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

[browna]

Originally Posted by M*A*S*H 4077

I think TSN needs to go all in with the CFL now considering that the CFL TV audiences increased this past season. They need to somehow remain relevant to Canadians.

They are already all in, and have done very well in making the CFL as healthy as it is the last decade. Owners don't care that they don't have as many people in seats because the money they are getting from TSN is "easier" money.

Not sure how much more all in they can go. Plus, there is another 5 months of hockey after CFL is over...and that is regular season. Toss in another 2 months or so that TSN has slowly gotten added as playoff games, and its basically 7 months of content, the main content of the network, gone.

Pushing more NBA, or US College sports (basketball/football), in addition to curling, maybe taking away the NFL regional broadcasts that Snet has.
I guess they could take away junior hockey as well like the Memorial Cup, but that's a big stretch..the selling point they had to advertisers was all around the NHL and how plugged in they were to hockey in this country. All that built up goodwill and brand presence and marketing...gone.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by The Familia

Your an idiot. You actually want to see a 100 year old Canadian institution die for no other reason than you don't like it? I don't care if you like the CFL or not, but suggesting you would support Rogers destroying the CFL is pathetic. I hate baseball and basketball yet I don't wish or support the demise of the MLB/NBA. You are the epitomy of an American wannabe. I'm curious as to why you would like to see the CFL fold? Is it because it's not 'hip' like the NFL?

It's nothing to do with hip, I don't want an inferior product rammed down my throat when there is a vastly superior one available. If there was a CNBA or a CMLB your point would be relevant. There aren't, so it's not.

[The Familia]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

This type of passion about the CFL can only come from a member of rider nation I'm sure

Ummm no. I'm a Stampeder season ticket holder. There are other CFL fans out there!

[Fire]

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.

You seriously think that TSN will cease to exist? lol. If anything this will be good for the CFL because TSN will focus more time on it.

[Fire]

Anyone know how the bidding worked? Was it a blind bid or did they have a bidding war until TSN finally said enough is enough?

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

I do see what you are saying, but there was a time when TSN didn't have national game rights and wasn't as big a part of the NHL as you describe. End of the day, all this really means for hockey fans is a potential re-branding of the coverage we already know.

The talent will eventually end up where the work is, the same types of programs will get run, the same type of coverage will happen, we might just have to select a different channel on the remote.

Rogers is looking to out bid TSN (apparently) to do the things that TSN is doing on their network, not just to stop TSN from doing it.

I hope you're right...I fear the timeline for the transition though. It should be interesting to see how it unfolds.

[neo45]

Originally Posted by Fire

You seriously think that TSN will cease to exist? lol. If anything this will be good for the CFL because TSN will focus more time on it.

It's bad for the CFL. TSN already focuses pretty much all they can on the league, and now viewership in general will go down for the channel because NHL on TSN was their biggest asset. Canadians will be less exposed to what is happening in the CFL

[The Familia]

Originally Posted by nik-

It's nothing to do with hip, I don't want an inferior product rammed down my throat when there is a vastly superior one available. If there was a CNBA or a CMLB your point would be relevant. There aren't, so it's not.

So both leagues can't co exist? The 4.5 million Grey Cup viewers this past Sunday should be left without a league simply because Nik doesn't know how to use a remote control? Superior/inferior is quite subjective. Nothing is being rammed down your throat. Turn the channel if you don't like it. Like I said, Sportsnet 'rams the Blue Jays' down the throats of viewers every summer. I don't like it so I turn the channel. Seems simple. The CFL has been around for 100 years, I'm sure it will continue despite the efforts of Rogers, Sportsnet, and Nik.

[The Yen Man]

This better not mean Kypreos gets national coverage. Let's hope SN doesn't eff this up by keeping their current talent. Spend some freaking money on commentators with actual talent.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by nik-

It's nothing to do with hip, I don't want an inferior product rammed down my throat when there is a vastly superior one available. If there was a CNBA or a CMLB your point would be relevant. There aren't, so it's not.

I don't think the CFL is being rammed down anyones throat though. You don't have to watch it, and it's not like the premier league coverage (NFL) is not available to you.

There is no perfect comparison out there to the CFL. It is unique in anything like it sports wise. It is a sovereign nations "National" league for the sport in question with some unique rules that gives it it's own flavour. But at the same time, you are correct to say it's not the cream of the crop for football.

You could also argue that it's like the AHL or Triple A baseball, and there are places for those leagues aren't there? But I also know that those comparisons aren't perfect either.

Maybe the best comparison I can think of is Scotish Premier league to English Premier league soccer? Still not perfect, but close?

Regardless, both the NFL and the CFL do seem to be able to exist in this country. You don't have to like the CFL, but to suggest it needs to fold simply because it's not your cup of tea or isn't the best league seems silly.

As hockey fans we watch tones of 2nd rate hockey along the way from WJHC, CHL, AHL and enjoy it, why can't there be football fans who can make room for both leagues?

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

I hope you're right...I fear the timeline for the transition though. It should be interesting to see how it unfolds.

I agree there will be some growing pains in the transition years, no doubt, and of course things won't be exactly the same, but you don't bid on something this big and this costly just to squander maximum return by half assing it.

Talent follows the work, and Rogers will likely imitate the successful parts of TSN's coverage very closely, and likley look to change the things TSN does that doesn't resonate with audiences. End of the day, long term, I don't think hockey fans will need to worry, the quality will be there. Demand creates the programing, and as long as we are clamouring for games, draft coverage, trade coverage ect... and as long as we are clamouring to see the names and experts we've grown to love cover it for us, it will likely happen regardless of who wins the rights.

[J epworth]

So I guess The Hockey Theme dies with TSN? Or can we finally get it back on Hockey Night in Canada where it belongs?

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

I don't think the CFL is being rammed down anyones throat though. You don't have to watch it, and it's not like the premier league coverage (NFL) is not available to you.

There is no perfect comparison out there to the CFL. It is unique in anything like it sports wise. It is a sovereign nations "National" league for the sport in question with some unique rules that gives it it's own flavour. But at the same time, you are correct to say it's not the cream of the crop for football.

You could also argue that it's like the AHL or Triple A baseball, and there are places for those leagues aren't there? But I also know that those comparisons aren't perfect either.

Maybe the best comparison I can think of is Scotish Premier league to English Premier league soccer? Still not perfect, but close?

Regardless, both the NFL and the CFL do seem to be able to exist in this country. You don't have to like the CFL, but to suggest it needs to fold simply because it's not your cup of tea or isn't the best league seems silly.

As hockey fans we watch tones of 2nd rate hockey along the way from WJHC, CHL, AHL and enjoy it, why can't there be football fans who can make room for both leagues?

I don't watch it at all, and I was being facetious with my remark about being behind it dying. The difference is the CFL isn't second rate because of players. It's not because it's a junior league and therefore not as good as the top of the pyramid. In my opinion, it's second rate because of a ridiculous ruleset and amateur hour league. I just don't understand how people can take an 8 team league where 75% of the teams are in the playoffs seriously. Even before I watched the NFL, which I didn't for years, the CFL felt like a joke.

Anyway, sorry for the tangeant. Didn't realize people would get so defensive.

[_Q_]

Yeah I'm not a huge football fan or anything, but the amount of hate the CFL gets in this country is brutal. Do Austrians hate on the Austrian soccer league because it's inferior to the German league? Do the Irish hate on their league because it's inferior to the English Premier League? No and no. Both leagues have die hard fans that probably also do enjoy watching the odd game from the "superior" league.

This inferiority complex some people have here is dumb. Sure the CFL isn't as good talent wise as the NFL, but who cares. It's football that is born from this country and I'm damn proud of it because Canada is always better than America.

[neo45]

Originally Posted by nik-

I don't watch it at all, and I was being facetious with my remark about being behind it dying. The difference is the CFL isn't second rate because of players. It's not because it's a junior league and therefore not as good as the top of the pyramid. In my opinion, it's second rate because of a ridiculous ruleset and amateur hour league. I just don't understand how people can take an 8 team league where 75% of the teams are in the playoffs seriously. Even before I watched the NFL, which I didn't for years, the CFL felt like a joke.

Anyway, sorry for the tangeant. Didn't realize people would get so defensive.

That's actually exactly why it is second rate compared to the NFL.

CFL rules are awesome. I'll take them over NFL any day

[trackercowe]

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.

The same goes with most of the guys on Sportsnet; more MacLean, Garrett, and Kypreos is a bad thing. I don't mind Kypreos, but prefer Ward, Johnson, and the former players on TSN. TSN has by far the better analysts between the networks, and it would be a shame if we lose many of them. Mackenzie is the best guy in the business, and maybe he'll choose to retire rather than switch networks.

Many TSN personalities work much better in all day formats, which wouldn't work on CBC. Sure some of them could venture to Sportsnet, but that would be a lot of contracts moving over, and a lot of people Sportsnet would probably have to let go as well.

Really the only guy on TSN I am indifferent about is Dreger, and even he is more knowledgeable than anyone on the other networks outside of Friedman.

I can't believe some people are happy about this, as TSN pretty much has the best guys at every position, and things will likely get much worse with this new deal.

[albertGQ]

This is a shocker. What happened to the rumored bid where TSN, CBC, and Sportsnet all get national TV rights?

[getbak]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

This is a shocker. What happened to the rumored bid where TSN, CBC, and Sportsnet all get national TV rights?

It appears that Rogers made a big enough offer to cut TSN out. I'm sure we'll get more details on Tuesday.

My guess is that Rogers wanted to get the rights to the playoffs and bid so much that the League couldn't say no, and without the big money generated by the playoffs, it likely wasn't worth the money for TSN to pay for just regular season rights.


One good thing about this is that it hopefully means the end of 8:00 start times for Wednesday night home games.

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by J epworth kendal

So I guess The Hockey Theme dies with TSN? Or can we finally get it back on Hockey Night in Canada where it belongs?

As much as I'd like that, I've actually come to really like the new HNIC theme. Maybe Sportsnet could buy the song and do something right for a change. I'm really sad to see TSN lose the rights. They do a much better job than Sportsnet.

[FlameZilla]

The NHL will prioritise money over exposure in these deals.

The way they handled the European TV rights 2 years ago was a shambles. They were on a network with excellent coverage and plenty of exposure in the UK, but took more money to move to an obscure cable channel which is only available through a single cable provider. They intended to gain exposure in this market, but in the end decided to sacrifice that for more profit.