CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada window set to close

[bizaro86]

Maybe I missed it, but does CBC own the name "Hockey Night in Canada" or does the NHL.

If TSN gets it will they have to call it "Saturday Night Hockey" or something like that?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by EM11

late to the thread. But isn't the argument against public subsidy of the CBC for hockey made moot by the fact that TSN receives public subsidies as well? It's not just television - all private enterprise is subsidized in one way or another in Canada. Singling out the CBC is terribly misleading.

Please elaborate because apparently I am missing out with my business.

[lanny9]

Originally Posted by EM11

late to the thread. But isn't the argument against public subsidy of the CBC for hockey made moot by the fact that TSN receives public subsidies as well? It's not just television - all private enterprise is subsidized in one way or another in Canada. Singling out the CBC is terribly misleading.

Is it really misleading? All other broadcasters put together probably gets 1/8th of what the CBC gets each and every year. Comparing the dollars TSN gets to the $1B+ that CBC gets is comparing a fruit stand to an apple(get what I did there?) What does the CBC do with it all, other than fund programs that only a few people who think they intellects watch. I mean there are two shows worth watching, hockey and maybe Dragon's Den and those are likely the only shows that pay for themselves(maybe?) The sooner we get away from thinking CBC is "protecting" our Canadian heritage the better, how is it protecting our identity really. CTV, Global, TSN etc all get credits for producing Canadian content is that not enough? I can think of a billion better ways to spend a billion bucks each and every year.

You want to draw a comparison? Look at how long CBC had the CFL, the league, the CBC all lost money back then. Enter TSN and slowly things turn around for the CFL, they push CBC out because TSN does a better job of selling the advertising, they do a better job of promoting the game, they do a better job of production etc etc. TSN now is going to pay the league what $70m next year for the rights? They would not be paying that much unless they are making double that in advertising. If we had left it int he hand s of the CBC, where would the game be? Ottawa would be coming back in, we wouldn't be looking at expansion in the east and the league would still be struggling. TSN did all that for them imo. Let the CBC die!

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Please elaborate because apparently I am missing out with my business.

You're not big enough. And the notion of governments helping large companies is nothing new, and if it stopped, I'm sure lots of people would be unhappy.

We have a public broadcaster in Canada. For everyone saying 'if they did more stuff like the BBC' guess what? Hockey is what CBC chooses to go BBC on. Their hockey coverage is as good and as intrinsic to the cultural fabric of the society they broadcast from as Doctor Who.

But they employ David Suzuki and the National sucks. So #### em, right?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

You're not big enough. And the notion of governments helping large companies is nothing new, and if it stopped, I'm sure lots of people would be unhappy.

We have a public broadcaster in Canada. For everyone saying 'if they did more stuff like the BBC' guess what? Hockey is what CBC chooses to go BBC on. Their hockey coverage is as good and as intrinsic to the cultural fabric of the society they broadcast from as Doctor Who.

But they employ David Suzuki and the National sucks. So #### em, right?

So not all then?

[getbak]

Originally Posted by JobHopper

Have they renewed yet, apparently the current contract is just for this season. I want HNIC to stick around for sure. You can get caught up by what's going on around the league just by tuning in to the Hot Stove Lounge.

The problem I have with TSN is that it's become more about the talking heads over there and not about the game. The original HNIC theme pretty much died over there, I wonder what that lady think$ about that now. The new HNIC theme is even more popular, that tells you a lot right there.

Besides, how can you replace Don?

The current contract (which was a multi-year deal) expires after this upcoming season. Both TSN's and CBC's contracts are up for renewal. There's apparently an exclusive window to negotiate an extension until the end of September, but the NHL doesn't want to use it and wants the negotiations to be open to all bidders. We won't likely hear about a new deal until after the start of the season.

The league doesn't want to lose the CBC because they know it could spell the end of CBC Sports, and kill one of their potential golden geese. On the other hand, they want the bidding to be fierce enough that they'll get more money from all the networks.


If HNIC does leave the CBC, you can be sure that most of the people associated with HNIC would leave to join the new broadcast. Cherry turns 80 in February, so he could retire any time, but guys like Hughson, Friedman, and MacLean would almost certainly jump ship (MacLean might stay because he does other stuff on the network, but it might be hard to keep CBC Sports operational without any major league sports to carry).

The movement of the on-air talent would be like when John Madden went from CBS to Fox, then to ABC, and finally NBC as the different NFL rights changed hands over the years.

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Maybe I missed it, but does CBC own the name "Hockey Night in Canada" or does the NHL.

If TSN gets it will they have to call it "Saturday Night Hockey" or something like that?

This is coming off memory, but I actually thought Molson Canadian owned the HNIC name. Then they let Labbatt use it after they lost the main sponsorhip deal in good faith

But I'm probably wrong so someone can correct me.