“$55 to watch your team lose weekly” "Watch other sports": NHL fans react to ‘ridiculous’ price hike for streaming Maple Leafs games

NHL fans are unhappy about the price increase for streaming Toronto Maple Leafs games. NHL insider David Alter reported that after Sportsnet’s recent price hike, fans in the Leafs' broadcast area will now pay $54.98 per month to access all three streaming services needed to watch every game.

"For viewers in the Leafs broadcast region, the cost to subscribe to all three streaming services to watch the club will increase to $54.98 per month after Sportsnet's price increase," Alter posted.

Fans quickly shared their frustration online. They took to X to give their opinions.

One fan said, “$55 to watch your team lose weekly is crazy.”

Another fan simply called it “Ridiculous.”

"Why is Sportsnet even increasing?! They lost the WWE license, so WWE Network is gone." a fan wrote.

Here are some more reactions from fans on X:

"Drives me crazyyy how I can’t get this game but I can get the sens game im hoping they change it up in the near future" a fan wrote.

"Only to encounter random blackouts along with a lighter wallet because NHL can’t get their shit together. No thanks! Arrr matey! To the seas this pirate goes 🏴‍☠️🦜⛵️📺" another wrote.

"😂😂😂 that’s what happens when Rogers is aloud to buy a majority stake in MLSE they are just going to push it to the customer it’s absolute bullshit but thankfully I have to worry about it" one fan said.

"Lol no thanks. I'll keep streaming illegally. Fuck these blackouts. I live in kitchener and leaf home games are blacked out. I will never pay to watch sports." a fan said.

Details of the raised prices for the Toronto Maple Leafs games

Toronto Maple Leafs fans now need three subscriptions to watch all games: Sportsnet+, TSN and Prime Video. Starting in January, this will cost $54.98 per month, as Sportsnet+ has raised its monthly price from $19.99 to $24.99 — a 25% increase. The annual Sportsnet+ plan also increased from $179.99 to $199.99.

Sportsnet broadcasts the most games, with 50, while TSN shows 26 local NHL games and Prime Video streams six national games. Rogers Communications, which owns Sportsnet, recently increased its stake in the Maple Leafs’ parent company to 75%. Unlike TSN, Sportsnet didn’t offer discounts this season, and fans have expressed frustration over the rising costs.