Sportsnet+ Blackout Rules Explained: Standard vs. Premium (2026–27)
Find out why regional hockey games still get blacked out on Sportsnet+, the difference between Standard and Premium, and when TSN or Amazon Prime Video holds the broadcast.
Sportsnet+ Standard
Regional Blackouts ApplySportsnet+ Standard ($19.99/mo) is a digital streaming alternative to a basic Sportsnet cable channel package. It strictly enforces local broadcast territory walls:
- National Broadcasts: Unlocks all Saturday night national games and Sportsnet+ national streaming exclusives coast-to-coast.
- In-Market Sportsnet Teams: Unlocks regional games ONLY if you live inside the home territory of a Sportsnet-carried team (Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, or Toronto's Sportsnet Ontario half).
- Out-of-Market Blackouts: Locks you out of regional games for teams outside your physical province.
- The In-Market TSN Trap: Does NOT include in-market regional games carried by TSN (Montreal TSN2, Ottawa TSN5, Winnipeg TSN3, or Toronto's 26 TSN4 games).
Sportsnet+ Premium
Out-of-Market KeySportsnet+ Premium ($34.99/mo) absorbs the old NHL Live out-of-market streaming package in Canada. It is built specifically for fans cheering for a team outside their local broadcast territory:
- Bypasses Out-of-Market Blackouts: Streams over 1,000 out-of-market regional games across Canada—even when the game is carried on TSN or RDS in its home market (e.g., watching Habs, Sens, or regional Leafs games from Alberta or BC).
- Includes All Standard Content: Includes every national Sportsnet broadcast and all Stanley Cup Playoff games.
- The In-Market TSN Catch: If you live inside the home territory of a TSN team (like living in Ottawa for the Senators or Winnipeg for the Jets), local TSN regional games are still blacked out on Sportsnet+ Premium to protect TSN's local territory rights.
- Prime Exclusives Excluded: National Wednesday/Monday games exclusive to Amazon Prime Video require a separate Prime membership.
Sportsnet+ On-Screen Blackout Error Messages Explained
Troubleshooting"This broadcast is subject to regional blackouts"
The Cause: You have Sportsnet+ Standard and clicked on an out-of-market regional feed, or you are physically located in an in-market city where regional rights belong to TSN (Sens, Jets, Habs).
The Fix: If you are out-of-market, upgrade to Sportsnet+ Premium. If you live in Ottawa, Winnipeg, or Montreal, Sportsnet is legally blocked from airing these regional games—you must watch on TSN.
"Out-of-market game: An upgrade to Sportsnet+ Premium is required"
The Cause: You clicked a live game taking place outside your home broadcast territory. Standard tier only covers local in-market Sportsnet feeds.
The Fix: Upgrading to Premium ($34.99/mo) immediately unlocks over 1,000 out-of-market NHL games across Canada.
Sportsnet+ Standard vs. Premium: Team-by-Team Decision Guide
Which tier do you actually need based on where you live and which team you cheer for?
Montreal Canadiens
TSN2Sportsnet owns ZERO regional games for the Montreal Canadiens. Regional games air exclusively on TSN. Buying Sportsnet+ in-market leaves you blacked out for ~50 games.
Premium unlocks all regional games coast-to-coast.
Ottawa Senators
TSN5Sportsnet owns ZERO regional games for the Ottawa Senators. Regional games air exclusively on TSN. Buying Sportsnet+ in-market leaves you blacked out for ~50 games.
Premium unlocks all regional games coast-to-coast.
Toronto Maple Leafs
TSN4Standard includes 31 regional Sportsnet Ontario games plus 27 national games. The remaining 26 regional games air on TSN4 and are blacked out on Sportsnet.
Premium unlocks all regional games coast-to-coast.
Winnipeg Jets
TSN3Sportsnet owns ZERO regional games for the Winnipeg Jets. Regional games air exclusively on TSN. Buying Sportsnet+ in-market leaves you blacked out for ~50 games.
Premium unlocks all regional games coast-to-coast.
Edmonton Oilers
Sportsnet WestStandard includes all in-market regional games on Sportsnet Pacific/West plus all national games.
Premium unlocks all regional games coast-to-coast.
Calgary Flames
Sportsnet WestStandard includes all in-market regional games on Sportsnet Pacific/West plus all national games.
Premium unlocks all regional games coast-to-coast.
Vancouver Canucks
Sportsnet PacificStandard includes all in-market regional games on Sportsnet Pacific/West plus all national games.
Premium unlocks all regional games coast-to-coast.
| Canadian Team | Regional Rights | National (SN) | SN+ Exclusive | SN+ Standard (In-Market) | SN+ Premium (Out-of-Market) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal Canadiens | TSN2 | 27 games | 6 games | 1 games (In-Market) | All 50 Regional Unlocked |
| Ottawa Senators | TSN5 | 30 games | 7 games | 3 games (In-Market) | All 50 Regional Unlocked |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | TSN4 | 49 games | 13 games | 3 games (In-Market) | All 29 Regional Unlocked |
| Winnipeg Jets | TSN3 | 30 games | 9 games | 5 games (In-Market) | All 50 Regional Unlocked |
| Edmonton Oilers | Sportsnet West | 61 games | 10 games | 18 games (In-Market) | All 18 Regional Unlocked |
| Calgary Flames | Sportsnet West | 49 games | 9 games | 31 games (In-Market) | All 31 Regional Unlocked |
| Vancouver Canucks | Sportsnet Pacific | 46 games | 9 games | 36 games (In-Market) | All 36 Regional Unlocked |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Sportsnet+ Standard and Premium for NHL games?
Sportsnet+ Standard ($19.99/mo) unlocks all Saturday national games and in-market regional games for Sportsnet teams (Canucks, Oilers, Flames, and half the Leafs). Sportsnet+ Premium ($34.99/mo) is the out-of-market package: it unlocks over 1,000 out-of-market regional games across Canada, including regional feeds produced by TSN.
Why is my hockey game blacked out on Sportsnet+ Standard?
Sportsnet+ Standard only unlocks regional games if you are physically located inside that team's official broadcast territory and Sportsnet holds those regional rights (Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and half of Toronto's regional schedule). If you live outside the team's territory, you need Sportsnet+ Premium to stream out-of-market regional games.
Does Sportsnet+ Premium remove all blackouts in Canada?
Sportsnet+ Premium removes all out-of-market regional blackouts across Canada. However, two exceptions remain: (1) if you live inside the local broadcast territory of a team whose regional rights are owned by TSN (Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg, or Toronto's TSN4 games), those in-market games require TSN; and (2) national games exclusive to Amazon Prime Video require a Prime subscription.
What is the difference between Sportsnet on cable and Sportsnet+ streaming?
While regional blackout boundaries are identical between linear cable and Sportsnet+ Standard, the Sportsnet+ streaming service carries roughly 6 to 13 national streaming-exclusive games per Canadian team that do not air on standard regional cable channels.