Hockey Night in Canada star responds after suddenly being pulled from the airwaves
Photo credit: Image via Sportsnet
Rogers Sportsnet has officially ended Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi after 18 years on air, and longtime host Randip Janda is opening up about what the show meant to him and the community it served.
The OMNI Television production, which launched in 2008, will not return when the NHL season begins this fall.
Janda, who hosted the broadcast alongside colour commentator Gurp Sian, analyst Harpreet Pandher and play-by-play voice Mantar Bhandal, shared an emotional message thanking fans for their support over nearly two decades on air.
A Cultural Cornerstone Comes to an End
Janda called hosting the broadcast the honour of his career, noting it was where his career began before he transitioned to English-language broadcasting.
He said the show was never just about hockey in Punjabi, but about bringing the community closer to the game and giving South Asian players, families and fans a platform on one of Canada's most iconic sports properties.
But this show was always about more than broadcasting hockey in Punjabi. It was about bringing our community closer to the game, highlighting the stories of our players, families and fans, and creating an only-in-Canada show where our community could see itself reflected on one of the country's most iconic sports platforms.
The cancellation follows a string of cuts at Rogers this offseason, including the end of its 12-year CBC partnership and the shutdown of six radio stations across the country.
Sportsnet said audience levels were not strong enough to sustain the production long term, with the show averaging around 1,500 viewers last season.
Fans and Industry Voices React
Janda said he wished the crew could have gone on air one final time to thank viewers directly.
He credited the show with creating a pipeline for broadcasters and helping grow hockey participation at the grassroots level within Punjabi speaking communities across Canada.
Your unwavering support, your love and the way you embraced this show over the years is something we will never forget. You welcomed us into your homes, celebrated with us, challenged us, supported us and made us feel that what we were doing mattered.
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