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

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by 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.

Mixed feelings? Seems you hate everyone... CBC, TSN, Sportsnet.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

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

There are pretty similar.. Bell and Rogers have the same type of portfolio. Rogers has magazines which is about the only differences, you can decide if that's an advantage at this point.

[Red John]

Mixed feelings in that it's a good thing since it renders TSN and its Toronto-centric and CFL-centric coverage irrelevant.

Also a good thing since it's phasing out HNiC which has really just become a relic of the past.

Bad thing in that with one network controlling everything for 12 years, there's no real incentive for them to create a superior product as Canadians who watch the NHL (ie most of them) will watch no matter what. Plus they've never really shown that they can produce quality in the past.

No hate...just dislike for certain facets of certain networks. Intrigued more than anything by this deal...it will be really interesting to see how Rogers handles this.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

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.

We'll have to see what it looks like first.

I just like that there will be a bunch of games on different channels Saturday night instead of just the Leafs. And not just Canadian, if the Bruins are playing the Hawks on a Saturday night, the new platform can pick up that one too.

I can see a lot of FLEX scheduling in the future toshow good teams and playoff races.

[GirlySports]

12 years goes by fast.. if they can't improve their product and less people watch, they'll lose money and not be able to renew in 12 years.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

12 years goes by fast.. if they can't improve their product and less people watch, they'll lose money and not be able to renew in 12 years.

Cable companies in general may not be around in nearly the same capacity in 12 years either. All the more reason to bleed what you can from the consumer during your time of relevence.

[The Swedish Flame]

What is this "NFL" you keep talking about?

[albertGQ]

If production sucks, I'm not watching the pre game or the post game stuff. Forget intermission too.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

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.

No, it's not. Rogers came through with a comprehensive deal and a great price. It sounded like Bell Media had something similar in the works, but when they approached the league they found out not only had Rogers beaten them to the punch, but with more dollars than Bell was going to offer.

TSN/Bell got caught flat footed. Rogers had been planning this it seems for some time and had a complete and polished offer that the impressed the league.

[Tinordi]

Somebody's losing their job today at Bell Media.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

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

I'm not sure how much ahead in those areas Rogers is compared to Bell. Internet, maybe? Cable vs. satellite? Not sure.

I honestly think that what happened is that Rogers came forward initially with its best offer, while Bell may have been preparing for more of a process. That's just based on impressions from what was said in the presser and reading some articles. No idea how things really unfolded behind the scenes.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Somebody's losing their job today at Bell Media.

Never a bad thing to see a fat cat or two lose his job but I would expect there will be a trickle down effect and more than a few people will be handed pink slips in the coming year. There's simply going to be a lot of people no longer needed once the hockey season is over.

[MissTeeks]

Originally Posted by Red John

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.

Not this again.

[dissentowner]

So now that Rogers has control of Centre Ice does that mean Bell tv subscribers will be SOL to order it next season?

[Tinordi]

There was an article that TSN was hardballing early on in the negotiation. That may have poisoned the well.

[superfarmer]

Kerr would look good doing pbp at TSN

[strombad]

Though I doubt it injects much into our region, I would hope there might be a trickle-down of talent coming our way.

Something to improve the Flames telecast would be great, because as a team Kerr and Simmer are absolutely awful.

And perhaps a radio personality or two, not that I particularly dislike anyone on 960 (Leslie is kind of tiring), but having the same 3 guys host almost all of the shows is getting a bit much.

Hell, I like hockey talk all damn day, but if it's going to be the SAME guy giving the same perspective for 3+ hours, then just give more of Jim Rome back. At least he's entertaining while being repetitive.

[PeteLFan]

Doesn't the 12 year contract violate the cba?

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

So now that Rogers has control of Centre Ice does that mean Bell tv subscribers will be SOL to order it next season?

Probably not, because one of the mandates that Rogers CEO and Bettman mentioned continuously emphasized was extending the reach of the broadcasts and making them available to as many viewers in as many formats as possible.

Much more likely is that non-Rogers subscribers may pay a premium for the service compared to Rogers, but I doubt that this happens either. If it does, it will be marginal.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

There was an article that TSN was hardballing early on in the negotiation. That may have poisoned the well.

Interesting. Do you remember where that was from?