Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition has officially ended after an 18-year television run, bringing a close to a multilingual broadcast that connected South Asian hockey fans.
The Impact of a Groundbreaking Broadcast
Launched to bring National Hockey League games to Punjabi-speaking audiences, the show aired on OMNI Television, a multilingual, free, over-the-air channel based in Canada, according to reporting from The New York Times. For nearly two decades, the production featured prominent South Asian broadcasters and presenters who helped shape a unique space in Canadian sports media.
“For 18 years, this show brought our community closer to the game we love,” the program stated on X. “It shared the stories of South Asian players and families and created a space that was truly unique in Canadian sports. We are incredibly proud of what we built together.”
Harnarayan Singh stood out among the program’s contributors, achieving worldwide fame with his passionate call of the decisive goal scored by Pittsburgh Penguins forward Nick Bonino against the San Jose Sharks in Game 1 of the 2016 Stanley Cup Final. As noted by The New York Times, the program also showcased host Randip Janda, who broke ground as NHL history’s first full-time radio announcer of South Asian heritage while covering Vancouver Canucks games for Sportsnet.
Broadcasting Landscape Shifts
The cancellation follows a major structural shift in Canadian hockey broadcasting. In June, it was announced that the flagship Hockey Night in Canada television program would undergo significant changes after 74 years on the air under its previous configuration. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and Rogers Communications did not renew their 12-year sublicensing agreement, which had previously allowed Hockey Night in Canada to air on Rogers-owned channels including Sportsnet.
Rogers is set to begin a new 12-year national broadcasting agreement to air NHL games, with Amazon Prime Video carrying Wednesday night games and select Stanley Cup playoff matchups. Meanwhile, CBC retains ownership of the Hockey Night in Canada brand and intends to utilize it in different ways moving forward, CBC head of public affairs Chuck Thompson told The Athletic in June.