Group calls for law to keep major NHL games free to watch

A Canadian media advocacy group is urging the federal government to create antisiphoning rules that would require private broadcasters to make certain major sports events available on freetoair television. Friends of Canadian Media says the move is needed after CBC lost NHL broadcast rights, meaning Canadians will not be able to watch the Stanley Cup final for free on TV next year. The group argues that some sports events have cultural importance and should remain broadly accessible. The proposal would ask the government to direct the CRTC to study what such a law could look like in Canada and consult the public on which events should be protected. The group points to similar rules in countries such as the U.K., Australia, Ireland and parts of the European Union.