

In announcing details of its broadcast plans last month, it was revealed that those games will no longer be available for free to the majority of cable subscribers in the country.

Buried in the details was the downer that the package will “stream exclusively on Sportsnet+” — a bold play to boost subscribers to the growing service, or get Canadians to switch to Rogers as their cable provider.

While this isn’t breaking news, you know how ridiculous moves like this works.

There would have been thousands of Leafs fans filled with rage on Monday night when they attempted to watch the Leafs game and either learn or are reminded of the latest expense in being a TV sports fan.

Why will so many Leafs games be streamed?

The date with the Sharks is the first of 13 Monday night contests that appear exclusively on Sportsnet+, the pricy streaming arm that Rogers is foisting on viewers this season.

Leafs fans won’t have to wait long for Round 2 with next Monday’s game at Calgary also on the schedule (and affecting two Canadian markets.)

When combined with six Leafs games on the Amazon Prime Wednesday night package — which came via a sub-licensing deal with Rogers — almost a quarter of Toronto games will be streamed this season.

So why so many Leafs games? Let’s start by saying sports fans best get used to it.

Both Sportsnet and TSN are owned by telecommunications giants that are trying to maximize revenue while getting ahead of the curve of chord cutters — those walking away from expensive cable packages.

But of course the Leafs are going to be the centrepiece of any such plan for Rogers, for multiple reasons. Much to the annoyance of other markets, the Leafs are still the most popular of Canada’s seven NHL teams and not by small margin.

And now that the Rogers purchase of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment is complete, of course the attempt at profiting off the popular franchise is only going to be further entrenched.

How costly is it for Leafs fans?

Short answer? It depends on where you buy the package and with who.

The standard price for Sportsnet+ is $34.99 per month, though there were indications that the add-on for Monday Night Hockey only was to be $12.95.

As well, those already subscribing to Rogers cable packages were able to get the package for no extra charge, a bold play by the company that owns the Leafs, Sportsnet and the cable company to get viewers to switch to their company.

When the original Monday Night Hockey schedule was announced, Rogers officials noted that the hope was that rival cable companies would foot the cost of Sportsnet+ for subscribers.

As many have noted to Airwaves, the Sportsnet+ debacle has made seeking pirate services more attractive than ever.

“I already had TSN and Sportsnet and Prime,” one fan wrote us.. “Tonight I don’t get the game. I’ve had enough.”

We’re guessing he is not alone.

What is Monday Night Hockey?

The Monday night format is Sportsnet’s second night of national coverage, complementing its showcase Saturday Night Hockey programming.

The schedule is heavy on Canadian-based teams, with all seven featured prominently throughout the season.

This season’s schedule begins with Ottawa versus Boston and Winnipeg versus Pittsburgh on Oct. 5. The Senators are also on MNH the following week when they face New Jersey.

The Monday Night Hockey format is fronted by veteran Sportsnet host David Amber, who is joined by Luke Gazdic and newcomer Justin Williams.

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