After being on the air for 18 years, “Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition” has been canceled, as announced on Friday. The Punjabi-language sports show expressed gratitude for bringing the community closer to the beloved game since its inception in 2008. Highlighting the stories of South Asian players and families, the program created a truly distinctive space in Canadian sports.
Rogers Sportsnet, the national NHL rights-holder, described the cancellation as a challenging decision due to insufficient audience levels for long-term sustainability. Acknowledging the significance of the broadcasts to many Punjabi-speaking hockey enthusiasts, the company expressed gratitude to the on-air team, production staff, and loyal viewers for their support over the years.
Commentator Jagraj Lalli, who had dreamt of the role since childhood, expressed shock at the show’s cancellation. Despite the end of the program, Lalli emphasized that the show’s mission and the connections it fostered will endure. He pledged to uphold the bridge between the Punjabi language, community, and North American sports.
Lalli also highlighted the show’s role in providing representation for aspiring broadcasters from the Punjabi community. He recalled the emotional moment of his debut on the show, covering a Vancouver Canucks game, and the pride he felt in honoring his family and heritage through his work.
The cancellation of “Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition” evoked disappointment among fans online, with many expressing fond memories of the show. The last season’s viewership averaged 1,500 viewers, with most games attracting fewer than 1,000 viewers, according to Sportsnet.
Former show contributor Bhupinder Singh Hundal reflected on the show’s impact, stating that it opened doors and represented Punjabi language, culture, and community on a national platform. The decision to cancel the show follows CBC’s previous announcement in June that it would no longer air “Hockey Night in Canada” after nearly a century due to a failed sublicensing deal with Sportsnet. Rogers Sports and Media also shut down Vancouver’s Sportsnet 650 sports radio station after almost a decade on the air in July.