After airing for 18 years, “Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition” has been canceled, as announced by the show on Friday. The Punjabi-language sports broadcast expressed how it had brought the community closer to their beloved game since its inception in 2008. The show highlighted the stories of South Asian players and families, creating a unique space within Canadian sports.
Rogers Sportsnet, the national NHL rights-holder, referred to the cancellation as a challenging decision. Despite recognizing the significant impact on Punjabi-speaking hockey fans, the company stated that the audience levels were insufficient to sustain long-term production.
Jagraj Lalli, a commentator on the show, expressed shock upon learning about the cancellation. He emphasized that the show’s legacy of diversity and connection would endure, pledging to maintain the bond between the Punjabi language, community, and North American sports.
Apart from fostering a connection between families and sports, Lalli highlighted the show’s role in providing representation for aspiring broadcasters within the Punjabi community. He reminisced about his emotional debut covering a Vancouver Canucks game, reflecting on his family’s influence on his journey.
Fans took to social media to express disappointment over the cancellation, reminiscing about the show’s impact on representation and diversity in hockey. Despite the show’s end, its influence and significance were deeply appreciated by viewers and former contributors.
The cancellation of “Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition” follows CBC’s decision to discontinue broadcasting the traditional “Hockey Night in Canada” after failing to reach a sublicensing agreement with Sportsnet. The closure of the Punjabi edition adds to a series of recent media changes, including the shutdown of Vancouver’s Sportsnet 650 radio station by Rogers Sports and Media.