Sports OTT Landscape in Canada

Executive Summary

TV network groups Bell Media and Rogers Media have branched out into digital sports streaming with new services, while digital media giants Facebook, Twitter and Amazon, and independent services such as DAZN, have also entered the market.

• How many internet users in Canada watch sports coverage or highlights online? GlobalWebIndex Q3 2018 reporting showed that 37% of internet users in Canada watched sports coverage or highlights online, 5 percentage points higher than a year before. The 2018 penetration figure for Canada was well below the global average of 56% but was on par with similar markets like the US and the UK.
• Which media company owns the digital rights to the National Hockey League (NHL) in Canada? In 2013, the CBC was outbid by local media giant Rogers Media for the contract to broadcast the NHL, the country’s most popular sport. Digital streaming and over-the-top (OTT) offerings were part of Rogers Media’s plans for the NHL rights, and it has seen double-digit subscriber growth in the past year for its NHL Live offering.
• Which social media platforms are doing sports streaming in Canada? Facebook, Twitter and Amazon all have struck deals to show a limited number of baseball and football games, as well as tennis, golf and Formula One racing.
• Are Canadians interested in esports? In the past few years, intense consumer interest in esports in Canada has led media companies, pay TV providers, OTT services, ad agencies and event organizers to increase their investments in the burgeoning sport. This business activity seems on track to continue in 2019.

KEY STAT: GlobalWebIndex Q3 2018 reporting showed that 37% of internet users in Canada watched sports coverage or highlights online.

WHAT’S IN THIS REPORT? This report surveys the sports streaming industries in Canada. We catalog streaming services, analyze market trends and data, and provide takeaways for marketers.

This is part of a collection of 11 reports. To access each report, read the global overview "Sports OTT Landscape 2019."