After 18 years on the air, “Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition” has been canceled, as announced on Friday. The Punjabi-language sportscast expressed that since its debut in 2008, the show had brought the community closer to the beloved game. It highlighted the stories of South Asian players and families, providing a unique space in Canadian sports. The statement, thanking loyal viewers, emphasized the pride in what had been accomplished together.
Rogers Sportsnet, the national rights-holder for NHL games, described the decision to cancel the show as a challenging one. The company acknowledged the significance of the broadcasts to many Punjabi-speaking hockey fans, despite the audience levels not being sufficient for long-term sustainability.
Jagraj Lalli, a commentator on the show since the fall, shared his shock upon learning about the cancellation. Reflecting on his childhood dream of being in such a role, he vowed to preserve the show’s legacy and connections. Besides connecting families to sports, Lalli highlighted the representation the show offered to budding broadcasters in the Punjabi community.
The online response from fans showcased disappointment over the cancellation, with many expressing fond memories of the show. Some users shared personal connections to the program, emphasizing its importance in representing diversity in hockey.
For the last season, the show’s average audience was reported to be around 1,500 viewers, with most games drawing fewer than 1,000 viewers. An alumnus of the show, Bhupinder Singh Hundal, also shared his thoughts online, recalling the impact the program had on his career and the representation it provided for the Punjabi community on a national platform.
The cancellation of “Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition” follows CBC’s decision to cease broadcasting the traditional “Hockey Night in Canada” after nearly a century due to the inability to reach a new sublicensing agreement with Sportsnet. Additionally, Rogers Sports and Media shut down Vancouver’s sports radio station, Sportsnet 650, in July after almost ten years on the air.