Hockey fans can pay hundreds of dollars for premium streaming and still run into a game they cannot watch. But is the NHL actually the most expensive major league to follow? We compared Canadian streaming options for the NHL, NBA, NFL, MLB, MLS, Premier League and CFL—and the answer isn’t as straightforward as the price of a single subscription.
The key difference is access to one team’s games versus live access to as much of an entire league as possible. An inexpensive league pass may exclude national games, and a national package may exclude regional or out-of-market broadcasts. That’s where costs can add up.
2026 sports streaming costs in Canada: at a glance
| League | Illustrative Canadian streaming cost | What you need to know |
|---|---|---|
| NBA | $748.97 using annual/season packages | League Pass + Sportsnet+ Standard + TSN Premium + Prime |
| NHL | $693.98 using annual packages | Sportsnet+ Premium + Prime + TSN Premium; needs vary by region |
| Premier League | $293.99 regular annual rate | Fubo Sports carries all 380 league matches |
| NFL | About $249.99 annually | DAZN NFL Game Pass; verify current checkout offer |
| MLS | $14.99 monthly | Every MLS match on Apple TV; no blackouts |
| CFL | $24.99 monthly | TSN Standard for the main season; select preseason on CFL+ |
| MLB | No fair single all-in figure | MLB.TV plus Canadian and exclusive national partners |
How these estimates work: We used publicly advertised Canadian subscription prices and standard annual/season options where available, without promotions or existing cable bundles. We included separate rights holders when a league pass does not carry all games live. Not every Canadian viewer requires every listed service, and no total below is a guarantee that every game can be watched in every location or language.
NHL: Sportsnet+, Prime Video and regional rights can add up
A Sportsnet+ Premium subscription costs $344.99 per year or $44.99 monthly. Sportsnet says the plan carries national games, out-of-market Canadian matchups and U.S.-versus-U.S. games. That is substantial coverage—but it is not an all-inclusive ticket to every NHL broadcast. See the official Sportsnet+ plans and our breakdown of the 2026 price increases.
For the 2026–27 season, Prime Video exclusively carries Wednesday Night Hockey in Canada: 27 regular-season games, plus two first-round Stanley Cup playoff series and one second-round series. The games are included with Prime, but Prime is still another subscription for viewers who do not already have it. The NHL confirmed the Wednesday schedule.
Regional coverage complicates the picture. Depending on where someone lives and the team they follow, TSN or French-language providers such as RDS and TVA Sports may matter too. TSN Premium is listed at $249.99 annually, while TSN Standard is $24.99 monthly. Fans should confirm their local team’s broadcaster before buying multiple packages.
Illustrative NHL total: $344.99 Sportsnet+ Premium + $99 Prime + $249.99 TSN Premium = $693.98 before tax. This is a comparison scenario for a household using annual subscriptions—not the minimum price every hockey fan must pay or an unconditional guarantee of every game. A viewer without a TSN-regional requirement may spend less; French-language viewing needs may differ. For specific games, check the NHL’s official viewing guide.
NBA: The four-service scenario can be even more expensive
NBA League Pass is attractive for out-of-market basketball, but nationally broadcast games are blacked out live in Canada. The NBA’s own blackout guide, updated October 6, 2026, confirms that distinction. Canadian national rights are shared among Sportsnet, TSN and Prime Video.
Using a reported Canadian League Pass season price of $129.99, plus Sportsnet+ Standard ($269.99 annually), TSN Premium ($249.99 annually) and Prime ($99 annually), the combined example is $748.97 before tax. The League Pass price may vary by purchase platform, offer or plan, so customers should check the Canadian checkout. This example is not a claim that every fan needs four subscriptions year-round.
Under these particular annual-package assumptions, basketball is more expensive than hockey. That alone makes it difficult to label the NHL the undisputed streaming-cost champion.
NFL: Canada has a comparatively simple option
In Canada, DAZN offers NFL Game Pass, which carries comprehensive live NFL coverage, including regular-season and postseason games. Its annual Standard offering has been advertised around $249.99; checkout prices and promotional terms can change. That provides a more straightforward path than buying several separate NHL or NBA packages. The experience differs sharply from the U.S., where out-of-market Sunday games and nationally distributed games can involve separate services.
The point isn’t that every football fan spends exactly $249.99. It is that, in Canada, the NFL has a relatively consolidated streaming route.
MLB: A single sticker price would be misleading
Baseball is unusually difficult to price as a complete live-season package. MLB.TV was offered at a $149.99 USD full-season list price for 2026, but the product isn’t the same as unrestricted access to every game. Select national and exclusive broadcasts are outside the subscription. MLB explains the package and exclusions.
Canadian viewers have Sportsnet’s Blue Jays and other MLB coverage, while Apple TV offers exclusive Friday Night Baseball. Certain special-event rights can involve additional partners. Rather than invent one precise Canadian price that works for everyone, MLB is listed as variable. It can be costly to chase every game, particularly for viewers focused on one team.
Premier League: All 380 games through Fubo
The English Premier League offers a simpler Canadian setup. Fubo confirms it carries all 380 matches in the 2026–27 season. A regular annual Sports plan has been listed at $293.99 before promotions, making the full-league offering easier to understand than a combination of national, regional and out-of-market services.
MLS: The contrast hockey fans will notice
Beginning in 2026, every MLS match is included with an Apple TV subscription at $14.99 per month in Canada, with no league blackouts. The same subscription includes playoff coverage. Apple announced the coverage and price. Paying for 12 months would cost $179.88, but subscribers can pay for only the months they need.
MLS has an advantage that goes beyond the lower monthly price: fans know exactly where to go to find a match. The business model is not identical to the NHL’s, but it demonstrates how much clearer league-wide streaming can be.
CFL: One main broadcaster for the season
For Canadian football, TSN carries the regular season and playoffs, while the CFL’s official 2026 broadcast schedule identifies the television destination for individual games. At $24.99 a month for TSN Standard, six months would amount to $149.94 before tax. Some preseason games are on CFL+, so the precise answer changes if preseason coverage is included.
What is the cheapest way to follow one team?
The table is designed for fans chasing league-wide live coverage—not a shopper who only wants to see their home team. Before subscribing, make a short viewing checklist:
- Start with the team and your location. Local-market rights can determine whether Sportsnet+, TSN, RDS or another service is needed.
- Check exclusives. NHL Wednesday games on Prime and certain NBA national games will not appear live in the usual league-pass feed.
- Compare monthly and annual billing. Paying for only the playing season sometimes wins, especially if you watch few games outside it.
- Check existing household subscriptions. Prime or Apple TV may already be paid for, so its incremental cost could be zero.
- Never assume “all games” from an advertisement. Review regional blackout rules and playoff rights before checkout.
Verdict: Is the NHL the most expensive league to stream?
Not in every scenario. Using the annual-package examples above, comprehensive NBA access can cost more than the equivalent NHL package for a Canadian household. MLB also resists a simple price ranking because of fragmented rights, and an American fan’s costs can be entirely different.
Still, the NHL ranks among the priciest and most confusing choices for Canadians who want broad live coverage. Sportsnet+ Premium is a serious subscription on its own; Prime exclusives and regional broadcasters can push the bill much higher. Compare that with MLS or the Premier League, where fans can find every match on one primary service.
The better question may not be “Which league costs the most?” but “Why can sports fans pay premium prices and still have to hunt for the game?”
HockeyGamedayTV analysis. Pricing and viewing-rights check: October 18, 2026. All Canadian figures are before taxes. Regular advertised rates, regional availability and blackout restrictions can change. This article is independently researched and is not sponsored by the streaming providers discussed.
