Changes coming to HNIC and Fan960?

[ah123]

Interesting if true.

No one will speak on the record right now about this. Nor will anyone provide any concrete insight into who might be hosting should my sense be right that this will be the end of the line for Ron MacLean as host of Hockey Night in Canada

On the radio side, there is a ton of speculation about the future of SN650 and SN960, both of their respective NHL rights deals end after the NHL draft this year and thus far there have been no announcements about extensions

https://yyzsportsmedia.com/are-big-c...-hockey-night/

[hwy19man]

The volume of the Ron MacLean rumour has been slowly increasing over the past four years.

[mile]

lol @ that picture of Ron

Well, if my sources are to be believed, I think that when the cup is handed to this year’s champion it will be the last time you see Hockey Night the way you’ve seen it this year. There are simply too many people opining that change is imminent to believe it’s just noise. I believe that this is likely Ron MacLean’s last year as the full-time host of Hockey Night in Canada. I believe that the decision to part ways will likely be amicable with Ron’s hosting gig having run its natural course. He survived the Don Cherry ending, carried through the pandemic, and hosted through what feels like a ton of hockey over the last couple of summers. As one insider told me, “Both sides agree it is a good time to call it a day.”

I hope this is true

[Moneyhands23]

Originally Posted by ah123

Interesting if true.






https://yyzsportsmedia.com/are-big-c...-hockey-night/

Damn I hope Lobo doesn't lose his job

[midniteowl]

No one will speak on the record right now about this. Nor will anyone provide any concrete insight into who might be hosting should my sense be right that this will be the end of the line for Ron MacLean as host of Hockey Night in Canada

I certainly hope so.

[djsFlames]

Bye Ron, don't let the door hit you on your way out (to the bushes across from the McDavid residence).

P.s.
It was in.

[topfiverecords]

Careful what you wish for. They’ve been grooming Ron’s poetic word salad replacement for a while now.

The McLovein slant won’t change.

[Reggie Dunlop]

EDIT: Erroneous info

[Moneyhands23]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Likely means Rogers won't be bidding for broadcasting rights, or if they do it'll be for substantially less. They overbid on the last contract.

Don't they have like 7 yearseft on the TV deal

[CaptainCrunch]

Good, the guys a rat.



He also is awful at his job and has been for year.



Go be a sponge somewhere else Ron.

[Badgers Nose]

I hope 960 keeps the games. It’s good to have choices and radio is great for people that work nights.

[hwy19man]

Originally Posted by Moneyhands23

Don't they have like 7 yearseft on the TV deal

The contract has four years remaining, it expires after the 2025-26 season.

[This post is terrible]

I am expecting an increase in sports betting content

[bubbsy]

Ugh, I hope 960 survives. As a flames fan residing outside of Calgary, 960 is a huge part of getting your daily hockey/flames fix.

[GirlySports]

What direction would they go? Going the Strombo direction didn't work.

[nieuwy-89]

Originally Posted by mile

lol @ that picture of Ron

Yeah, what's up with the Oilers logo?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

What direction would they go? Going the Strombo direction didn't work.

I disagree, I think they didnt give him a very fair chance. He wasnt great, but he wasnt really given much of an opportunity to grow into the role either.

But whatever gets Ron off the air is good in my books. He can get a job working for the Oilers...maybe he'll replace Gene Principe in a hot-dog costume.

His schtick was old a decade ago.

Frankly, I'm not overly concerned who they replace him with, between-period content is so terrible lately I dont even watch it.

[nieuwy-89]

I was a huge fan of Ron and Don in the 90s and 2000s. But both personalities have run their course. Its time for fresh perspectives and new approaches on the NHL's flagship broadcast.

I appreciate Ron's puns and poetic style, that was always something that set him apart from the regular sports media. For a while there he really epitomized the impact that hockey has on Canadian culture. I thought he was great at weaving together sport, art, and geography in a way that few others have tried.

However, in the past few years, we have drawn back the curtains on hockey's culture and there are certainly some warts that shouldn't be glorified the way that HNIC has in the past.

Also, as we all know on this board, Ron has become an unsufferable McDavid/Oilers booster. And Hometown Hockey is unwatchable for all his name-dropping.

I'll miss the golden years of Ron Maclean and Don Cherry as the faces of HNIC, but I certainly welcome the change.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by nieuwy-89

I was a huge fan of Ron and Don in the 90s and 2000s. But both personalities have run their course. Its time for fresh perspectives and new approaches on the NHL's flagship broadcast.

I appreciate Ron's puns and poetic style, that was always something that set him apart from the regular sports media. For a while there he really epitomized the impact that hockey has on Canadian culture. I thought he was great at weaving together sport, art, and geography in a way that few others have tried.

However, in the past few years, we have drawn back the curtains on hockey's culture and there are certainly some warts that shouldn't be glorified the way that HNIC has in the past.

Also, as we all know on this board, Ron has become an unsufferable McDavid/Oilers booster. And Hometown Hockey is unwatchable for all his name-dropping.

I'll miss the golden years of Ron Maclean and Don Cherry as the faces of HNIC, but I certainly welcome the change.

#### that noise.

You'd find better poets at the local gym.

Ron was a spineless snot-eating Oiler fanboy that needed to be babysat by Don to be tolerable on the broadcasts.

[Iceman90]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

I hope 960 keeps the games. It’s good to have choices and radio is great for people that work nights.

I would be very surprised if there was no radio coverage. I think the question is just if the radio coverage will be with SN960 or not.