Rogers NHL GameCentre LIVE lifts more blackouts

TORONTO – Tablets and smartphones are your ultimate ticket to the 2014-15 NHL season with Rogers NHL GameCentre LIVE, an upgraded online destination for streaming live NHL action on any screen including more than 1,000 regular-season games, the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, and the 2015 NHL All-Star Game.

Rogers NHL GameCentre LIVE brings Canadians more than 50 per cent more games this season, and a subscription to the service is free for all Rogers wireless data and Hi-Speed Internet customers until end of year. This includes live streams of national games including Hockey Night in Canada every Saturday, Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey, and Hometown Hockey on Sundays. Also starting this season, fans with a regional Sportsnet subscription with a participating BDU can live-stream their local team’s regional games.  (Maclean’s and Sportsnet are owned by Rogers.)

Rogers NHL GameCentre LIVE available here.

Previously, Canucks fans living in Vancouver couldn’t watch their local team on NHL GameCentre LIVE. This season with Rogers NHL GameCentre LIVE and a regional Sportsnet subscription, they can now catch up to 100 per cent of Canucks national and regional games online.

Starting this January, fans in Quebec with Rogers NHL GameCentre LIVE and a TVA Sports subscription from a participating television provider can watch live French broadcasts of over 100 national games featuring all of the Canadian teams. This October, fans outside of Montreal and Ottawa broadcast regions can also get up to 111 games broadcast live in French, including Canadiens (60 games) and Senators (54 games) games, on both Rogers NHL GameCentre LIVE and on TV with NHL Centre Ice.

“We talked to fans in local rinks and living rooms across the country, and it’s clear they want access to more of the games and teams that matter to them,” said Keith Pelley, president of Rogers Media. “We’re bringing fans national games and lifting more local blackouts so they can watch the teams and players they love. We’re also offering the app free to Rogers wireless and Hi-Speed Internet customers until the end of the year. And this is just a warm-up — more fan experiences will be revealed before the puck drops.”

Mobile video use is exploding and sports is leading the charge with roughly half of Canadian households having a tablet, and more than 83 per cent of Canadians owning a mobile phone. Rogers data shows there was a 50 per cent spike in traffic during the final men’s Olympic hockey games as Rogers customers tuned in to catch all the action live on their phones and tablets.

Fellow NHL alumnus and Rogers NHL GameCentre LIVE enthusiast Luc Robitaille said, “Fans will be able to watch a robust package of games in French, giving francophones the chance to view great NHL action where, when and how they want.”

Want to relive Messier and Robitaille’s action-packed games? Rogers NHL GameCentre LIVE turns back time with access to full-length archived games this season, including more than 800 memorable classics from the NHL vault dating back to 1960. Fans can also get extra ice features like on-demand full-length and condensed replays and highlights.

Today’s announcement is the first of many that will significantly change how Canadians watch hockey. More details will be revealed closer to puck drop.

Rogers NHL GameCentre LIVE will be available through rogers.com/nhl and the NHL mobile app on computers, phones and tablets this October, with more devices and screens coming soon.

Rogers wireless data and Hi-Speed Internet customers will get a free subscription until Dec. 31, 2014.

Fans who are not Rogers customers can subscribe to Rogers NHL GameCentre LIVE for $199.99 for the full season. Customers can also subscribe to a French-only package that includes Canadiens (60 games) and Senators (54 games) regional games for $59.99. Standard data charges apply. For more information visit rogers.com/nhl.