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

[Ashasx]

And the NHL thought this deal was good for hockey...

[getbak]

Originally Posted by wingmaker

What am I missing?

Why would TSN want all of these hockey analysts/play by play/commentators etc locked up?

Why would all of these analysts etc want to re-up with TSN?

Why is everyone high fiving over this? It seems a little silly. So all of the TSN on air talent will be living it up on regional broadcasts?

How much of a win will this feel like three or four years from now when new talent has moved into the SN spots and these guys are all long forgotten?

The only thing that TSN won't be able to do that they do now is show live NHL games and the Draft. They can still do analysis and highlights and other shows. Right now, Sportsnet has Hockey Central and other NHL coverage even though they don't have the national rights.

As McKenzie said, they still want to be the go to choice for NHL coverage in Canada.

Re-upping Miller was kind of surprising because he's a play-by-play guy. Losing the rights definitely changes things for him, but TSN still has the CFL and World Juniors, and will likely pick up some other things to fill in the gaps and they'll still need play-by-play guys.

For the other guys, it likely means an expanded role because they won't just be filling in during the intermissions, but will likely have a full half hour or hour long show at least a couple of times a week.

[trackercowe]

Maybe Sportsnet can go after Kouleas? He might not be as popular as some of TSN commentators, but he's easily better than anyone at Snet. I've always been a fan of his, even if he can be quite opinionated. He has an appreciation for the game which I find likable. Obviously he worked at The Score before, so he probably still has some connections to Rogers.

He's not an insider though, but he'd be a better panel host than what they currently have.

[Drake]

Not sure if this in here, but David Shoalts reported this week that Chris Cuthbert is negotiating with TSN and is expected to stay.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

Maybe Sportsnet can go after Kouleas? He might not be as popular as some of TSN commentators, but he's easily better than anyone at Snet. I've always been a fan of his, even if he can be quite opinionated. He has an appreciation for the game which I find likable. Obviously he worked at The Score before, so he probably still has some connections to Rogers.

He's not an insider though, but he'd be a better panel host than what they currently have.

I really like Kouleas (or I did when he hosted HHT).

The problem for him right now is that he isn't opinionated. He's just been a host on TH2N and hasn't really been himself. He's actually been very boring.

If he can be an actual hockey analyst instead of a host on SN, yes, he's better than anyone currently employed there.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Drake

Not sure if this in here, but David Shoalts reported this week that Chris Cuthbert is negotiating with TSN and is expected to stay.

This makes me very angry.

Hockey is going to lose its best PBP guy.

[wingmaker]

Originally Posted by getbak

The only thing that TSN won't be able to do that they do now is show live NHL games and the Draft. They can still do analysis and highlights and other shows. Right now, Sportsnet has Hockey Central and other NHL coverage even though they don't have the national rights.

As McKenzie said, they still want to be the go to choice for NHL coverage in Canada.

Re-upping Miller was kind of surprising because he's a play-by-play guy. Losing the rights definitely changes things for him, but TSN still has the CFL and World Juniors, and will likely pick up some other things to fill in the gaps and they'll still need play-by-play guys.

For the other guys, it likely means an expanded role because they won't just be filling in during the intermissions, but will likely have a full half hour or hour long show at least a couple of times a week.

Yes, I understand that. But most of the people they are holding onto are used in game. What do Ward, Miller, Duthie, etc do if they are not showing hockey games? I get that they can cover the games in other ways but what is the real plan? And why are all these guys so pumped to play second fiddle? Lord knows that is how Sportsnet is thought of now. Do they really think they will remain top dogs once the games are not on their station five years from now?

[GirlySports]

Kouleas is no better than Marek so they already have a host.

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Kouleas is no better than Marek so they already have a host.

Disagree; Kouleas at least knows his hockey, Marek doesn't even know what former player is sitting next to him on his own panel.

[rmillions]

Merry Christmas to everyone on CP! Rog

[Alberta_Beef]

Sportsnet will end up being mostly HNIC people IMO

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Kouleas is no better than Marek so they already have a host.

Kouleas > Marek. I think it would be a good move for Rogers taking him away to be a host or analyst for their hockey panel.

[The Familia]

I'm glad TSN is keeping everyone. I hate Sportsnet and Rogers Communications with a passion. I wish nothing but a quick painful death for that company. Anything TSN can do to stay on top is fine with me. Hopefully the NHL will have regretted this contract in 5 years time and Sportsnet is struggling to stay afloat as they bit off more than they can chew.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by wingmaker

What am I missing?

Why would TSN want all of these hockey analysts/play by play/commentators etc locked up?

Why would all of these analysts etc want to re-up with TSN?

Why is everyone high fiving over this? It seems a little silly. So all of the TSN on air talent will be living it up on regional broadcasts?

How much of a win will this feel like three or four years from now when new talent has moved into the SN spots and these guys are all long forgotten?

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

I am guessing they are just going to pick up more games from NBC, maybe even a package from Rogers


to go along with them working the regional Jets/Leafs/Canadiens

I doubt Sportsnet would sell a package like that to an enemy competitor. The NBC simulcasting on TSN and TSN2 will stop at the end of the season. Those NBC games are for national audiences and Sportsnet will be able to show those games starting next season. The Canadiens english regional contract also expires at the end of the season and is currently up for bid.

[sureLoss]

RDS just won 12 year regional deal for the Canadiens

[getbak]

Bell locks up the Habs en Français for 12 more years: http://bellmediapr.ca/Network/RDS/Pr...iens-Announce-

The deal will also continue naming rights on the Bell Centre through 2028.

The regional rights deal includes 60 regular season games each season. I assume that means Rogers/TVA will only have access to 22 Habs games to a national audience. If that's the case, it will be a significant decrease in national games for the Habs. This season, they're on TSN nationally 15 times, and 29 times on CBC.

[Senator Clay Davis]

TSN is indeed a very rich network so money isn't going to be an issue. They can lock up the top talent because as has been mentioned when there isn't live hockey on, TSN will still be where everyone goes. Deadline day, July 1, Team Canada and nightly analysis still gives TSN a lot of hours of hockey coverage in a year. Its ridiculous how lopsided the gap between TSN and Sportsnet is at analysis and coverage. Sportsnet is just second rate compared to TSN.

As to Cuthbert and I guess now Miller, I remember Cuthbert did a few NBC/Versus games a few years ago on the side, so I wouldn't see surprised to see one or both do a little of that since NBCSN now has expanded coverage.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

and TSN locks up another hockey analyst:
Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 4m
Team TSN locks down another one. @aaronward_nhl has agreed to a longterm deal. Confirmed!!

So TSN keeps the equivalent of Eklund. Dreger is a complete tool.

This is a possitive for sportsnet

[skeena1]

Originally Posted by getbak

Bell locks up the Habs en Français for 12 more years: http://bellmediapr.ca/Network/RDS/Pr...iens-Announce-

The deal will also continue naming rights on the Bell Centre through 2028.

The regional rights deal includes 60 regular season games each season. I assume that means Rogers/TVA will only have access to 22 Habs games to a national audience. If that's the case, it will be a significant decrease in national games for the Habs. This season, they're on TSN nationally 15 times, and 29 times on CBC.

These are the French rights, correct? Aren't the English rights a completely different package?