With just a change up of intermission talent, CBC would be still really good, and hope they keep the Saturday nights.
HNIC does make money, basically it floats a big part of the rest of the TV network, profitability wise.
Far too manufactured and mechanical a production on TSN for my liking. As has mentioned, cut to Sportscentre as soon as possible when the game is over. Show segments shown on Sportscentre already earlier, during intermissions. Just seems that more of the focus of cramming as much info into intermissions as possible, and then hyping things up more on TSN than need be, as almost manufcatured emotion to get people pumped up for the game.
Hopefully CBC pulls its pants up and picks up some better talent in certain areas. They're partnering with Snet for the Olympics, no? Maybe there's some synergies there.
Heard Friedman on PTS on Snet on Friday, about the Sunday package. He said the push (by some) is to have an HBO type production regularly, where there is a lot of mikes and no filtering, with those mikes all over the place getting every swear insult, slur etc etc. He says that the idea its also being discussed for the Sunday national package.
While it would be awesome, in this PC and socially connected world now, it would be a PR disaster for players, teams, and the league when those words that happen time and time again on the ice and on the bench, get leaked out to those with sensitive ears, who will be "shocked and appalled" what player x says, and that player x should apologize...so not sure how that would really work, but its an idea out there for broadcasts.
Just seems that more of the focus of cramming as much info into intermissions as possible, and then hyping things up more on TSN than need be...
All sports broadcasts are guilty of this, not just TSN. If it wasn't for HNIC on CBC I wouldn't know about worthless crap like North of 60, Heartland, and whatever the hell else they show when hockey isn't on.
I would hope in any case that Sportsnet would ramp up their quality and poach Hrudey, Maclean and Friedman. They're the least T.O biased of the three hockey broadcasts and could create a stronger competition to TSN. Could greatly improve regional Broacasts. Maybe get Rick Ball to call the Flames games on Sportsnet if HNIC goes the way of the Dodo.
I would imagine in any scenario where CTV gets the HNIC rights, they will very aggressively pursue Maclean to come over with it. Maybe, maybe not with Cherry.
It'd bother me, from the tradition standpoint, if it was lost, but CBC's coverage hasn't been a big part of my sphere for several years. "Satelitte Hotstove" used to be required viewing.
Thing is now that there's so much coverage everywhere with specialized cable channels. One part that's not being considered in terms of viewership is a sizeable, but relatively invisible chunk of viewers. That's American viewers, close to the Canadian borders. Cable systems still carry CBC affiliates from the nearest Canadian city. During the regular season and playoffs, even as far back as when ESPN used to have an NHL package, a lot of US fans preferred HNiC.
Nielsen ratings never included the figures. So, nobody knew how many. For sure in Buffalo and Detroit, it was definitely as much a part of the local culture as Toronto and Windsor.
When I watch hockey on CBC, it feels like an event to be savoured and they come closer to any broadcaster of any sport to making me feel something of the atmosphere at the games.
They build it up like no one else does and they do it with simplicity. I don't care what production value TSN has - because it simply does not do it for me in the same way.
Here in the UK - HNIC has been spoadically carried over the past few years as a result of rights issues. The season before last, Premier Sports had "Hockey Tonight". HNIC and "After Hours". It was heaven. PS had a link with Sporstnet via Setanta resulting in them being able to economically transmit the feed to the UK. That is gone now, and with it, HNIC is gone here.
Many in the hockey family here in the UK and Ireland miss HNIC, myself included. It is for me, the best sports broadcast on television.
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When I watch hockey on CBC, it feels like an event to be savoured and they come closer to any broadcaster of any sport to making me feel something of the atmosphere at the games.
They build it up like no one else does and they do it with simplicity. I don't care what production value TSN has - because it simply does not do it for me in the same way.
Here in the UK - HNIC has been spoadically carried over the past few years as a result of rights issues. The season before last, Premier Sports had "Hockey Tonight". HNIC and "After Hours". It was heaven. PS had a link with Sporstnet via Setanta resulting in them being able to economically transmit the feed to the UK. That is gone now, and with it, HNIC is gone here.
Many in the hockey family here in the UK and Ireland miss HNIC, myself included. It is for me, the best sports broadcast on television.
Yea, I was going to say HNIC is such a big part of canadiana, and makes me feel proud, but then I remembered that according to CP, being patriotic about Canadian things makes you a dim-witted, moron, so I left that out.
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Yea, I was going to say HNIC is such a big part of canadiana, and makes me feel proud, but then I remembered that according to CP, being patriotic about Canadian things makes you a dim-witted, moron, so I left that out.
I get what you are saying, but for me the tradition that made it uniquely Canadian was that there was back to back hockey games. I really did not care back in the day that i was turning the dial to channel 2 to watch, its that i was watching back to back hockey with friends and beers. As far as i can tell there will still be back to back games on Saturday, so my tradition continues.
I thought when TSN got the rights to the old HNC theme song that tradition was lost. It took me all of one week to get over it. I doubt it will take more than one week to get over if they move to another station. All i care about is the back to back games on Saturday night.
I get what you are saying, but for me the tradition that made it uniquely Canadian was that there was back to back hockey games. I really did not care back in the day that i was turning the dial to channel 2 to watch, its that i was watching back to back hockey with friends and beers. As far as i can tell there will still be back to back games on Saturday, so my tradition continues.
I thought when TSN got the rights to the old HNC theme song that tradition was lost. It took me all of one week to get over it. I doubt it will take more than one week to get over if they move to another station. All i care about is the back to back games on Saturday night.
See, for me, TSN has still not been able to capture the "it" feeling that CBC and HNIC has. I can't describe it, as I readily admit TSN has higher production values and pours more money into it than CBC. But the excitment I get when watching CBC can still give me goosebumps. TSN has not been able to give me the same feeling.
I think, for me, TSN just seems way overmanufactured. It feels very American, and ESPN-like. It's lost that simple charm of being Canadian. Even the HNIC theme song that they bought has lost it for me now. It's almost become background noise, and I barely even notice it compared with all the other music they play.
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Maybe it's just sentimentality but something about HNIC on CBC seems to give a game that much more gravitas. I hope some hockey can stay on CBC forever.
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If it went to TSN, I'd most likely have to stop watching hockey. As it is, everytime I turn to tsn they're doing a TSN talking panel/quiz. They barely show highlights anymore, it's just talking panels to fill the time. Not too mention, TSN will do anything for pageviews, from ridiculous trade rumors, to starting goalie/team controversies.
And for those that are happy to get away from CBC's commentators/Don cherry, TSN would most likely go out a hire them as they did to the scores' cabbie, koulie, etc.
If it went to TSN, I'd most likely have to stop watching hockey. As it is, everytime I turn to tsn they're doing a TSN talking panel/quiz. They barely show highlights anymore, it's just talking panels to fill the time. Not too mention, TSN will do anything for pageviews, from ridiculous trade rumors, to starting goalie/team controversies.
And for those that are happy to get away from CBC's commentators/Don cherry, TSN would most likely go out a hire them as they did to the scores' cabbie, koulie, etc.
Yeah, that's what it is, I think. I couldn't put my finger on it, but they try so hard to cram "expert opinions" down your throat at every moment. I remember watching trade deadline or something one year, where they had, and I'm not s***ing you, three desks full of panelists in the same studio. They had the main one with 4 guys, a desk off in the back with 3 guys, one off to the side with 3 guys. It was unbelievable.
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Seems sadly ironic that cbc could no longer afford to carry something it was a cup big part of making so popular......if it goes to another station, I hope they hire the guy that makes the montages
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If I do not come back avenge my death
I guess one thing we would really miss is the awesome montages:
__________________ "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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