NHL Blackouts in Canada Explained (2026) — What’s Blacked Out and Why
Understand NHL blackout rules in Canada: regional restrictions, streaming blackouts, and how to know if a game is blacked out in your area.
Last updated: 2026-03-15
What Is a Blackout?
A blackout is when a game that would normally be available on a streaming service is blocked in your area because a local TV network holds the exclusive broadcast rights. Blackouts are designed to protect the value of regional broadcasts — they push you toward watching on the local channel instead of a streaming alternative.
In Canada, blackouts mainly affect streaming services like NHL Live, NBA League Pass, and MLB.TV. Cable and Sportsnet+/TSN+ subscribers are generally unaffected.
NHL Blackout Rules in Canada
Sportsnet+ Premium — No NHL Blackouts
Good news: Sportsnet+ Premium does not black out any Canadian NHL games. Because Sportsnet holds national rights and all regional feeds are included, every game that airs on any Sportsnet channel streams on Sportsnet+ regardless of your location in Canada.
TSN+ — No NHL Blackouts
TSN+ streams all TSN-broadcast NHL games across Canada with no regional blackouts. If the game is on TSN, you can stream it on TSN+ no matter where in Canada you are.
NHL Live — Regional Blackouts Apply
NHL Live (the league's own streaming service) blacks out games that are being shown on a regional Sportsnet or TSN feed in your area. For example, if the Oilers are playing on Sportsnet West, the game may be blacked out on NHL Live in Alberta.
NBA Blackout Rules in Canada
NBA League Pass blacks out all Toronto Raptors games that air on TSN or Sportsnet within Canada. This means most Raptors games are unavailable on League Pass for Canadian subscribers. Non-Raptors games are generally available without blackout.
To watch blacked-out Raptors games, you need TSN+ (carries most Raptors games) or Sportsnet+ (select games).
MLB Blackout Rules in Canada
MLB.TV blacks out all Toronto Blue Jays games across the entire country of Canada because Sportsnet holds exclusive national rights. Unlike NHL blackouts (which are regional), Blue Jays blackouts apply everywhere in Canada. Use Sportsnet+ to stream Blue Jays games.
How to Avoid Blackouts
| Service | What's Blacked Out | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| NHL Live | Regional Sportsnet/TSN games | Sportsnet+ or TSN+ |
| NBA League Pass | Raptors games on TSN/SN | TSN+ or Sportsnet+ |
| MLB.TV | All Blue Jays games in Canada | Sportsnet+ |
| Sportsnet+ Premium | No blackouts | — |
| TSN+ | No blackouts | — |
| CBC Gem | No blackouts (HNIC only) | — |
The Bottom Line
If you subscribe to Sportsnet+ Premium and TSN+, you'll have zero blackout issues for NHL and NBA in Canada. For MLB, Sportsnet+ alone covers all Blue Jays games. The league-run services (NHL Live, NBA League Pass, MLB.TV) are best for following American teams — but expect Canadian team blackouts.
Check What's Available Tonight
Showdar shows you the exact channel for every game — so you always know where to watch without worrying about blackouts.