Overview
- The production announced on Friday that Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi will not return for the 2026–27 NHL season after an 18-year run.
- A Sportsnet spokesperson said the show averaged about 1,500 viewers last season and that more than half of games drew fewer than 1,000 viewers, which the network called unsustainable for continued production.
- The broadcast began in 2008, moved to OMNI under Rogers when Canadian NHL rights shifted in 2014, and became widely known for moments such as Harnarayan Singh’s viral 2016 “Bonino, Bonino, Bonino” call.
- The cancellation follows Rogers’ recent move to end its sublicensing deal with CBC and other cost-cutting steps this offseason, including radio closures and on-air personnel changes.
- Community members and former on-air staff expressed disappointment, saying the loss removes a key Punjabi-language entry point to hockey and could shrink opportunities for South Asian representation in Canadian sports media.