Quote:
Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby
Was this when Sportsnet got the rights and had Strombo as the host of HNiC?
|
No this was in like 2004 when CBC was making cuts and also let Cuthbert go too. CBC anticipated a lockout and with no Olympics for a couple years likely didn't want to spend a lot of money on Sports. I think thats about the time that CFL also went to TSN exclusively, which meant less work for PBP guys. They offered McLean like half a million a year which he rejected, and they announced they were parting ways. But sponsors put some pressure on, and they ended up meeting Ron's demands.
As you note Sportsnet wanted to reduce Ron to doing less in studio stuff after Cherry was gone in favor of things like Hometwon hockey and hockey day in Canada. But much of that audience is past 60...and they want the guy they've always known.