What’s Really Changing for Montreal Canadiens Fans? The Future of Watching Habs Hockey Might Not Look Like Anything You’ve Seen Before

For decades, being a Montreal Canadiens fan has meant gathering with friends and family, tuning in to familiar voices, and never missing a moment of the action on the ice. The thrill of a last-minute goal, the heartbreak of a close loss, and the excitement of following every twist and turn of the season—these are the experiences that unite generations of Habs supporters, whether you’re watching from your living room, a local bar, or even on the go with your phone in hand.

But as the world of sports broadcasting undergoes its most dramatic transformation in years, Canadiens fans are about to find themselves at the center of a new era—one that promises more options than ever before, but also brings a wave of uncertainty and, for some, frustration. The days when you could simply flip to RDS or TVA Sports and expect to catch every game are fading fast. Instead, a new landscape is emerging, shaped by powerful streaming platforms, shifting alliances, and a television rights deal that is already making headlines and sparking heated debates among fans.

What does this mean for you, the loyal supporter who just wants to watch every game? Will you need to juggle multiple subscriptions just to follow your team? Are the familiar voices of Pierre Houde and Marc Denis staying, or will you be forced to get used to new commentators and unfamiliar platforms? And what about the cost—will being a die-hard Habs fan become a luxury only some can afford? These are the questions echoing through social media, sports talk shows, and living rooms across Quebec and beyond.

If you’ve been following the rumors, you already know that names like Amazon, Crave, Rogers, RDS, and TVA Sports are being tossed around as the new gatekeepers of Canadiens hockey. Each platform wants its share of the action, and each has its own vision for how games should be delivered to fans. But what’s really going on behind the scenes? Why are these changes happening now, and how will they reshape your experience as a fan—not just next season, but for years to come?

There’s also the matter of tradition. For many, the voices and rhythms of Habs broadcasts are as much a part of the team’s identity as the iconic red, white, and blue sweaters. With new platforms entering the mix, will those traditions survive, or are we on the verge of a broadcasting revolution that could change the way we follow hockey forever?

As the dust settles on the new television rights agreement, one thing is certain: the way you watch the Montreal Canadiens is about to change in ways both exciting and unexpected. But just how big will those changes be—and what will they mean for you, the fan? The answers might surprise you. Read on to find out what’s really at stake as the Canadiens prepare to enter a bold new broadcasting era.

Montreal Canadiens

Photo credit: Canadiens / X

These days, platforms are taking up more and more space, and we can expect that to continue in the same direction for the coming years.

Since the new television rights agreement was signed a few weeks ago, there have been many questions among Tricolore fans.

Whether it’s Amazon, Crave, Rogers, RDS, or TVA Sports, everyone wants a piece of the pie.

A topic that matters to us, because we don’t want to miss any games.

The changes should begin next season, meaning 2026-2027.

Furthermore, the number of regular-season games would increase to 84.

Crave Set to Carry 15 Habs Games in French

According to information shared by Max Lalonde on BPM Sports, Crave would broadcast 15 Montreal Canadiens games in French next season.

“According to Max Lalonde today on BPM Sports, Crave will stream 15 Habs games in French next season.

They’ll apparently use the RDS broadcast team, so Pierre Houde and Marc Denis will call the games on Crave.”

– Habs On Reddit

Rest assured, the RDS broadcast team would be involved, which means Pierre Houde and Marc Denis could call the games on Crave.

Some change, but not too much. In other words, the same atmosphere, the same way of describing the game, but on another platform.

For its part, RDS/TSN extended its regional agreement with the Canadiens, which means the network will continue to broadcast a large portion of the games, namely 45 games.

We therefore end up with a mix: a bit of Crave, a bit of RDS, and a bit of TVA Sports.

So there would be a much more fragmented sharing of rights than what we know today.

A nice mix that means, to watch every game, you’ll need subscriptions to several platforms.

Some people are excited about having more options, but others are worried about the cost, accessibility, and simplicity of watching a game.

Personally, I like Monday night games on Amazon, so I’m curious to see what a game broadcast on Crave will look like.