It seems as though HNiC on CBC has become a lame-duck platform that will be transitioned toward a Sportsnet-only future. I'm guessing Rogers included them to placate the masses and make the transition less jarring. But with all editorial, creative, advertising control, HNiC as we've known it is over. CBC pays nothing and receives nothing. This is pure short-term optics.
And, what's unnerving for those of us who support the public broadcaster is that over half of their revenues have been coming from hockey broadcasts. Those are now gone.
The degree of exclusivity granted to one broadcaster by the NHL here is pretty mind-boggling. Rogers retains exclusivity on even things like digital highlights.
|