Rogers, NHL have agreed to another broadcast deal. What will that mean for how you watch the game?

Rogers will continue to bring hockey to Canadians for another 12 years, following the announcement of another exclusive deal between the telecommunications company and the NHL.

The $11-billion deal announced today gives Rogers the rights to broadcast hockey games across the country until 2037-38. The details are similar to the past deal, which also spanned 12 years, but cost just $5.2 billion and expires at the end of the 2025-26 hockey season.

This gives Rogers national rights across TV, streaming and digital for all regular season and playoff games, plus the Stanley Cup Final and all special events. This also extends to coverage in all languages and all regions.

"For us, this isn't just a game, it's our game, and we're proud to be the home of hockey for the next 12 years," Tony Staffieri, president and CEO of Rogers Communications, said at a news conference Wednesday.

But what will the new deal mean for hockey fans when they sit down to watch the game? Experts say there's a few things to watch for. 

When asked if the cost of the $11-billion deal might get passed on to viewers, Staffieri didn't answer directly, but said Rogers is focused on growing its viewership in order to bring in new revenue. He added that the focus would be on bringing the best value for customers at the lowest prices. 

Richard Deitsch, a sportswriter for The Athletic, says Rogers and Sportsnet should be wary of any cost increases for their services. As passionate as Canadian hockey fans are, he says there's still a threshold when it comes to how much they'll pay to watch the game, especially given the rising cost of living in other areas of life.

"I think if I was Rogers, I would think very long and hard about what that price point would be for