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(Reuters) - Canada's Rogers Communications announced on Wednesday a new 12-year agreement worth C$11 billion ($7.68 billion) to secure media rights for the National Hockey League (NHL) games across all platforms in Canada.
As the Canadian telecom company is reaching the end of its current deal, originally signed in 2013, the new agreement is set to kick in for the 2026 season.
The telecom giant is doubling down on sports as a key growth strategy, aiming to strengthen its dominance in Canadian sports, amid intense competition in the country's wireless industry.
Rogers has secured rights across TV, digital and streaming, for all national games, including the Stanley Cup final, in all languages. The deal allows fans to access more live games with fewer regional blackouts, the company said.
"Sports are core to our company, and these rights are the most valuable sports rights in Canada," said CEO Tony Staffieri.
Last year, Rogers Communications said it would buy Bell's stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment for C$4.7 billion ($3.46 billion) to become the majority owner of the Canadian sports firm behind the Toronto Raptors basketball team and NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs.
($1 = 1.4321 Canadian dollars)
(Reporting by Priyanka.G in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore)