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

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by liamenator

The way Bettman was dodging questions about this, you almost wonder if this became personal, and, if so, whose egos were involved. Did the TSN brass do something to rankle GB or the NHL BoG? Did the latter take issue with TSN's coverage of the lockout, for instance?

It seems to me that TSN's coverage of the NHL in general--though still by and large pandering--has always had more of a critical edge than Sportsnet. Certainly, in comparison, the latter's coverage of the Blue Jays is laughably soft. Did the league want to cozy up to the media corp that it thinks will be more receptive to the company message regarding how the NHL should be branded?

Probably not, but with the egos involved there is little that would surprise me.

You make a good point. It's possible TSN ticked off the league and this was their way of showing them who's the boss.

[Tinordi]

Major corporations with billions on the table selling their one marketable asset with the public future/existence of their industry on the line don't arrive to decisions based on personal grudges. The NHL took the offer they thought returned to the most value to their shareholders now and into the future and that's all there is to read into it.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Actually we are when it comes to Canadians and hockey. We all complain about Flames broadcasts but who's stopped watching? Really you can't get much worse than RSN Flames broadcasts so if we haven't stopped watching it tells me that broadcasters can get away with substandard broadcasts.

I suspect Rogers didn't want to pay national broadcaster rights holder salaries to its insiders and put on national quality broadcasts when they were a regional network that also showed Blue Jays games.

Now they're THE game. They have everything they could possibly ask for to create a sports media empire the likes of which has never been seen in this country.

I can understand why Rogers cheaped out on the production of local content. It's the nature of broadcasting, it seems. But Rogers likes to have its name front and centre, and I can only assume that the higher ups want to read stories about Sportsnet CRUSHING it with their broadcast quality under the new deal, rather than everyone hating them as per usual.

I don't like change. I can admit that. But there is the chance for this to be VERY good news for Canadian hockey fans. It remains to be seen. I can't really fault Bertuzzied or EE for not trusting RSN at this point.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by liamenator

The way Bettman was dodging questions about this, you almost wonder if this became personal, and, if so, whose egos were involved. Did the TSN brass do something to rankle GB or the NHL BoG? Did the latter take issue with TSN's coverage of the lockout, for instance?

It seems to me that TSN's coverage of the NHL in general--though still by and large pandering--has always had more of a critical edge than Sportsnet. Certainly, in comparison, the latter's coverage of the Blue Jays is laughably soft. Did the league want to cozy up to the media corp that it thinks will be more receptive to the company message regarding how the NHL should be branded?

Probably not, but with the egos involved there is little that would surprise me.

Bettman didn't want to talk about TSN because today was not about TSN. It was about announcing a $5.2 billion dollar deal with a new corporate partner. While we all want to know what happened, Gary knows that nothing good will ever come from him commenting on that particular aspect of things.

TSN will want to get the rights back. There's no sense in alienating them. This is a defeat, but you can only imagine the sort of money that's going to be thrown around in 12 years.

There's no ego at play when one bid is eight times larger than the other.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

I don't like change. I can admit that. But there is the chance for this to be VERY good news for Canadian hockey fans. It remains to be seen. I can't really fault Bertuzzied or EE for not trusting RSN at this point.

Time will tell but really all we have to go from right now is the quality of RSN broadcasting to date which has always been inferior to the competition.

[browna]

I don't doubt that TSN in their ego's likely give off the impression at points over the past months and years, and maybe in negotiations, that the NHL needs them in Canada as much as they need the NHL.


And/or, they wanted to dictate more terms of the next deal, thinking they had the leverage, who knows.


Always been a bit of smugness and arrogance about the way the cover hockey (NHL and otherwise), though maybe that has to do with the personalities they've hired.

I don't know if the NHL picked based on anything like that (likely not), but I wouldn't be surprised if TSN themselves shot themselves in the foot, not thinking that anyone could take the rights away, or that the NHL would go with Rogers without letting them match.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

People will stop watching hockey if it's crap. We're not sheep.

Well I do agree to an extent, they can't keep making crappy broadcasts and expect me to watch a Leafs/Canadiens game BUT I will continue to watch the Flames score after the goal is announced because I have no choice. We are sheep.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by browna

I don't doubt that TSN in their ego's likely give off the impression at points over the past months and years, and maybe in negotiations, that the NHL needs them in Canada as much as they need the NHL.


And/or, they wanted to dictate more terms of the next deal, thinking they had the leverage, who knows.


Always been a bit of smugness and arrogance about the way the cover hockey (NHL and otherwise), though maybe that has to do with the personalities they've hired.

I don't know if the NHL picked based on anything like that (likely not), but I wouldn't be surprised if TSN themselves shot themselves in the foot, not thinking that anyone could take the rights away, or that the NHL would go with Rogers without letting them match.

With Kypreos, McLean and Millard, SportsNet's smugness and arrogance tops tsns by miles

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

I suspect Rogers didn't want to pay national broadcaster rights holder salaries to its insiders and put on national quality broadcasts when they were a regional network that also showed Blue Jays games.

Now they're THE game. They have everything they could possibly ask for to create a sports media empire the likes of which has never been seen in this country.

I can understand why Rogers cheaped out on the production of local content. It's the nature of broadcasting, it seems. But Rogers likes to have its name front and centre, and I can only assume that the higher ups want to read stories about Sportsnet CRUSHING it with their broadcast quality under the new deal, rather than everyone hating them as per usual.

I don't like change. I can admit that. But there is the chance for this to be VERY good news for Canadian hockey fans. It remains to be seen. I can't really fault Bertuzzied or EE for not trusting RSN at this point.

Look at their body of work and the people who they employ. To say they are currently competent as being the sole provider for NHL hockey for the next 12 years is sugar coating it.

[Erick Estrada]

Good article although it appears this guy is the head of the Ray Ferarro fan club. The voting results at the bottom are telling. General consensus today browsing HF and other places that most fans are less than happy with this decision. Great day for NHL owners and Rogers. Bad day for most Canadian hockey fans.

http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/201...ns-high-level/

[liamenator]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Bettman didn't want to talk about TSN because today was not about TSN. It was about announcing a $5.2 billion dollar deal with a new corporate partner. While we all want to know what happened, Gary knows that nothing good will ever come from him commenting on that particular aspect of things.

TSN will want to get the rights back. There's no sense in alienating them. This is a defeat, but you can only imagine the sort of money that's going to be thrown around in 12 years.

There's no ego at play when one bid is eight times larger than the other.

Multiple reports have Bell/TSN's bid as comparable to the one accepted from Sportsnet.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Good article although it appears this guy is the head of the Ray Ferarro fan club. The voting results at the bottom are telling. General consensus today browsing HF and other places that most fans are less than happy with this decision. Great day for NHL owners and Rogers. Bad day for most Canadian hockey fans.

http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/201...ns-high-level/

Not really.

Hockey Night in Canada Remains on CBC: Win
Second "Over the Air" National Broadcast on Sunday Nights: Win

National games on Monday and Wednesday is largely unchanged, Regional Broadcasts remain the same.

I would actually call it a win because Sportsnet will have to improve their product for the national products, and hopefully that will extend to the regional broadcasts.

Duthie and Bob Mackenzie are good on TSN and will miss those guys but they have a lot of pundits that I would rather not have to listen ramble on. (Looking at you Ray Ferraro).

[liamenator]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Major corporations with billions on the table selling their one marketable asset with the public future/existence of their industry on the line don't arrive to decisions based on personal grudges. The NHL took the offer they thought returned to the most value to their shareholders now and into the future and that's all there is to read into it.

It would be nice if things were that simple, but actually major corporations with billions at stake often do not behave as the frictionless surface of rational actor theory would like them to. Particularly in professional sports, which is a world ruled by passions and egos.

But even bracketing that point, Bettman said this was "not simply about money," then made some vague allusions to the fact that the NHL preferred the way Rogers "approached the bidding process," and the "professionalism" they demonstrated throughout.

I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that there is more at play here than maximizing return to shareholders because the commissioner himself said as much.

[sureLoss]

Just spitballing here, but what if Rogers was willing to work with CBC and TSN/Bell wasn't.

If the offers were truly similar, perhaps the idea of HNIC not dying immediately appealed to the NHL.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Just spitballing here, but what if Rogers was willing to work with CBC and TSN/Bell wasn't.

If the offers were truly similar, perhaps the idea of HNIC not dying immediately appealed to the NHL.

TSN and CBC have worked together with the olympics before and with the CFL also.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Good article although it appears this guy is the head of the Ray Ferarro fan club. The voting results at the bottom are telling. General consensus today browsing HF and other places that most fans are less than happy with this decision. Great day for NHL owners and Rogers. Bad day for most Canadian hockey fans.

http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/201...ns-high-level/

hahhahaha. Seriously??

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

TSN and CBC have worked together with the olympics before and with the CFL also.

Doesn't mean they would be willing to work with them on the NHL, or that Rogers came up with the idea and TSN didn't.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Hockey Night in Canada Remains on CBC: Win

It's only HNIC in name as it's an RSN product that will be broadcasted by CBA. That's a clear loss in my eyes.

[Red John]

Mixed feelings here.

Obviously the NHL is going to chase the money and they did. Being the sole rights owner is a bit scary as Sportsnet has struggled with quality control and they don't have much of an incentive to step up their game as they've eliminated the competition.

That said, guys like Chris Cuthbert aren't going to stay unemployed, you have to think the best talent is going to make their way over to Rogers.

Hopefully the CBC doesn't do any Cup finals after the 4 years are over...so their montages are good, big deal. Hire the one guy who puts them together. The rest of HNiC has been crap for years now, hopefully guys like Glenn Healy and Eric Francis don't get face time ever again. Seeing Don Cherry put out to pasture would be nice too.

This will further marginalize the CFL too and hopefully kill it at some point. It was annoying watching NHL on TSN, having them cut straight to sportscentre after hoping to see highlights of the nights action and getting inundated with CFL highlights or promos first, before going to the obligatory Leafs and Raptors game highlights...often took 20 minutes just to get to the good stuff. TSN obviously is a nothing channel now for most Canadians (other than at Christmastime) and hopefully Sportsnet steps up their news shows (Connected is awful) so that you never have to change the channel. Sort of a one-stop solution for everything hockey.

One interesting thing to note is the Sunday night exclusivity. The NHL has always been light on the Sunday schedule, you have to think they'll accommodate that now which will involve more back to backs on Saturday/Sunday...wonder how the PA will take that. This may also affect any chance of Canada getting a NFL team soon as reserving Sunday nights for hockey for the next 12 years changes things.

Interesting stuff from Rogers. Their product is mickey-mouse right now, hopefully their financial commitment to the NHL will involve also spending to make sure NHL fans enjoy their viewing experience. Because right now it's not up to par.

[corporatejay]

Rogers has mobile, internet, cable, radio and print dominance. I think that's why their package was more attractive. more platforms, more technology.