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

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

They aren't going to die... viewership may decrease but let's be honest, next trade deadline you'll be right back on TSN if they have McKenzie instead of Kyperios.

Its got the World Cup from 2015 until 2022, curling, CFL, Sportsnet will end up having to give up a bunch of Raptors games to them, Sunday/Monday night football, NBA finals, English Premier League, Tennis Grand slam.... its not like they are going to be showing darts and poker 24/7.

I bet that TSN will succeed in increasing the popularity of both the Memorial Cup and the World Championships. Particularly, the World Championships. I could see them trying to get it on the same level as World Juniors.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

They aren't going to die... viewership may decrease but let's be honest, next trade deadline you'll be right back on TSN if they have McKenzie instead of Kyperios.

Its got the World Cup from 2015 until 2022, curling, CFL, Sportsnet will end up having to give up a bunch of Raptors games to them, Sunday/Monday night football, NBA finals, English Premier League, Tennis Grand slam.... its not like they are going to be showing darts and poker 24/7.

The 2015 Women's World Cup will get huge ratings.

The 2018 and 2022 World Cup will be in wonky timezones.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

The 2015 Women's World Cup will get huge ratings.

The 2018 and 2022 World Cup will be in wonky countries.

fyp

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Alright. I'm slow.

You are a Sportsnet audio/video sync!

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

I think that the end result will be improved quality across the board for Sportsnet, for both their regional and national telecasts.

Even if nobody at TSN moves across, CBC has a lot of very capable graphic designers, producers and on-air talent. They're all out of work at CBC because they are getting zero revenue. I think a lot of those people at CBC are going to be moving over and will go a long way to improving Sportsnet's production.

This is my hope, and what I think will happen

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by FBI

For us Flames Fans in the states, this doesn't change much right? Other than if Rogers boosts prices on Game Center and Center Ice?

I think Sportsnet is bush league like the rest of you, but as long as I get to watch all the flames games I'll be ok..

You're right. It's business as usual for US based Flames fans using GC and CI.

[Tailgator]

One of the Rogers guys is on The Fan and mentioned that production is one of the things being addressed. Apparently a new studio (did he say similar to an NFL studio?) is one of the things in the offing.

[Bill Bumface]

Finally TSN is free to truly focus on MLS!

[hwy19man]

All three links are in english.

The first link talks about what TVA and TVA Sports will be getting. This french network has an alliance with Rogers Sportsnet.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/deal+shot+Sports/9215582/story.html


This link is fairly straight forward.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/deal+will+have+minimal+effect+Habs+fans+with+video/9214502/story.html

This is an opinion based blog.
http://blogs.montrealgazette.com/2013/11/26/rds-and-tsn-have-lost-nhl-hockey/

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Tailgator

One of the Rogers guys is on The Fan and mentioned that production is one of the things being addressed. Apparently a new studio (did he say similar to an NFL studio?) is one of the things in the offing.

This comes down to people. They either invest in quality production staff and on air talent, or they'll continue to be considered third rate. The flashy new NFL style studio does nothing for most people when the people filling it are lousy.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by nik-

This comes down to people. They either invest in quality production staff and on air talent, or they'll continue to be considered third rate. The flashy new NFL style studio does nothing for most people when the people filling it are lousy.

you don't like the Fox Robots?

[nik-]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

you don't like the Fox Robots?

Honestly most of the in studio stuff for NFL or NHL doesn't really do it for me. I liked the hotstove when they used to talk about player trade rumours and things like this, but mostly it's just fluff.

I like the SEC games on CBS with Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson. I like Tirico and Gruden on MNF, I like Cuthbert and Miller and Hughson and Ball. I don't like the Duthies and MacLeans of the world.

Get the right people in the booth, and controlling the tech, this is by far the most important task at hand for Rogers. The rest is just sizzle.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by nik-

Honestly most of the in studio stuff for NFL or NHL doesn't really do it for me. I liked the hotstove when they used to talk about player trade rumours and things like this, but mostly it's just fluff.

I like the SEC games on CBS with Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson. I like Tirico and Gruden on MNF, I like Cuthbert and Miller and Hughson and Ball. I don't like the Duthies and MacLeans of the world.

Get the right people in the booth, and controlling the tech, this is by far the most important task at hand for Rogers. The rest is just sizzle.

Yup.

I brought up the Fox Robots because I find the reaction here very similar to when FOX bought the NFC package from CBS in the 90s. IIRC it was over 1 billion for 4 years. People were outraged! What was FOX? A crap channel who had never even broadcasted a football game. Whereas CBS had done it for years.

But very quickly FOX hired the right people (mostly CBS people) and it sounded the same and looked better. People turned on their tvs at 1pm Eastern on Sunday and still heard Pat Summerall and John Madden.

Now less than 20 years later, everyone is used to the NFL on FOX.

[hwy19man]

Originally Posted by nik-

I like the SEC games on CBS with Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson. I like Tirico and Gruden on MNF, I like Cuthbert and Miller and Hughson and Ball. I don't like the Duthies and MacLeans of the world.

Get the right people in the booth, and controlling the tech, this is by far the most important task at hand for Rogers. The rest is just sizzle.

I do not follow football much but I agree. Lundquist is an excellent play by play commentator, I listen to him on the radio for MNF and March Madness games.

[Senator Clay Davis]

There is sort of a huge difference between FOX picking up the NFL and this. Namely that FOX had never produced sports ever before acquiring the NFL. Sportsnet has an already terrible track record; FOX had no track record. Sportsnet also doesn't have FOX type money to throw around. I mean Sporsnet paid $5.2 billion, or roughly half of Rogers entire revenue last year. NewsCorp meanwhile paid $4.27 billion for 6 years in the last NFL deal; it made $35 billion in revenue. We'll see if Rogers ponies up, but FOX simply had so much more money that they could afford all the top talent available. I don't think Rogers will do the same (or if they do expect that buck to be passed on)

[getbak]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

TSN will go the ESPN route. Once they don't have NHL hockey, they will talk less about NHL hockey.

No they won't. If anything, they'll talk about the NHL more because they don't have any games to show.

It's like McKenzie tweeted yesterday, he first joined TSN full-time when Sportsnet got the national rights 15 years ago. When he was hired, he was told that it was their goal to still be Canadians' first choice for NHL news and information. The only thing they lost was the rights to air a couple of games a week, they can still cover the NHL in other ways.

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

I think that the end result will be improved quality across the board for Sportsnet, for both their regional and national telecasts.

Even if nobody at TSN moves across, CBC has a lot of very capable graphic designers, producers and on-air talent. They're all out of work at CBC because they are getting zero revenue. I think a lot of those people at CBC are going to be moving over and will go a long way to improving Sportsnet's production.

Exactly, Rogers will be able to cherry-pick the best and brightest from TSN, CBC, and Sportsnet. With the salaries paid by Canadian broadcasters (a pittance), it's not like the difference between hiring the absolute cream of the crop and the bottom of the barrel will significantly increase their cost after throwing nearly half a billion a year at the NHL for just the rights.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Because they paid for the broadcasting rights to NHL hockey. Now that money is free to spend on other content. They will spend it on content that can at least come close to replacing the loss of the NHL.

TSN will be fine. Again, they survived without the NHL before, and they will again. NFL probably draws just as close with the demos advertisers want as the NHL does. The WJHC is still bigger than anything Sportsnet has except the NHL. And TSN will probably still have overall better coverage of the NHL than Sportsnet.

Aside from MNF, doesn't matter since people can watch the native feed on NBC for SNF.

Originally Posted by getbak

No they won't. If anything, they'll talk about the NHL more because they don't have any games to show.

It's like McKenzie tweeted yesterday, he first joined TSN full-time when Sportsnet got the national rights 15 years ago. When he was hired, he was told that it was their goal to still be Canadians' first choice for NHL news and information. The only thing they lost was the rights to air a couple of games a week, they can still cover the NHL in other ways.

Except this time TSN won't have a chance at showing NHL nationally again for 12 years. That's more than a decade. That's a long time. I'll be 35 when Bell can bid for rights again. It's not as easy to hold since it's not several years. A kid that was born yesterday, is going to be 12 when TSN may show NHL again.

I don't think TSN can try to be the best news for hockey anymore, at least at an NHL level.

If I was them, I would make sure to dominate the juniors, college and international hockey market. If Rogers is going all in on the NHL, then Bell should go all in on everything else. They made the WJC big, try to do the same with others.

[Igster]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

you don't like the Fox Robots?

No.

But I like foxy robots.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Joborule

I don't think TSN can try to be the best news for hockey anymore, at least at an NHL level.

Why not?

I don't prefer That's Hockey over Hockeycentral because TSN has the broadcast rights. I prefer it because TSN has on-air talent that is far more intelligent and engaging. Iff they managed to retain some of that talent - i.e.: Duthie and McKenzie - then for news coverage, they'll still be ahead of Rogers. That is a big question, however, as there can be very little doubt that some of TSN's talent is going to cross the street.

[-TC-]

TSN doesn't offer me much. Other than what, 5 games a year? And the eastern bias actually really bugs me, that may be petty but I don't care much about the leafs...that is to say I don't care as much as they do... and the programming supports that bias. And that's fine, it's their programming and they are selling to their audience...which is to say the east. That's not me.

SN on the other hand, is that eager-to-please kid. Who isn't the most skilled on your team, but he pays attention, he works hard in practice, and he really gives a ####...I'm going to give that kid as many minutes as I can, where I can, because he earned all of them...

While the quality of the broadcast and the broadcasters isn't as high on SN as it is on TSN, they have one thing that gives me reason to watch...coverage, specifically regional coverage that allows me to watch the Flames...and if they aren't on, the oilers or the canucks, on almost every night they play.

TSN has never offered me that, and for that reason alone I choose to support the SN decision. They were good to me, even when what they were offering wasn't so good at least they made it available to me.