[News] Sportsnet signs 12 year $5.2 billion for NHL CDN Broadcast rights.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

I don't recall bitching about underfunding..............but ok.

Also, I do care how the government handles my money. And investing my money in hockey broadcast rights in Canada is actually a pretty sound investment, as it will turn a decent profit for them, which they can then in turn invest elswhere.

What I'd like them to stop doing is wasting money on the 98% of their other shows that nobody watches and actually CAUSES the CBC to bleed money and waste my tax payer dollars all in the name of "Canadian Content". As far as I'm concerned, the CBC can go to dead air if they aren't covering hockey or it isn't one of their few other money making shows, but any investment they choose to make in Saturday Night Hockey is a good one because it actually grows the money the portion of the tax payers dollars used on the production.

You don't bitch about underfunding, but the cbc always does.

You hit the nail on the head. Cbc makes money off hockey broadcasts to subsidize crappy dramas that no one watches. Take away the funding from hockey and you don't have the money to produce other programming which forces them to focus on core competencies, the news.

Again, sorry for replying to your message, was intended for diane_phaneuf's taxpayer dime comment.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Why does Ottawa get a dedicated broadcast team when it is a population center of approx 1 million like Calgary/Edmonton are? What I would like is to scale back to either a Montreal/Toronto game on the early game and one western game. Ideally Toronto or Montreal but not both but that's not going to happen. It pisses me off that you get 3 broadcast teams covering 3 eastern teams but only 1 broadcasting team covering 4 western teams. Why does Ottawa get special treatment? Can't tell me Ottawa games help the bottom line for cbc.

You've over simplified your argument. Population (and the subsequent fan base) of each market is a key factor. The other key factor is the time the games are on. Ottawa out east, while being a similar size market to both Calgary and Edmonton, has the advantage of their games starting at 7pm eastern. It's a little bit of luck of the draw, but a 7pm start time will likely keep more of that markets viewers around until the end of the game, and potentially into the post game coverage (if time) and the start of the western game. Unfortunately out west, with just that 1 hour later start, they will lose the more casual viewer later into the broadcast as the night wears on (people go to bed or head out to do other things) and even will lose the hard core fans to other activities if their team is being blown out.

Not too many folks will find after hours appealing enough to keep watching until the bitter end. So it's not a conspiracy against Western teams, its simply a factor of the time zones and amount of the prime time window that can be occupied. A much stronger business case can be made to give "Ottawa special treatment" given when their game starts and the appeal of the programing that follows their game (game 2 of the double headers vs. after hours).

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by Table 5

If you thought the TSN version was bad, wait till Sportsnet buys it and gives us the budget version with some guy playing it on a recorder.

You forgot the sound cutting in and out, being 5 seconds out of synch with the graphics and Kerr's screaming "where is it!?!" or "he scooooooorrrrrrrrreeeeeeeesssssss!!!!!!!" randomly during the theme.

Plus everything will look like 2002.

[Joborule]

Forgot the Sportsnet also does minor league games.

They have officially become the hockey network. Gotta give them props. Their executives gonna be celebrating tonight.

[PeteLFan]

So what is TSN left with? When does this kick in?

Hilarious stuff. The horrible quiz is gone finally. Cutting straight too mr. Jennifer hedger after games. TSN was garbage. So glad they are out.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

You don't bitch about underfunding, but the cbc always does.

You hit the nail on the head. Cbc makes money off hockey broadcasts to subsidize crappy dramas that no one watches. Take away the funding from hockey and you don't have the money to produce other programming which forces them to focus on core competencies, the news.

Again, sorry for replying to your message, was intended for diane_phaneuf's taxpayer dime comment.

I'm ok with your angle other than the core competancies part. If hockey makes money for them, I'd say it also has to be a core competancy no?

I just think it's a strange angle to take, get them to stop doing the thing that makes them money, so they can't waste the money elsewhere? Shouldn't we just stop the wasting activities they do after hockey makes them the cash? The most profitable decision to make (and therefore best for tax payers) would be to keep hockey investments, and scrap the rest, or do something different with the rest that doesn't waste the profits.

And no worries about the mix up on the original post, not a problem, that stuff happens all the time.

[nik-]

So Rogers and Bell buy the Maple Leafs, and then three years later Rogers chokeslams Bell through a glass coffee table by winning the rights.

Ruthless.

[Dogbert]

CFL executives must be ####ting bricks tonight too. This does HUGE damage to their broadcast network/reason for survival.

If TSN doesn't survive this, neither does the CFL. Rogers would gleefully put a bullet in that league's head.

[browna]

So a couple things...the NHL Network in Canada...is that not a TSN-owned network? What happens to them now that they have limits on content?

Shawn McKenize at Snet...wonder if he can get his dad a job? Hopefully it leaves Dreger out in the cold to write for the "Good Morning News" like Al Strachan ended up doing.

Does the NBCSN relationship go along with the rights? I assume so.

Snet Magazine got some content. I bet online rights will be a huge part of this...streaming games, maybe taking that away from NHL Game Centre and turning it into a Rogers thing?

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by Dogbert

CFL executives must be ####ting bricks tonight too. This does HUGE damage to their broadcast network/reason for survival.

If TSN doesn't survive this, neither does the CFL. Rogers would gleefully put a bullet in that league's head.

And then pick it up when TSN's contract runs out.

I can't get over how badly Rogers just fata'd TSN. Little guy taking the big man out with a haymaker.

Still though, would've been better if all three were doing hockey games nationally.

[The Familia]

This is garbage. I can't stand Sportsnet/Rogers and will not support them. I am a die hard CFL fan and Rogers has done nothing but try to kill the CFL. The only positive is that the CFL should get more money funneled towards its broadcasting production. As for hockey, Sportsnet's production is brutal. Their whole outfit screams bushleague. Sportsnet and Rogers can go to hell.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by Dogbert

CFL executives must be ####ting bricks tonight too. This does HUGE damage to their broadcast network/reason for survival.

If TSN doesn't survive this, neither does the CFL. Rogers would gleefully put a bullet in that league's head.

What exactly is a CFL?

[c.t.ner]

This also has HUGE ramifications for tv packages out east. It's different in the west because Telus and Shaw provide tsn and sportsnet as core elemnt sof a package... But out east only Rogers provides Sportsnet and Bell provides TSN as base level packages. You have to upgrade on both to get TSN and Sportsnet. Bell is going to lose a lot of basic level package subscribers because of this change and even further money off this deal.

Just wow.

[saillias]

Any deal that gives more games to Sportsnet is a lose for the fans, IMO.

Not sure what's with the CBC love - I'd take TSN 9 times out of 10. I could do without ever hearing "analysis" again from the likes of PJ Stock, Glenn Healey, Mike Milbury, or Don Cherry.

[kn]

All the money now goes to Wendy's Friday Night Football and doubling up on Vic Rauter's curling coverage...

Man is TSN ever screwed...

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by The Familia

This is garbage. I can't stand Sportsnet/Rogers and will not support them. I am a die hard CFL fan and Rogers has done nothing but try to kill the CFL. The only positive is that the CFL should get more money funneled towards its broadcasting production. As for hockey, Sportsnet's production is brutal. Their whole outfit screams bushleague. Sportsnet and Rogers can go to hell.

While I don't really know much about the Rogers tries to kill the CFL stuff, I would say it's likely safe to assume that if Rogers did win a National deal for the NHL, their broadcast quality would likely go up accordingly. They can't spend all that money on the rights then not maximise there return by having viewers switch the dial due to 2nd rate broadcasts. Only hard core fans of the teams involved would suffer through their current quality, and this will only work for them if they can make it a national appeal broadcast.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by kn

All the money now goes to Wendy's Friday Night Football and doubling up on Vic Rauter's curling coverage...

Man is TSN ever screwed...

Would TSN respond with more NFL coverage, and NBA? Likely their only angle. Not saying loosing hockey wouldn't be huge, but could they stay relevant by covering the CFL, amped up NFL coverage and amped up NBA, coupled with more attempts at regional hockey?

I have no idea.

[Dogbert]

Originally Posted by Joborule

And then pick it up when TSN's contract runs out.

I can't get over how badly Rogers just fata'd TSN. Little guy taking the big man out with a haymaker.

Still though, would've been better if all three were doing hockey games nationally.

Rogers wouldn't pick up the CFL. They view it as an obstacle blocking an NFL team in Canada and want it out of the way. No better way to do that than to kill its lifeline - TSN.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Dogbert

CFL executives must be ####ting bricks tonight too. This does HUGE damage to their broadcast network/reason for survival.

If TSN doesn't survive this, neither does the CFL. Rogers would gleefully put a bullet in that league's head.

Now that's a plan I can get behind.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by saillias

Any deal that gives more games to Sportsnet is a lose for the fans, IMO.

Not sure what's with the CBC love - I'd take TSN 9 times out of 10. I could do without ever hearing "analysis" again from the likes of PJ Stock, Glenn Healey, Mike Milbury, or Don Cherry.

I'll wager Healy, Stock and Weekes won't be there once HNIC gets their paws on some of the better TSN talent.