TSN/CTV offers $1.4 billion for Hockey Night in Canada

CBC, which has been broadcasting Hockey Night in Canada since the 1950's, would take a serious revenue hit if they lose this jewel in their crown.

CBC's deal ends at the end of the '07-'08 season.

This huge offer is over ten years.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060811.wxctvnhl0811/BNStory/Sports/home

 

Well, that'll accelerate their slow death.

Sorry CBC, but your time has come and gone. You're nothing more than PBS after this goes through.

I do hope that if it does go to TSN/CTV, they get to keep the theme song. That would be truly tragic to lose.

 

They need to go back to the original theme song from the '60s and '70s. The remakes have never, ever cut it for me.

This is not good news. Bell Globemedia, which owns CTV, TSN, Bell Canada, the Globe and Mail and numerous other TV and radio stations -- they're in the process of taking over the CHUM empire -- is fast becoming Canada's only media conglomerate. That means convergence and consolidation among its properties, less choice for consumers and fewer jobs for journalists.

 

Bell Globemedia also owns a chunk of the Maple Leafs.

And I know I'm a minority here but I'm a big fan of CBC--televison and radio.

They have stuff--good commercial stuff and documentaries--that you won't find on any other stations.

But they'll lose a ton of ad revenue if they lose hockey.

 

I thought ESPN owned TSN?

 

Bad news for CBC. Great news for the NHL.

 

Which makes this comment hilariously naive.

 

ESPN owns around 20% of TSN.

"Sportscentre" used to be "Sportsdesk" until ESPN bought a chunk of them.

Personally, I'm not a big fan of most of TSN's hockey coverage.

I like Glenn Healy and Chris Cuthbert is a great announcer but I'm not a big fan of James Duthie and if there's one fucking Canadian I would like to export permanently to the US it's Pierre "I know more about hockey than anyone in the universe" Maguire.

 

Ah, SportsCentre ... a staple in our Toronto hotel room.

 

Only if your're willing to take Chris Berman or Stuart Scott. Then we can talk.

And you have to throw in some Tim Horton's.  

 

Wouldn't HNIC be part of the CBCs cultural mandate? Yes, it's a sport but the game is a big part of Canadian culture.

 

One of the papers had a huge enterprise on this when we were in Toronto for the outting. It was a good piece and if there weren't so many papers (G&M, NP, Toronto Star), I could remember where I read it.
If ABC can say bye-bye to MNF, then CBC can lose HNC.