The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. has one month to lock down the broadcast rights to Hockey Night in Canada for another decade. But with the asking price expected to double to $200-million a season, the country’s public broadcaster could be hard pressed to keep its 60-year lock on Saturday night hockey.
The CBC has exclusive negotiation rights with the NHL through August, but sources at BCE Inc. subsidiary Bell Media Inc. (which owns CTV and TSN) say the broadcast giant is anxious to step in if a deal with the CBC can’t be reached quickly.
But the league must step lightly – both broadcasters have reasons to let the NHL pass them by. “This isn’t a slam dunk for the NHL by any means,” one broadcast executive said. “It’s not as straightforward as someone might think.”
And there’s a new variable this time around that adds another level of intrigue – the league is interested in creating an exclusive Canadian broadcast on Sunday nights that could go to the broadcaster who is either outbid or passes on the Saturday night rights.
CBC has been a great tradition for HNIC, but I wouldn't be sad to see CTV pick it up.
Their coverage of the Olympics was very well done.
__________________ "In brightest day, in blackest night / No evil shall escape my sight / Let those who worship evil's might / Beware my power, Green Lantern's light!"
Yea I assumed that, I should have worded it better, but I prefer TSN over CBC.
__________________ "In brightest day, in blackest night / No evil shall escape my sight / Let those who worship evil's might / Beware my power, Green Lantern's light!"
Yea I assumed that, I should have worded it better, but I prefer TSN over CBC.
My issue with TSN getting it is how they would handle split telecasts. I figure a secondary game might end up on TSN2 the odd time but they can't split their main feed. I'm worried that would result in more Leafs games for us.
That issue becomes even larger once the playoffs roll around.
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I'd rather the games be on TSN and TSN2 then the current format of split main telecasts. That way, we would have a choice of games to watch. Whereas currently, CBC decides
So first CBC lets the rights to the Iconic HNIC Theme go, and TSN picks it up. Now they may lose all broadcast rights for NHL hockey and HNIC? Man without hockey CBC will have also lost all relevancy.
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I gotta admit, it'll be pretty sad to me if HNIC goes away. It's been ingrained in me for so many years, it'll just feel like something's missing if it's gone. I feel like we're losing a bit of Canadiana. Hope CTV hires the guy who does the HNIC montages.
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For the awful product CBC has offered over the last few years, they deserve to lose it. Terrible play-by-play, commentary and panel. PJ Stock, Glen Healy and Kevin Weekes is not a panel.
I love CBC for their Olympic coverage but not for hockey? Why? They get experts in there. All the analysts are former medal winners for their sport.
And the Olympics french side is good too.
Radio-Canada lost their hockey rights years ago and RDS has the entire package and it's worked out just fine for Quebec viewers. If Quebec City ever gets a team it will go to TVA. Radio-Canada will never return to the hockey business.
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Last edited by GirlySports; 08-04-2013 at 10:50 AM.
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Is Sportsnet in the mix? With national broadcast rights they could handle multiple games on their channels. The regional blackouts are annoying and would like to see those go the way of the dodo.
People were up in arms when HNIC changed from Molson Canadian as their main sponsor to Labbatt. They thought they were losing a piece of tradition. HNIC was fine after the change.
People were up in arms when HNIC changed their theme song. They thought they were losing a piece of tradition. HNIC was fine after the change.
They'll be fine after this change from CBC to TSN as well.
I don't like losing HNIC. It's one of those religious things for my family. Times, they are changin'.
__________________ "In brightest day, in blackest night / No evil shall escape my sight / Let those who worship evil's might / Beware my power, Green Lantern's light!"
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HINC was an important tradition when it was THE national hockey broadcast for the week; the one chance to see games outside of your regional broadcast. Moreover, CBC's HNIC tradition was a tradition of excellence in hockey broadcasting. That ended at least a few years ago.
Now, it's just one more venue for watching non-regional games, along with TSN's multiple national broadcasts throughout the week, and Centre Ice.
TSN will be my choice for panel analysis, and other than that I'll decide which channel to watch based on the teams playing, not the broadcaster.
If another channel gets the Saturday games, I won't really care.
Last edited by Mike F; 08-04-2013 at 11:14 AM.
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I'm not sure if this is a big deal or not now that we have satellite TV, but does TSN have free to air like CBC? Can people who live in rural areas still watch the games?
For the awful product CBC has offered over the last few years, they deserve to lose it. Terrible play-by-play, commentary and panel. PJ Stock, Glen Healy and Kevin Weekes is not a panel.
This. If it means not having to hear Glenn Healy anymore I'd welcome the change.
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CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada window set to close
