Okay, here's the story: the NHL is planning to lock out its players at the end of the week. So how will CBC Television handle another lockout? I know that TSN and Rogers may try alternative hockey programming(picking up college and minor league hockey) should it occur, but I wonder if this will throw CBC for a loop, particularly when they may get shot out of the NHL contract next year.
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HOW WILL CBC HANDLE ANOTHER LOCKOUT?
- Thread starter blackgold
- Start date
Probably the same thing they did during the 2004-05 season - "Movie Night in Canada".
This could be financially devastating for CBC, especially in light of their current level of federal funding.
This could be financially devastating for CBC, especially in light of their current level of federal funding.
There is an interesting twist going on this year.
"The NHLPA could have employed a similar strategy with the NHL and Canadiens during the 2004-05 lockout, which killed that entire season, but chose not to use provincial law at that time."
Source: http://www.montrealgazette.com/spor...+labour+laws+block+lockout/7215111/story.html
"The NHLPA could have employed a similar strategy with the NHL and Canadiens during the 2004-05 lockout, which killed that entire season, but chose not to use provincial law at that time."
Source: http://www.montrealgazette.com/spor...+labour+laws+block+lockout/7215111/story.html
I don't think the CBC will even think of what to do to replace the NHL until a lockout is actually underway.
If my memory serves me correct, CBC has begun to carry a handful of Saturday-night NHL pre-season games, so their "day of reckoning" as far as replacement programming, would be September 29th, the first Saturday of pre-season games.
As far as what could occur, I believe a settlement could be made as late as next Tuesday (September 18th) without losing any pre-season games, and as late as the following Tuesday (September 25th) without delaying the start of the regular-season (assuming each team only has three or four pre-season games).
Beyond that, the next "drop dead" date for a deal would be December 16th, which would allow for each team to play a couple of exhibition games between Christmas and New Year's Day with the Winter Classic in Ann Arbor being the league opener on January 1st.
One thing is for certain: Whatever replacement programming the CBC does, it will draw far fewer viewers than the NHL. In fact, I can see viewing for all Canadian broadcast and cable networks plunge without the NHL. Some young adults (under 35) may stop watching TV entirely if there is a long lockout.
If the entire 2012/2013 NHL season is lost, I think the very future of Canadian TV as we know it may even come into question. Viewing of TV in general will decline, and advertisers will be less willing to spend money on TV spots. And with the precarious financial shape of some broadcast and cable networks, it could be a tipping point that could lead to massive cutbacks in staffs and original programming.
That is one reason why the NFL was able to settle their lockout last year before they began to lose pre-season (except the Hall Of Fame farce) and regular-season games. Had the entire 2011/2012 NFL season been cancelled, it would have been a disaster for the entire American television industry, not just those networks that carry the NFL. And had there been no 2011/2012 NFL season, I think the major U.S. networks would have had major layoffs and cutbacks in original programing due to a major decline in 2012/2013 revenue from sponsors following a major plunge in 2011/2012 viewing.
If my memory serves me correct, CBC has begun to carry a handful of Saturday-night NHL pre-season games, so their "day of reckoning" as far as replacement programming, would be September 29th, the first Saturday of pre-season games.
As far as what could occur, I believe a settlement could be made as late as next Tuesday (September 18th) without losing any pre-season games, and as late as the following Tuesday (September 25th) without delaying the start of the regular-season (assuming each team only has three or four pre-season games).
Beyond that, the next "drop dead" date for a deal would be December 16th, which would allow for each team to play a couple of exhibition games between Christmas and New Year's Day with the Winter Classic in Ann Arbor being the league opener on January 1st.
One thing is for certain: Whatever replacement programming the CBC does, it will draw far fewer viewers than the NHL. In fact, I can see viewing for all Canadian broadcast and cable networks plunge without the NHL. Some young adults (under 35) may stop watching TV entirely if there is a long lockout.
If the entire 2012/2013 NHL season is lost, I think the very future of Canadian TV as we know it may even come into question. Viewing of TV in general will decline, and advertisers will be less willing to spend money on TV spots. And with the precarious financial shape of some broadcast and cable networks, it could be a tipping point that could lead to massive cutbacks in staffs and original programming.
That is one reason why the NFL was able to settle their lockout last year before they began to lose pre-season (except the Hall Of Fame farce) and regular-season games. Had the entire 2011/2012 NFL season been cancelled, it would have been a disaster for the entire American television industry, not just those networks that carry the NFL. And had there been no 2011/2012 NFL season, I think the major U.S. networks would have had major layoffs and cutbacks in original programing due to a major decline in 2012/2013 revenue from sponsors following a major plunge in 2011/2012 viewing.
B
Bob1370
Guest
It would be a disaster for major broadcast networks in Canada, especially CBC, to lose hockey, and would devastate the cable sports channels as well. Specialty channels that don't carry sports, different story; while some viewers would disappear from the TV audience universe indefinitely, you'd see othe networks pick up at least some of the disfranchised hockey fans. News networks, and some of the nets that have gone heavily to action, adventure, or music programming would probably get at least a little of an audience bump.
I don't think losing the NFL would have had as big an effect on the U.S. networks. There are other sports with big national fan bases in the United States (MLB, NBA, NASCAR, NCAA major college football and basketball) and the likelihood that even two of them would be locked out at the same time is small. What's more, there's a big supply of first run entertainment available from Hollywood to feed the network pipelines. Would it have financial impact? Certainly on revenue. But if networks in both the US and Canada are able to structure their contracts with sports leagues so that they only have to make pay on their rights obligations if games are actually played, the networks could be OK on the bottom line.
I don't think losing the NFL would have had as big an effect on the U.S. networks. There are other sports with big national fan bases in the United States (MLB, NBA, NASCAR, NCAA major college football and basketball) and the likelihood that even two of them would be locked out at the same time is small. What's more, there's a big supply of first run entertainment available from Hollywood to feed the network pipelines. Would it have financial impact? Certainly on revenue. But if networks in both the US and Canada are able to structure their contracts with sports leagues so that they only have to make pay on their rights obligations if games are actually played, the networks could be OK on the bottom line.
I could see a drastic solution if there is an NHL lockout that the CBC could try to make up for losing revenue from sponsors of "Hockey Night In Canada": Shut down all production of programs (on both TV and radio) other than network news and furlough employees not needed to keep the transmitters on the air and the news division running (on both TV and radio).
This would, apart from network newscasts on TV and radio and a handful of imported shows on CBC-TV, result in most of CBC's TV and radio schedules going into reruns.
I could also see a temporary shutdown of CBC TV and radio transmitters during the overnight hours.
Once the lockout ends, the furlough employees would be back and production of non-news programs would resume.
On the other hand, would there be legal hurdles (i.e. violating the CBC Charter) were the network to try to do this to save money on a (hopefully) short-term basis??
This would, apart from network newscasts on TV and radio and a handful of imported shows on CBC-TV, result in most of CBC's TV and radio schedules going into reruns.
I could also see a temporary shutdown of CBC TV and radio transmitters during the overnight hours.
Once the lockout ends, the furlough employees would be back and production of non-news programs would resume.
On the other hand, would there be legal hurdles (i.e. violating the CBC Charter) were the network to try to do this to save money on a (hopefully) short-term basis??
Do any minor leagues have games on Saturdays? Maybe the CBC could negotiate to carry minor league games as a stop gap. I recall during the 1994 MLB baseball strike that TBS carried games of the minor-league Richmond Braves in place of the Atlanta Braves for a few weeks after the start of the strike, though they discontinued the broadcasts after viewer apathy.
azumanga said:
Rogers is hogging minor league hockey to air only on their Rogers community cable channels.
It's their way to shut out fans who have alternatives to cable in their home.
http://www.rogerstv.com/page.aspx?lid=12&rid=16&sid=4544
For the last couple seasons, CBC has had a limited package of Sunday afternoon American Hockey League games involving the affiliates of the Canadian NHL teams, most of which are likewise based in Canada. The games tended to feature Toronto and Hamilton most frequently. It would not surprise me if the CBC were to air the AHL on HNIC during the lockout.azumanga said:
The AHL affiliates of the Canadian teams are:
- Toronto Marlies (Maple Leafs)
- Hamilton Bulldogs (Canadiens)
- Abbotsford (BC) Heat (Flames)
- St. John's (NL) IceCaps (Jets)
- Chicago Wolves (Canucks)
- Binghamton (NY) Senators
- Oklahoma City Barons (Oilers)
Short term this is a disaster for CBC.
The chances of CBC retaining the HNIC package is slim and none.
CTV/TSN is where the future lies - and I suspect CTV would get the Saturday night games and come playoffs CTV would air many games.
Bettman has a major grudge with CBC and it isn't Cherry - Gary despises Ron MacLean and Bettman has boycotted CBC for over 2 years because of this interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww3md8DvoTY
The chances of CBC retaining the HNIC package is slim and none.
CTV/TSN is where the future lies - and I suspect CTV would get the Saturday night games and come playoffs CTV would air many games.
Bettman has a major grudge with CBC and it isn't Cherry - Gary despises Ron MacLean and Bettman has boycotted CBC for over 2 years because of this interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww3md8DvoTY
blackgold said:
SRC walked away from hockey years ago and RDS (owned by TSN has a lock on the NHL in Quebec)
http://youtu.be/7a6Xmp7BWhE
I'll be very curious to see how the CBC can survive without HNIC if they lose the rights - that's their big advertising cash cow. I'd go as far as saying that CBC's English TV service could be in jeopardy. The French service can survive just fine without hockey, and radio can get by on government funding, but I can't see English TV surviving very long without HNIC. Perhaps CBC will continue to produce English-language content for TV, but sell to private networks and/or to networks like TVO.
Who knows, but CBC losing the HNIC rights to CTV/TSN could be the biggest shakeup in Canadian television history.
Who knows, but CBC losing the HNIC rights to CTV/TSN could be the biggest shakeup in Canadian television history.
M.J. said:
The Montreal Gazette points out that technically Don Cherry is the highest paid 'government' employee in the country.
Bettman will insist that Ron gets bounced. The hatred is genuine.
Quebec is an interesting case which would explain why SRC does so well without hockey. Quebec is a very insular culture. Since day one, they have provided Quebeccers with programming that actually draws in viewers in large numbers. Quebec is the one province in Canada that never got into American programming, since it was in a foreign language to them. Many shows were and still are must see tv. It's always seemed to be the network of choice, even today, among French Canadians, and outside of the areas the border Quebec, the only choice. My girlfriend is bilingual and the only french tv network she will watch is SRC. They didn't really need hockey as people will tune in for the regular programming. For many years it was the only option in Quebec as well. Many of the French language networks air dubbed american programming anyway, and SRC only airs original programming.
I guess I'm the only Canadian who hopes the NHL never comes back. There have been some great shows and movies aired on CBC, and I'm willing to check out what's on.
I guess I'm the only Canadian who hopes the NHL never comes back. There have been some great shows and movies aired on CBC, and I'm willing to check out what's on.
mimo said:
Quebec is a world of its own.
In Montreal before cable - English TV was CBMT (6) and CFCF (12) but even as early as 1961 there was limited cable in Montreal and Quebec City to bring in CBS from Vermont, NBC from New York and ABC from Maine. French TV was CBFT (2) and CFTM (10).
SRC had a lock on hockey and CFTM had to wait for the Nords arrival in 1972 to get into the game.
There was a huge problem in the early 70's when WVNY (22) in Burlington, Vermont picked up every Bruins game from WSBK-TV Boston and it was shown on Montreal cable. The Habs tried to have the NHL to declare that Vermont belonged to Montreal and not Boston but Clarence Campbell did not want to go there.
My experience is most people under the age of 50 on Montreal Island are bilingual - Quebec City not so much.
CBC will get renewed only if MacLean is sent packing. The NHL fears Cherry ( that was proven when they took his suggestion on improving glass in the rinks ) but Bettman wants Ron gone. That was proven when Bettman to the shock of many did an interview with RDS (IN FRENCH) during the finals from LA.
mimo said:
My fear is that without the ad revenue from HNIC, and this year's government cuts, CBC wouldn't have the money available to do much of anything.
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