In the world of sports broadcasting, fans want one thing: reliable, affordable, and accessible coverage of their favorite teams. Unfortunately, Sportsnet+, one of Canada’s biggest sports streaming services, consistently falls short on nearly all fronts. From blackouts and login restrictions to a cancellation process seemingly designed to frustrate, Sportsnet+ has earned a reputation not for its coverage, but for how poorly it treats paying subscribers. And now, with a massive price hike, the backlash is louder than ever.
1. A Nightmarish Cancellation Process
Trying to cancel Sportsnet+ is like trying to get out of a gym membership in the 1990s — deliberately confusing and riddled with hurdles. The company doesn’t let users cancel directly through mobile apps or easily within account settings. Many customers report being forced to go through several menus, re-enter login information, and sometimes even call customer service, just to confirm a cancellation.
This kind of friction-heavy cancellation process seems intentionally designed to retain subscribers who simply don’t want to pay anymore. It’s not just poor design — it feels deceptive.
2. Frequent Blackouts Despite Paying for Access
One of the most infuriating aspects of Sportsnet+ is its extensive use of regional blackouts. Even if you live in the team’s home city and are paying for the premium plan, there’s a good chance your game is blacked out due to licensing restrictions. That means you're paying full price for incomplete access — an experience that feels especially insulting during critical games or playoff seasons.
Worse, there’s little transparency about which games will be blacked out before purchasing a subscription. The fine print buries the reality that “live” doesn’t always mean “available to watch.”
3. Login Restrictions & Being Kicked Out
If you think you can share your Sportsnet+ subscription with a family member, think again. The service frequently logs users out without warning, especially when accessed on multiple devices. Some users even report being kicked out mid-game with a vague “too many logins” message — even if they’re the only one using the app.
Compare this to services like Netflix or DAZN, which clearly communicate device limits and allow reasonable simultaneous streaming. Sportsnet+ comes across as both stingy and unreliable, often alienating the very fans it's supposed to serve.
4. Outrageous Price Gouging
But perhaps the biggest insult to fans came with the recent price hike, which left many subscribers furious. The monthly subscription cost of Sportsnet+ has ballooned to over $35/month in some regions — up from much more reasonable rates just a few years ago.
This kind of price gouging wouldn’t sting so much if the service had improved, but it hasn’t. The same blackouts persist. The interface remains clunky. Customer support is still difficult to reach. It’s as if Sportsnet+ is daring fans to walk away, betting they won’t — because they know Canadian sports coverage alternatives are limited.
Final Thoughts
Sportsnet+ has managed to take some of the most exciting content in Canadian sports — NHL, MLB, NBA, and more — and wrap it in one of the most user-hostile experiences available. Fans deserve better. For a service that charges premium prices, delivers incomplete coverage, and builds walls around basic account management, it’s hard not to call it what it is: the worst sports streaming service in Canada.
If Rogers and Sportsnet want to keep fans, they need to fix these core issues. Until then, more and more viewers will look for alternatives — or worse for the network, turn to pirated streams that offer better reliability, no blackouts, and no hoops to jump through.
For Canadian hockey fans, Sportsnet+ has become more of a headache than a solution. Once seen as a convenient way to stream NHL games, it’s now notorious for its confusing blackout rules, login issues, and most recently, a steep price hike that left many subscribers outraged.
The good news? You don’t have to put up with it. Whether you're looking to follow your favorite NHL team or catch every out-of-market matchup, there are better, cheaper, and more reliable ways to watch hockey in Canada — especially if you’re willing to use a VPN.
Here’s a breakdown of the best alternatives to Sportsnet+ for watching NHL hockey, and why they might be worth switching to.
🥅 1. ESPN+ (with VPN) – The Gold Standard for NHL Streaming
Though not available directly in Canada, ESPN+ has the U.S. rights to stream over 1,000 out-of-market NHL games per season. It’s a game-changer for fans who don’t want to deal with regional blackouts and high subscription fees.
✅ Pros:
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Extensive coverage of out-of-market NHL games
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Cheaper than Sportsnet+ (around $11 USD/month)
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Works seamlessly with a VPN (e.g., NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark)
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Supports multiple devices and doesn’t kick users out
❌ Cons:
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Requires setting up a U.S. payment method (can be bypassed with gift cards or PayPal)
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No access to Hockey Night in Canada or regionally blacked-out Canadian games
Verdict:
If you primarily care about watching your favorite team, especially if they’re outside your region, ESPN+ is far better value than Sportsnet+.
🏒 2. NHL.tv (Now Folded into Sportsnet+, But Still Works via VPN for U.S. users)
Before Sportsnet+ absorbed NHL Live in Canada, NHL.tv was the go-to source for comprehensive NHL streaming. Today, Canadians are geo-blocked, but using a VPN can restore access to this version through U.S. subscriptions.
✅ Pros:
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High-definition streaming of every game not blacked out
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Access to archived games, replays, and multi-camera views
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Lower annual pricing compared to Sportsnet+ (approx. $140/year USD)
❌ Cons:
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Needs VPN + U.S. login credentials
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Still subject to some blackouts without location spoofing
Verdict:
An ideal option for hardcore hockey fans who want full-season coverage and don't mind setting up a VPN.
🧊 3. TSN Direct – A Decent Backup for Regional Games
If you’re a fan of Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, or select Winnipeg Jets games, TSN Direct might have your regional rights covered. While not a comprehensive NHL package, it does offer access to some regional games not available on Sportsnet+.
✅ Pros:
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Reliable streaming quality
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Cheaper than Sportsnet+ ($19.99/month)
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Covers regional broadcasts that Sportsnet+ misses
❌ Cons:
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Limited NHL coverage
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Also subject to regional blackouts
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Lacks playoff or national coverage
Verdict:
Not a standalone solution, but can work as a complementary option if you follow a team covered by TSN.
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