"Hockey Night In Canada" Beyond 2008

[Joseph_Gallant]

The long-term contract between CBC and the NHL for "Hockey Night In Canada" will expire after the 2008 playoffs. Although it's more than two years off, I wouldn't be surprised if talks have started or are about to start concerning the NHL's national broadcast-TV deal in Canada.

In the past, it would have been a no-brainer: CBC would have renewed their deal for "Hockey Night In Canada". But after last year's stunning announcement that a consortium of CTV, TSN and Rogers out-bid the CBC for TV rights to the 2010 Winter Olympics (Vancouver) and 2012 Summer Olympics (London), I would think that CTV is going to agressively bid for the "HNIC" package.

I would think that if CTV agressively goes after "HNIC" that there might not be any way the CBC will be able to match or exceed CTV's bid.

Although Global could make a bid, I believe they're only available to about 85% of Canadian TV homes, whereas I thought both CBC and CTV were available to nearly all of Canada's television homes. With Global in slightly fewer homes than CBC and CTV, I doubt the NHL would seriously consider a Global bid.

For CTV, there would be many positives in grabbing "HNIC":

* It is my understanding that CTV's ratings are strong six of the seven nights of the week. Their only weak spot is Saturdays, thanks to "HNIC" on CBC.

* CTV could include a bid for "HNIC" as part of an even bigger deal involving sister company TSN, CTV-owned TV stations in the six Canadian-based NHL cities, and Rogers (CTV, TSN and Rogers of course are the consirtium that won the Olympics). Perhaps this consortium could also bring in Leafs TV (the regional channel in Toronto owned by the Maple Leafs) and bid on all English-language NHL television rights in Canada.

Such a deal could:

(1) give the CTV network rights to all regular-season Saturday games of all six Canadian-based NHL teams (about 25 games a year for each of the six Canadian-based teams), early-round weekend playoff games, all playoff games of the six Canadian-based teams, and the Stanley Cup Finals;

(2) give TSN ten games each of the six Canadian-based teams as well as exclusive Canadian national cable rights for the NHL including early-round midweek playoff games involving U.S. based teams;

(3) give CTV stations in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver fifteen midweek regular-season games of their local NHL teams;

(4) give Leafs TV 20 regular-season Toronto Maple Leafs' games for local telecast in the Toronto area;

(5) give Rogers Sportsnet the remaining regular-season games of Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver (12 games for Toronto, 32 games for each of the other five Canadian clubs).

* Establish CTV as "The Leader In Canadian Television Sports" since they'd be the broadcast-network home of the NHL and the Olympics.

* Give CTV even more dominance in prime-time.

* And give CTV the prestige of taking over the most successful program in Canadian television history.

* CTV could end up winning higher ratings for "HNIC" because they would be able to promote the games on a prime-time schedule that attracts many more viewers than that of the CBC.

* CTV and sister network TSN have already formed a consortium with Rogers for the Olympics, so it's not beyond the realm of possibility that these companies might form a consortium to lock-up the NHL.

* And based on the prime-time schedule (7-11 P.M.) for CTV flagship CFTO-9 Toronto this week (March 12th-18th), adding the "HNIC" doubleheader to CTV would double the amount of "Canadian content" on that network's prime-time schedule.

CBC would also lose big:

* "Hockey Night In Canada" is by far CBC's most popular program. If they lose it, CBC's sports portfolio, already wounded with the CTV/TSN/Rogers consortium taking the Vancouver and London Olympics, would be hurt even more.

* I suspect "HNIC" is quite profitable for the CBC, despite the rights fees paid. Losing "HNIC" would probably cost the CBC a lot of revenue, which could affect the network's other programming, especially as CBC is mandated to broadcast as much Canadian-produced programming as possible.

Until the CTV/TSN/Rogers Consortium got the Vancouver and London Olympics, I would have thought that there was no way that "HNIC" would ever not be on the CBC. But now, I'm beginning to think that it will be a major surprise if CBC does keep "HNIC" after 2008.

And if CTV is successful in grabbing the NHL starting in 2008/2009, will the network be able to hire away some top "HNIC" announcers and be able to get the rights to the name "Hockey Night In Canada"??

 

[Yeziknoradio]

Mr. Gallant, you indeed have some interesting points, but there is still obligation to keep CBC as Canadain as possible.
IF CBC is outbid, they can not easily replace hockey with movies, unless they do a special "Canadian movie night" or something like that.
(movies, ofcorse, being the main replacement I gather, as that's what they always turned to when hockey was not an option...see lock out days...)

My information may be wrong, but I understand HNIC to be one of the main things helping CBC maintain its high expectations in respect to Canadain content.

Now, IF an outbid DOES happen, then I say CHUM Group can ALSO do the out bid because they bought Craig Media, and can now put the hockey on ALL City TV and A channel stations...
(instead of just their own City tv stations...)
_______________________________________________
Below is what Mr. Gallant had to say:
> The long-term contract between CBC and the NHL for "Hockey
> Night In Canada" will expire after the 2008 playoffs.
> Although it's more than two years off, I wouldn't be
> surprised if talks have started or are about to start
> concerning the NHL's national broadcast-TV deal in Canada.
>
> In the past, it would have been a no-brainer: CBC would have
> renewed their deal for "Hockey Night In Canada". But after
> last year's stunning announcement that a consortium of CTV,
> TSN and Rogers out-bid the CBC for TV rights to the 2010
> Winter Olympics (Vancouver) and 2012 Summer Olympics
> (London), I would think that CTV is going to agressively bid
> for the "HNIC" package.
>
> I would think that if CTV agressively goes after "HNIC" that
> there might not be any way the CBC will be able to match or
> exceed CTV's bid.
>
> Although Global could make a bid, I believe they're only
> available to about 85% of Canadian TV homes, whereas I
> thought both CBC and CTV were available to nearly all of
> Canada's television homes. With Global in slightly fewer
> homes than CBC and CTV, I doubt the NHL would seriously
> consider a Global bid.
>
> For CTV, there would be many positives in grabbing "HNIC":
>
> * It is my understanding that CTV's ratings are strong six
> of the seven nights of the week. Their only weak spot is
> Saturdays, thanks to "HNIC" on CBC.
>
> * CTV could include a bid for "HNIC" as part of an even
> bigger deal involving sister company TSN, CTV-owned TV
> stations in the six Canadian-based NHL cities, and Rogers
> (CTV, TSN and Rogers of course are the consirtium that won
> the Olympics). Perhaps this consortium could also bring in
> Leafs TV (the regional channel in Toronto owned by the Maple
> Leafs) and bid on all English-language NHL television rights
> in Canada.
>
> Such a deal could:
>
> (1) give the CTV network rights to all regular-season
> Saturday games of all six Canadian-based NHL teams (about 25
> games a year for each of the six Canadian-based teams),
> early-round weekend playoff games, all playoff games of the
> six Canadian-based teams, and the Stanley Cup Finals;
>
> (2) give TSN ten games each of the six Canadian-based teams
> as well as exclusive Canadian national cable rights for the
> NHL including early-round midweek playoff games involving
> U.S. based teams;
>
> (3) give CTV stations in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto,
> Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver fifteen midweek
> regular-season games of their local NHL teams;
>
> (4) give Leafs TV 20 regular-season Toronto Maple Leafs'
> games for local telecast in the Toronto area;
>
> (5) give Rogers Sportsnet the remaining regular-season games
> of Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton and
> Vancouver (12 games for Toronto, 32 games for each of the
> other five Canadian clubs).
>
> * Establish CTV as "The Leader In Canadian Television
> Sports" since they'd be the broadcast-network home of the
> NHL and the Olympics.
>
> * Give CTV even more dominance in prime-time.
>
> * And give CTV the prestige of taking over the most
> successful program in Canadian television history.
>
> * CTV could end up winning higher ratings for "HNIC" because
> they would be able to promote the games on a prime-time
> schedule that attracts many more viewers than that of the
> CBC.
>
> * CTV and sister network TSN have already formed a
> consortium with Rogers for the Olympics, so it's not beyond
> the realm of possibility that these companies might form a
> consortium to lock-up the NHL.
>
> * And based on the prime-time schedule (7-11 P.M.) for CTV
> flagship CFTO-9 Toronto this week (March 12th-18th), adding
> the "HNIC" doubleheader to CTV would double the amount of
> "Canadian content" on that network's prime-time schedule.
>
> CBC would also lose big:
>
> * "Hockey Night In Canada" is by far CBC's most popular
> program. If they lose it, CBC's sports portfolio, already
> wounded with the CTV/TSN/Rogers consortium taking the
> Vancouver and London Olympics, would be hurt even more.
>
> * I suspect "HNIC" is quite profitable for the CBC, despite
> the rights fees paid. Losing "HNIC" would probably cost the
> CBC a lot of revenue, which could affect the network's other
> programming, especially as CBC is mandated to broadcast as
> much Canadian-produced programming as possible.
>
> Until the CTV/TSN/Rogers Consortium got the Vancouver and
> London Olympics, I would have thought that there was no way
> that "HNIC" would ever not be on the CBC. But now, I'm
> beginning to think that it will be a major surprise if CBC
> does keep "HNIC" after 2008.
>
> And if CTV is successful in grabbing the NHL starting in
> 2008/2009, will the network be able to hire away some top
> "HNIC" announcers and be able to get the rights to the name
> "Hockey Night In Canada"??
>
<P ID="signature">______________
"If you never say NO, How much is your YES worth?"
</P>

 

[rugrats1]

> Now, IF an outbid DOES happen, then I say CHUM Group can
> ALSO do the out bid because they bought Craig Media, and can
> now put the hockey on ALL City TV and A channel stations...
> (instead of just their own City tv stations...)

And, in that effect, force Canadians to get cable or satellite, as Citytv and A-Channel combined doesn't have the same reach as CBC, CTV or even Global.

 

[Joseph_Gallant]

YeziKnoradio wrote:

> Now, IF an outbid DOES happen, then I say CHUM Group can
> ALSO do the out bid because they bought Craig Media, and
> can now put the hockey on ALL City TV and A channel
> stations...
> (instead of just their own City tv stations...)

Rugrats 1 replied:

> And, in that effect, force Canadians to get cable or
> satellite, as Citytv and A-Channel combined doesn't have the
> same reach as CBC, CTV or even Global.

Unless CHUM were to get stations in Sasketchewan, Quebec and the Maritimes, I can't see them being a serious contendor for the English-language NHL broadcast-TV rights starting in 2008.

My guess: The CBC will try to keep the "Hockey Night In Canada" package. Given that they own TSN, and have established a relationship with Rogers for the 2010 and 2012 Olympics, I expect CTV will also bid agressively and might very well win the package, especially if TSN, Rogers and Leafs TV are involved in a consortium to capture all English-language NHL TV rights in Canada (as I suggested in the first post of this thread).

Global may make a bid, but unlike what CTV could do, they probably can't bid for anything more than the "HNIC" package. The NHL will probably not give serious consideration to any bid CHUM Limited may make, regardless of how much they offer, due to the fact that CHUM stations don't blanket the country the way CBC and CTV do.

Although the current Canadian English-language TV deals for the NHL do not end until the conclusion of the 2008 playoffs, I think we'll know by the end of this year where the NHL will be televised in Canada starting in the Fall of 2008.

 

[Yeziknoradio]

Joseph wrote:
> My guess: The CBC will try to keep the "Hockey Night In
> Canada" package. Given that they own TSN, and have
> established a relationship with Rogers for the 2010 and 2012
> Olympics, I expect CTV will also bid agressively and might
> very well win the package, especially if TSN, Rogers and
> Leafs TV are involved in a consortium to capture all
> English-language NHL TV rights in Canada (as I suggested in
> the first post of this thread).

CTV's ownership of TSN is always helpful, but I'm not aware of what TSN may already be involved in covering right now, and wether or not there's already a contract locked in for it...I think they're covering WWE, or some sort of wrestling at the moment...If this is true, than it would be CTV covering HNIC Saturday nights, if they win the bid...

<P ID="signature">______________
"If you never say NO, How much is your YES worth?"
</P>

 

[rugrats1]

> CTV's ownership of TSN is always helpful, but I'm not aware
> of what TSN may already be involved in covering right now,
> and wether or not there's already a contract locked in for
> it...I think they're covering WWE, or some sort of wrestling
> at the moment...

I thought TSN generally delays WWE wrestling until late-nights, so they could cover "junk sports" (like "The World's Strongest Man", etc.)?

 

[Yeziknoradio]

> I thought TSN generally delays WWE wrestling until
> late-nights, so they could cover "junk sports" (like "The
> World's Strongest Man", etc.)?
>
Don't quote me on this, but I believe that TSN, for 2008 wants to make changes to better maintain the interest of the WWE fan by gaining more rights to certain "Main events" to be held on Saturday nights.

Sort of like how NBC in the states is trying to restore the "Before Raw" memory Saturday nights now.
Indeed, I could be wrong. They may wish to go after HNIC instead...who knows?
<P ID="signature">______________
"If you never say NO, How much is your YES worth?"
</P>

 

[swhunte]

Re: \

Global is not available on US cable systems for some border cities (at least in Buffalo) like CBC and CTV are. I expect that the package remains on either of those two networks; however, Bell certainly has enough money to easily make the NHL an offer they can't refuse.

 

[Yeziknoradio]

Re: \

Global is not available on US cable systems for some border cities (at least in Buffalo) like CBC and CTV are. I expect that the package remains on either of those two networks; however, Bell certainly has enough money to easily make the NHL an offer they can't refuse.

No Global in Buffalo? Well...that expains it then, that must be why it has been known as "Fox North". lolBoth Fox and Global are available in Canada, but most of the Global programming is a fox repeater.I'm still surprised to learn that there's no Global in Buffalo though.

 

[Darrel M]

Re: NHL on CBC or CTV

Well, now with the news that Brian Williams will be leaving CBC for CTV by the end of this year, some have continued the speculation about whether the CFL or NHL (or both) will leave CBC as well. William Houston of the Globe and Mail joined in on the speculation in the June 7 edition. (column here; subscription may be required) Houston suggests it's not out of the realm of possibility that CTV/TSN would win the entire broadcast/cable package, with an on-air setup of:* A Saturday night double header on CTV* The entire Stanley Cup finals on CTV as well* and TSN picking up the rest of the national package, including increased playoff coverage featuring Canadian teamsBut, Houston notes that there's only two real bidders for any Canadian TV rights package: CBC and CTV/TSN. So, he suggests that because of this, the NHL would want to continue its partnership with CBC and let CBC keep the broadcast half of the above equasion.My personal guess is that the NHL would take any offers by CTV/TSN and CBC seriously, and perhaps strike deals with both as Houston suggested above. But if CBC were to lose out, the reprucussions would be monumental:* Fans and non-fans of hockey would have to readjust their Saturday night routine* Private broadcasters and even the CBC's most ardent critics would be just as stunned as the fans over such a seismic shift in this Canadian institution* and CBC Sports would likely wither and die--which would mean CTV/TSN would be the only player in the Canadian TV Sports rights game (and force leagues to play by its own rules).

 

[chuckydoll]

TSN/RDS/CTV owner bidding for "Hockey Night"

The Globe and Mail reports today that Bell Globemedia is bidding C$1.4 billion for a 10-year NHL contract beginning in fall 2008. CBC has picked up the story.

The contract would cover all English rights, all French rights and all streaming rights for Canadian-based media. "Hockey Night in Canada" would likely move to CTV if the NHL approves the contract.

 

[Darrel M]

Re: Bell Globemedia's possible bid


Here's a link to the actual Globe and Mail story by William Houston. For the record, Globe & Mail is part of the same Bell Globemedia empire as CTV and TSN, and the story was accompanied by the big headline "$1.4 BILLION" on the top of the Sports section's Page 1. It's certainly a big bid (and may be worth it considering what's included), but I kind of wonder if the release of this report is nothing more than Bell Globemedia wanting to shoot the opening salvo in this war so that everyone will talk about it. It certainly has the CBC's critics talking about it, judging from the comments on Globe & Mail's message board accompanying the story.

Also... part of Houston's story also mentions a possible "TSN2" that may air some of the games in the package (provided the network gets regulatory approval by the Canadian government). Bob McCown on "Prime Time Sports" commented tonight that there's more than enough sports channels on Canadian television (TSN, Rogers Sportsnet, not to mention the Leafs', Raptors', and NHL's own channels) and that a "TSN2," even if it were to air NHL playoff games, would be far too much. His comments make it sound like he saw right through Bell's attempt to get "TSN2" approved. They're probably wanting to tell the government, "Hey, we're going to air hockey on this channel, so you've got to approve it."

As mentioned above, this is just the opening salvo. I don't believe the NHL has had formal talks with any bidders yet, so who knows what will happen between now and then? But the release of this story is clearly a sign that this bidding race may just be an all-out war... or at the very least, Bell Globemedia wanting to pummel CBC again.

 

[chuckydoll]

CBC all but admits it will drop "HNIC"

Reported last weekend in the Toronto Sun -- scroll 1/3 of the way down.