Maple Leafs games are going to be more expensive for Sportsnet viewers as their Sportsnet+ package is increasing from $29.99 to $34.99 in yet another increase.
The streaming service, meant to offer Canadian fans a variety of sports including the NHL, MLB, and NBA is getting pricier for the second year in a row. Already needing to pay for other streaming services such as Amazon Prime to see certain games, this price increase is not going to sit well with loyal fans.
Sportsnet Plus' price has risen 40% over the past two years
The standard package, which offers 'The most Maple Leafs, Oilers, Flames and Canucks games + National Nights* + every game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs' only gets you the games that aren't regionally blacked out, and Sportsnet boasts a range of 50-78 games being broadcasted - quite the difference.
Originally only $24.99+tax monthly in 2024-2025, that price jumped to $29.99+tax for the 2025-26 season, and is jumping yet again to $34.99+tax starting September 22, 2026 for the 2026-27 season.
That's a $10 increase monthly in only two years, which is a 40% percentage increase from the initial price set back in 24-25. For perspective, a person paying monthly in 2024-25 would pay a total of $299.88 before taxes, then $359.88 in 2025-26 and now $419.88 in 2026-27.
If Sportsnet has the maximum allowable games (78 as per the site), that is a total of $3.46 per game based on the annual plan, and $5.40 per game at the lowest end (50 games).
Imagine if you needed to pull out a five-dollar bill and put it into your TV before gaining access to the game? That's essentially what this boils down to when you break it down. Per game, it's getting a lot more expensive just to enjoy a couple hours of sports.
It follows in the same vein as Netflix who started out as a fairly budget option at $10 monthly in 2014 to now being $18.99 for the standard package as the trend of streaming companies increasing their fees.
You do save a bit with the annual plan as the standard package runs you $269.99+tax starting on Sept. 22 which comes out to $305.09 (savings of $114.79, or $9.57 monthly) but you're still needing to take into account the NHL's broadcasting rights with Amazon as well as TSN.
Higher price doesn't mean higher value with Sportsnet Plus
If you were to factor in the Prime price only monthly, you're now at $50.82 just to see solely hockey games, and it ends up being fairly costly to watch on a per game basis.
Now granted, Sportsnet Plus subscribers will get more than just Maple Leafs games. They get access to other NHL teams like Calgary, Vancouver, and Edmonton, as well as Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Raptors broadcasts. There is also an offering for UFC and TNA Wrestling fans as part of the package, so it isn't exclusively paying to only watch one specific team.
But at the end of the day, the price is still increasing significantly.
With other platforms like Disney Plus, Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and even their competitors at TSN with TSN Plus, it's slowly becoming about how to spread the product through different avenues to expand the interest - though those loyal fans are the ones who feel the pinch.
Have streaming services like Sportsnet Plus gotten too expensive for fans?
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