CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada window set to close

[d_phaneuf]

in the world of things that don't make sense

I believe CBC paid 100m a year at the last deal, and the article states that it may cost 200m now

The stakes are high for the public broadcaster, which relies on the Saturday broadcast to promote the rest of its schedule. Without hockey, the CBC would lose as much as $175-million from its $450-million of annual advertising revenue.

would it still not be better to pay the fee and keep the extra 75m?

[Vulcan]

That the rights are the same $200M per year for each of Canada and the USA, seems to say that the US money isn't that great. When you through in the TSN national rights for another $50M it looks even worse.

[minnow]

CBC is not free in our rural area. So, I don't care. No Glen Healy would be great!

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

in the world of things that don't make sense

I believe CBC paid 100m a year at the last deal, and the article states that it may cost 200m now



would it still not be better to pay the fee and keep the extra 75m?

CBC's not bright sometimes. They lost the hockey song for 2 million dollars.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by robaur

NBC is by far the best NHL production right now. The in-game sound and video angles are simply the best. The play by play is up there as well. The intermission shows and post game analysis are top notch as well......I wish they would just do every hockey game...

Boooourns! Really? You like that grating sound of skates and sticks amplified by a factor of 10? That just kills me everytime I turn it on. I get what they're going, to put you more "in the game", but good lord "skrish scratch schkricth". I can only handle that for like 10 seconds before I have to go back to CBC.

They also zoom in all the time and always end up missing plays develop as they zoom back to normal. That may be good for the casual American viewer, as they may not be watching plays develop anyways, so they'd rather just see up close shots that make hockey look more exciting. But for hardcore fans, it's brutal, as I'd rather watch the plays develop all over the ice.

[Reggie28]

I wonder if this is a ploy by the CBC to get more money from Harper, knowing he is a hockey fan. "We can't afford NHL hockey, but it is part of the Canadian heritage."

Typical govt move, cut something that is highly visible to appear underfunded.

[Fusebox]

On a side note, who do you guys think will take over for Don Cherry if he ever retires? I've always enjoyed Steve Ludzig myself.

[flamesfan1297]

it has been a tradition on CBC, but i personally like CTV better that CBC, so i wouldnt be that sad to see CTV get HNIC

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by Reggie28

I wonder if this is a ploy by the CBC to get more money from Harper, knowing he is a hockey fan. "We can't afford NHL hockey, but it is part of the Canadian heritage."

Typical govt move, cut something that is highly visible to appear underfunded.

Harper has access to TSN I'm sure and understands how a market works.

If anything, he'd tell the CBC to pound sand and encourage TSN and RSN to bid on Saturday night games.

[Hank Hill]

I would love to see CBC lose the bid and then have the whole left wing network tank due to the loss of revenue. It bothers me they use revenue generated from hockey to fund other non-related garbage like David Suzuki shows.

[pylon]

I think all you TSN fanboys would all regret it if CBC lost HNIC.

HNIC is revered worldwide as one of the best produced sports programs. I wish I could find the article, but A former producer of Monday Night Football once commented how HNIC is the benchmark which all sports programs should be measured. There simply isn't a better quality combination of play by play and videography anywhere as much as we harp on Hughson etc. The CBC is the All star team of hockey broadcasting. And Cuthbert over at TSN, is kinda like when Bobby Hull or Gordie Howe went to the WHA. He is really the only guy I can think of, that is All Star calibre, not working for CBC.

If CBC HNIC would be compared to a Martin Scorsese film.
Then CTV/TSN HNIC would be compared to a Michael Bay film.

I truly hope CBC manages to keep the rights. There is just something about HNIC that feels so uniquely Canadian, and I don't mean in the Tim Hortons way. If there is one, ultimately identifiable, indisputable, Canadian icon and tradition. It is HNIC on the CBC.

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

CBC's not bright sometimes. They lost the hockey song for 2 million dollars.

Was your viewing pleasure affected that much by a two minute song?

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Was your viewing pleasure affected that much by a two minute song?

Yes it is. Intro's songs are important because it sets the mood. I could make an entire thread of iconic sports intros.

I always say when the NBA was on NBC it felt like the most important thing on earth because of that song and intro. Now? Can't get excited about basketball.

I would miss the CBC montages but then TSN could just hire that guy.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Reggie28

I wonder if this is a ploy by the CBC to get more money from Harper, knowing he is a hockey fan. "We can't afford NHL hockey, but it is part of the Canadian heritage."

Typical govt move, cut something that is highly visible to appear underfunded.

That implies competence on the part of CBC management. Something I have little faith in.

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Yes it is. Intro's songs are important because it sets the mood. I could make an entire thread of iconic sports intros.

I always say when the NBA was on NBC it felt like the most important thing on earth because of that song and intro. Now? Can't get excited about basketball.

I would miss the CBC montages but then TSN could just hire that guy.

A lot of times I don't even turn the game on until 5 or 10 after. Once all the pre game stuff is complete and national anthems are sung.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

A lot of times I don't even turn the game on until 5 or 10 after. Once all the pre game stuff is complete and national anthems are sung.

Anthems are my least favourite part of any broadcast, which is why Sportsnet holds a special place in my heart.

[Flame On]

All the posts about TSN and the way they handle things are fairly interesting. I hadn't realized there was all that distaste for their style. My guess is they don't either. And by the way, I agree, I hate the fact when the last whistle blows to a game that's it. Even Sportsnet goes back for post game scrums etc.
Can you imagine the ridiculousness of the CBC doing a maggie the monkey playoff picker?

[PegCityFlamesFan]

CBC in my eyes just sets up games so much better, especially playoff hockey. Rather than have an idiot panel talk up until pick drop they set the tone by playing crowd noise and having teams skate on the ice before anthems. Maybe it's just me, but I would rather hear the atmosphere of the arena as opposed to Duthie rehashing the same crap right up to whistle.

[Fire]

If CBC loses HNIC then the only reason people have to keep CBC alive will be gone. Time to sell it off.

[CaptainCrunch]

To me its irrelevant, the carrier is the carrier. I think that TSN would handle HNIC if they won the bid slightly differently then they do now in terms of content anyways.

I think the CBC spending $200 million on the bid is ridiculous. If they can get the Sunday games for cheaper then we still get CBC hockey and they can rebuild their tradition.

As someone who thinks that the CBC is bloated and needs a long overdue overall then losing Hockey Night in Canada would have benefits taxpayer dollar wise.