More blackouts lifted online for hockey fans this season

Rogers NHL GameCentre LIVE unlocks more English and French online streaming rights so fans can follow their favourite teams anywhere they are playing 

Free subscription for Rogers wireless data and Hi-Speed Internet customers until end of year

TORONTO, Sept. 3, 2014 /CNW/ - 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 over 1000 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 over 50 per cent more games this season. This includes live streams of national games including Hockey Night in Canada every Saturday, and for the first time ever 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.  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 les Canadiens (60 games) and les Sénateurs (54 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, 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 over 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.

"The number of games is incredible.  Now I can catch every team, and all the players, in the games I want to watch. Any passionate hockey fan who wants more games, and better choice is going to love this app," said Mark Messier, NHL alumnus and Rogers NHL Hockey Ambassador. 

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 over 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 www.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 December 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 les Canadiens (60 games) and les Sénateurs (54 games) regional games for $59.99. Standard data charges apply. For more information visit www.rogers.com/nhl.

NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup and the word mark NHL Winter Classic are registered trademarks and NHL GameCentre LIVE, GameCentre LIVE, NHL Vault, NHL All-Star Game and NHL Centre Ice are trademarks of the National Hockey League.  NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams.  © NHL 2014.  All Rights Reserved.

About Rogers Communications Inc.

Rogers Communications is a leading diversified public Canadian communications and media company. We are Canada's largest provider of wireless communications services and one of Canada's leading providers of cable television, high-speed Internet and telephony services to consumers and businesses. Through Rogers Media, we are engaged in radio and television broadcasting, televised shopping, magazines and trade publications, sports entertainment, and digital media.

We are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange RCI and on the New York Stock Exchange RCI.

SOURCE Rogers Communications Inc.