Sportsnet has ruined hockey

[Senator Clay Davis]

I don't know if they can actually sell their remaining regional rights (they'll simple let the contract expire I think), but it would be surprising if the Flames, Oilers and Canucks weren't all on TSN when it comes time for their next deal. I also doubt TSN even slightly helps Sportsnet by taking some of the national package back unless TSN gets it for 50 cents on the dollar. I'm sure TSN is enjoying watching Sportsnet burn. If Sportsnet are really in trouble, selling some Jays rights could make sense.

[Scary Eloranta]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

The bolded part made me hate him as a host the most.

His wannabe style, clinging to his youth and general physical touching of the analysts just adds to my disdain for him.

No kidding - what's with that!!

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

As long as Ken King is around I wouldn't expect the team jumping ship to TSN. He's tight (as in he's the guy that made it possible for him to do PBP) with Rob Kerr and the RSN guys.

I highly doubt Rob Kerr has anything to do with negotiating the Flames regional TV deal.

And pretty confident the Flames will go to the highest bidder. Really doubt the owners are going to leave money on the table because Ken King is buddies with someone.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I don't know if they can actually sell their remaining regional rights (they'll simple let the contract expire I think), but it would be surprising if the Flames, Oilers and Canucks weren't all on TSN when it comes time for their next deal. I also doubt TSN even slightly helps Sportsnet by taking some of the national package back unless TSN gets it for 50 cents on the dollar. I'm sure TSN is enjoying watching Sportsnet burn. If Sportsnet are really in trouble, selling some Jays rights could make sense.

Doubt they'd ever sell any Jays rights. They own everything Jays related and can hide revenue all over the place to keep payroll down there.

[PeteMoss]

If I was a betting man, I'd guess we'll see:

The end of Hometown Hockey
Cut down to a 2 person intermission panel on regional games (host + analyst)
Drop a few of the 8 billion people who work on pre-game/intermissions on HNIC

Other potential changes:
Drop the in arena interview person for regional games and just have the PBP and colour guy do them from the booth.

[Burner]

The national contract is not related to the regional ones. The cuts will come from the national shows. I expect there to be less toys ( cable cameras in Toronto and Vancouver) the cameras in the benches that shoot up players noses. Less net cams and robotics on the board of the arenas.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Based on what? Your hunch? When has TSN provided substandard quality to make you thing they would stoop to RSN levels on a national level? TSN was smart enough not to offer the NHL a deal that would be a money loser for them in the first place so they would not be in a situation that they had to reduce the product quality to make ends meet. You can't guarantee anything.

What do you mean the infrastructure is not in place? You saw the pictures of the Fox and RSN broadcasts. You realized those telecasts were done out of the same arena at the same time?

I'm actually stunned that there are some RSN apologists. What's next? People start sticking up for the NDP?

You talk about broadcasting a game like it's simply turning on an HD camera and clearly have no clue that what you see and how well you see it depends on many factors. Infrastructure wise there's simply not enough top quality broadcast trucks/production teams available to produce games at a high level, all at basically the same time across the country....so no, not a hunch at all.

There's little point in even attempting to explain why you'd notice another network has better quality at the same time when they likely had their top broadcasting teams and equipment in place since they only cover limited games.

[billybob123]

Rogers changes production head going into the playoffs.

Does this mean they're listening to people's complaints about the quality of production? Or is it to save $$$?

[Split98]

One part of me thinks 'great! maybe they'll up production and give us a better product'.

But then I remember this is Rogers. They'll just slice the quality until it's cheap enough to be profitable. I'm pretty sure 'stupid scum-sucking customers will give us money regardless' is their internal policy when making decisions.

Man do I hate Rogers.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Burner

The national contract is not related to the regional ones. The cuts will come from the national shows. I expect there to be less toys ( cable cameras in Toronto and Vancouver) the cameras in the benches that shoot up players noses. Less net cams and robotics on the board of the arenas.

Its the same company. If the national deal is losing money, they'll make cuts all over to make up for it. I have no idea how they are structured but somewhere in there there will be a hockey broadcasting budget that rolls up the national and regional NHL deals.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Doubt they'd ever sell any Jays rights. They own everything Jays related and can hide revenue all over the place to keep payroll down there.

Yeah, no chance Sportsnet sells the Jays rights. The team draws more viewers than any other in MLB, and when they can guarantee 500,000 viewers per game in the bad times and a million plus in good, it will pay off for Rogers.

[hwy19man]

Originally Posted by Toonage

I honestly do wonder if they can sub contract some games? Or do they go back to the NHL to rework the deal and get Bell media/TSN to the table? This can't go on for 10 years if its crumbling at the end of year 2. Maybe they keep Saturday and the national games on Wednesday and thats it? Sell the regional rights for the teams they do have?

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I don't know if they can actually sell their remaining regional rights (they'll simple let the contract expire I think), but it would be surprising if the Flames, Oilers and Canucks weren't all on TSN when it comes time for their next deal. I also doubt TSN even slightly helps Sportsnet by taking some of the national package back unless TSN gets it for 50 cents on the dollar. I'm sure TSN is enjoying watching Sportsnet burn. If Sportsnet are really in trouble, selling some Jays rights could make sense.

"A source close to senior management at TSN said the network, which remains profitable, is not interested in buying any NHL games."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/top-hockey-producers-firing-before-nhl-playoffs-hints-at-rogers-turmoil/article29548827/

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by hwy19man

"A source close to senior management at TSN said the network, which remains profitable, is not interested in buying any NHL games."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/top-hockey-producers-firing-before-nhl-playoffs-hints-at-rogers-turmoil/article29548827/

What do I take from this article? That I apparently think like a broadcasting insider. Seriously though, thanks for providing this hwy19man, much appreciated!

[taco.vidal]

Originally Posted by Toonage

What do I take from this article? That I apparently think like a broadcasting insider. Seriously though, thanks for providing this hwy19man, much appreciated!

TSN has no reason to help Rogers out of a bind.

Im certain that the Rogers contract with the NHL must have performance standards writen into it. Rogers wont be able to keep cutting costs and go bare bones for the broadcasts.

[Burner]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Its the same company. If the national deal is losing money, they'll make cuts all over to make up for it. I have no idea how they are structured but somewhere in there there will be a hockey broadcasting budget that rolls up the national and regional NHL deals.

True enough but the deals do have requirements that the broadcaster has to meet such as number of cameras etc so those cant be cut and most regional broadcasts are pretty bare bones operation. National ones spend more money and as such will probably see the bulk of the cost cutting measures.

[hwy19man]

Q: Any talks about selling NHL games to TSN?
A: Absolutely not.

Somebody recently asked me, “Knowing what you know now, would you do the hockey deal again?” And I said, “In a heartbeat.”


More questions about job cuts and production in the article.
http://www.thestar.com/business/2016/04/12/a-q-a-with-scott-moore-on-the-end-to-the-nhls-regular-season.html

[Toonage]

Don't like the sound of "remote from home" at all. I'm reading into it, but my guess is they're considering having broadcasters calling the games on TV instead of being there live. Would be horrible for a number of reasons.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by hwy19man

Q: Any talks about selling NHL games to TSN?
A: Absolutely not.

Somebody recently asked me, “Knowing what you know now, would you do the hockey deal again?” And I said, “In a heartbeat.”


More questions about job cuts and production in the article.
http://www.thestar.com/business/2016/04/12/a-q-a-with-scott-moore-on-the-end-to-the-nhls-regular-season.html

Hey, look — the Leafs are the economic driver of the hockey ecosystem in Canada. You can talk about wanting to promote other teams, the reality is that this is the biggest television market in the country. When the Leafs do well, the overall television numbers do well.

Sigh. Is it any surprise the Flames seem to get the worst production of the Canadian teams Rogers covers? They really only care about the Leafs. My biggest disappointment isn't in Rogers though it's in Ken King and the Flames for continuing to let Rogers get away with treating the Flames like a 2nd class team. A lot of people like to bust Ken King's chops regarding CalgaryNext but of all the things he's in control of he really should be ashamed of how the organization has let Rogers get away with broadcasting his team's games with delayed audio and less than HD resolution. Honestly I can't understand how nobody in the organization has taken Rogers to task for this.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Don't like the sound of "remote from home" at all. I'm reading into it, but my guess is they're considering having broadcasters calling the games on TV instead of being there live. Would be horrible for a number of reasons.

At the least, probably start to hear the TV broadcast played on the radio, rather than having two crews follow the team

[zyzz]

I could care less about the broadcast or panel guys. I usually watch games on mute with music playing. Don't need talking heads explain to me what I already know.