Shoalts: Rogers fears it overbid for NHL rights. Using cost-cutting measures

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by AC

I can't wait until Rogers decides the best thing for the viewer is exclusive access to only SD broadcasts of games!

Subscribe to High Definition and get standard definition at no extra charge!

YOU CAN WATCH THE SAME THING ON TWO DIFFERENT CHANNELS AT ONE TIME!

Limited Time offer, some restrictions apply.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Hockey has always run at a loss. It's just an avenue to get more content on the air and promote other shows. If Rogers thought they could make money doing this, they're idiots.

Not always, no. NBC signed the $2 billion deal because it profited off the previous one. CBC lost money on the last deal, but was generally profitable prior to that.

[dustygoon]

Shoalts is badly miscast as the sports business reporter. Remember getting hood winked with the april fools Coyotes story?

Not a reach though to assume they will have a tough time breaking even on the new deal.

Great thought by one poster... They could sell some rights to TSN.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by fotze

Lets not forget the exclusive interviews between periods where players tell us that they need to go to the net more.

Totally have to agree with this. The between period/halftime interview has run it's course as it's beyond pointless as all the answers are so cliché it's to the point I just pause shows at halftime, go downstairs to get a drink and snack and FFW to the next period/half.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by bettman

David Shoalts is a grumpy ####### that works for Bell. <removed> and is a subpar writer. What he needed to add was his bosses, took for granted the National Rights would be bestowed upon TSN automatically for whatever they wanted. Just like ESPN did years ago. TSN snubbed Bettman and the NHL with their arrogance, they paid the price. Just like ESPN. NHL is now infinitely more profitable in the US. Why? Because they work with a company that helps the league and not just themselves. When TSN took over in 2004, their first 3 years were very poor. They got better. That will happen with Rogers. FYI. Many, many Hockey Management hires have come from Hockey Night in Canada and TSN. Shoalts failed to mention that because he knows nothing. Poor writer. Maybe the weakest of any Sports Writer at a National Level. They force Al Maki out to let this geek write.

I've read Huntinton posts articles after the deal was announced that broke down where they expected to make their money back make profit but it depended on a lot of things including the hopes of adding a considerable amount of new subscriptions and advertising. Not saying they can't do that over the course of the deal but at least for the initial seasons of the deal they could find things extremely tight until they get some traction.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Not always, no. NBC signed the $2 billion deal because it profited off the previous one. CBC lost money on the last deal, but was generally profitable prior to that.

True. I could have profited off the NBC deal. The NHL basically gave it to them for free. The more important question is does the $2 billion deal make a profit?

[heep223]

Damn can someone summarize this, I can't hear it at work!

http://video.flames.nhl.com/videocen...629341&lang=en

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by heep223

Damn can someone summarize this, I can't hear it at work!

http://video.flames.nhl.com/videocen...629341&lang=en

Not really much.

- More choice on Saturdays, with every Canadian team available to be seen anywhere in Canada via CBC, City, or a SN channel

- Plans to explain the game to new Canadians and new fans, and new camera angles to attract a younger demographic, to grow the audience (new angles likened to videogames)

- Less "hard news" in intermissions, more features on star players to build the stars and grow the game by attaching the audience to star players

- Local Flames broadcasts should see an up tick in quality due to investment in national broadcasts... ex. better graphics, camera angles, technology, on-air personnel

[Freeway]

What "hard news" were we getting before?

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Freeway

What "hard news" were we getting before?

I think it's a fancy way of saying less panel discussions type things and more insight into the players and history of the game. I am hoping it also means more in depth looks at the prospects and farm clubs too.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Freeway

What "hard news" were we getting before?

I assume that means "hard hockey news". Oot scoreboard, panels discussing suspensions/hirings/firings, and so on. He didn't really elaborate on what hard news was.

[mile]

Just watched it. Key points:

• More choice, up to 7 games on a Saturday night
• Looking to attract new audiences (new Canadians, younger demographic)
• Looking at new camera angles and explaining the game in various different ways to these audiences
• Kristin Hallett got to see these new camera angles and described them as like playing a video game, except that you can sit back and drink a beer instead
• Have some of the best people from SNET, CBC, other networks and bringing them together as one team
• Saturday nights will be very different, but still will have the HNIC flavour
• Excited about partnering with the CBC and keeping the HNIC tradition alive
• Ran HNIC for four years and is familiar with what makes the show great
• Will make HNIC greater by respecting the traditions and building on them
• Although games are broadcast across 4-5 different networks, it will still be the same HNIC show: will all be hosted from the same studio, intermission features such as Coach's Corner with MacLean/Cherry will remain the same
• What will be very different is the storytelling: will focus less on hardcore hockey news (business/trade rumours, maybe Satellite Hotstove?) and focus more on building stars
• This will include Olympic style features, more in-depth storytelling than viewers have been used to watching the last few years and showcasing player personalities
• When he grew up watching HNIC, first intermission was almost always a profile at home with a major star - it's how he fell in love with players like Jean Beliveau, Yvan Cournoyer, and other great Canadiens growing up
• Stroumboulopoulos will be a different host and bring a fresh feel to the show than Ron MacLean, just as MacLean did taking over from Dave Hodge
• MacLean will also host Sunday night Roger's Hometown Hockey, hosting the show from different locations across Canada
• Was with Sportsnet when they partnered with the Calgary Flames 15 years ago
• Flames fans will see an upgrade in everything - Because they are now the national rights holder, they've invested in new technology, new graphics, new music, new studio, new on-air personalities, an overall upgrade in the quality of production
• Still focus on the home team
• Key word with broadcast team: respect - no glowing puck/gimmicks, broadcast won't be unrecognizable, broadcast will be enhanced

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

I assume that mean "hard hockey news". Oot scoreboard, panels discussing suspensions/hirings/firings, and so on. He didn't really elaborate on what hard news was.

What hockey fan doesn't like this discussion?

What SN can do is rid their "panel" discussions where one guy always has to play devil's advocate and make himself look like a fool.

One reason why I liked TSN's intermissions were because of things like Insider Trading (which obviously SN does not have the talent to do outside of Friedman) and the Quiz.

The worst was when SN replayed panel discussion from literally the pre-game show 50 minutes before.

[mile]

Originally Posted by Freeway

What "hard news" were we getting before?

Probably business meetings, trade rumours, hiring/firings, suspensions.

I'm all for it if it means Sportsnet stops doing the stupid "Where is player X going to be traded to" talk all the time during intermissions. I usually skip their intermissions because they constantly talk about rumours and the draft in circles, rather than just analyzing the game being aired.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

Not really much.

- More choice on Saturdays, with every Canadian team available to be seen anywhere in Canada via CBC, City, or a SN channel

- Plans to explain the game to new Canadians and new fans, and new camera angles to attract a younger demographic, to grow the audience (new angles likened to videogames)

- Less "hard news" in intermissions, more features on star players to build the stars and grow the game by attaching the audience to star players

- Local Flames broadcasts should see an up tick in quality due to investment in national broadcasts... ex. better graphics, camera angles, technology, on-air personnel

barf!

Please don't Lebron James the NHL

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

...and the Quiz.

Generally I like the tone of what's being said here. I hated the Quiz and I think it's gimmicks like it that need to go, so I'm happy to hear the direction they're going. I'd way rather watch a feature on one of the Flames players, get a glimpse into their personal life, off-season, training regiment, etc (24/7 style) than a bunch of media types gossiping about which coach is going to get fired next.

Only thing I'm nervous about would be the new video game camera angles. Very scared. If I want to play video games I'll play video games...

EDIT: I would add as a poster mentioned above that another beef I had with TSN is that they barely analyzed the game during intermissions. That's one thing that CBC was great at - actually talking about the game, analyzing plays, etc. Please get back to this, Sportsnet!

[rayne008]

Obviously the key to Roger's profitability will be 5+ years down the road,
and how well they can utilize non-traditional medias.

Owning the rights to everything will provide a lot of flexibility on delivering content to the consumer, and creating different revenue streams.

Think back to how we watched games 10 years ago and imagine what it will look like 10 years from now.

[rayne008]

double

[codynw]

Originally Posted by heep223

Generally I like the tone of what's being said here. I hated the Quiz and I think it's gimmicks like it that need to go, so I'm happy to hear the direction they're going. I'd way rather watch a feature on one of the Flames players, get a glimpse into their personal life, off-season, training regiment, etc (24/7 style) than a bunch of media types gossiping about which coach is going to get fired next.

Only thing I'm nervous about would be the new video game camera angles. Very scared. If I want to play video games I'll play video games...

When I hear "video game camera angles" I think of the overhead camera used during the outdoor games. Not sure how everyone else felt about that camera, but I really liked it. I hope that's what they mean.

[Finger Cookin]

I'm cautiously optimistic on the new camera angles. I imagine they'll have isolation cameras at most games, to build material for their star profiles. I wonder how the angles will play out in the in-game, play-by-play coverage though.