TSN out, NHL and Rogers announce 12 yr $5.2 billion TV deal

[Hyperpower]

Eh, I don't think this is the greatest of moves.  The quality of broadcast just isn't there with RSN.  When the immediate talk after the deal is "I hope they hire X,Y, and Z" its an indication that the broadcaster doesn't have the horses to play in the big leagues.  12 years is a long time to live with a crappy product if they can't up their game.

i agree with you.
myself and everyone i have talked to, agree that TSN has been better for years but not just that for hockey but overall, Sportsnet has been the worse between the 3 networks (TSN, CBC, Sportsnet) so yeah, im not thrilled about this deal.
personalities wise, theres very few of them i personally like over at Sportsnet and am cringing at the thought of having to watch the likes of Doug Maclean shouting over everyone else (hes a big reason i stopped listening to the fan over the lunch hour).

also, something bothers me about Rogers having complete control over the HNIC brand.
HNIC was doing just fine (except for Don Cherry probably) and now the thought that Rogers taking over....ugh..
as if i didn't have enough reasons to hate Gary Bettman...

 

[lamajama]

Now I can't wait for the pinheads who whined about CBC spending $$$ on hockey rights when they see all the layoffs from the drastic drop in revenue. Their most profitable property is gone.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Going to be pretty weird seeing games on CityTV.

We old fogeys used to watch some Leaf games on Global and CHCH Hamilton.

Ah, yeah, but that was so long ago.  Remember Bill Bird for Global?  And those ''Leafs on CHCH TV-11"?  Good memories here.

 

[ZBBM]

Good summary:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/27/sports/hockey/nhl-reaches-lucrative-telecast-deal-in-canada.html?hpw&rref=television

 

[Rick C.]

Good summary:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/27/sports/hockey/nhl-reaches-lucrative-telecast-deal-in-canada.html?hpw&rref=television

That is pretty clear.  Thanks.

 

[Britishbulldog]

Going to be pretty weird seeing games on CityTV.

We old fogeys used to watch some Leaf games on Global and CHCH Hamilton.

Ah, yeah, but that was so long ago.  Remember Bill Bird for Global?  And those ''Leafs on CHCH TV-11"?  Good memories here.

I remember finishing my engineering program in Hamilton and sitting in mine and Sue's apt on 52 Burris enjoying the Leafs telecasts.  That was the same year Tom Kurvers was picked up.   

 

[maplesyrup]

Isn't CHCH where some of us first got introduced to Henny?

 

[Zee]

Isn't CHCH where some of us first got introduced to Henny?

Yup.  Used to do Leafs games on CHCH, I remember those days fondly.

 

[Scot4bz]

Isn't CHCH where some of us first got introduced to Henny?

Yup.  Used to do Leafs games on CHCH, I remember those days fondly.

Some comical segments with Dick Beddoes and Harold Ballard....and a much younger Jim Hughson calling the Wednesday night games.

 

[Corn Flake]

Haven't seen it mentioned, but with RSN having full control of content, is Cherry on a tighter leash?

My guess is if he doesn't decide to "retire" they will keep him around but in a greatly reduced role. Maybe one short segment before the game vs. the whole 1st intermission soapbox thing.  More of almost a symbolic role than what he's been doing today.

 

[Kin]

Haven't seen it mentioned, but with RSN having full control of content, is Cherry on a tighter leash?

My guess is if he doesn't decide to "retire" they will keep him around but in a greatly reduced role. Maybe one short segment before the game vs. the whole 1st intermission soapbox thing.  More of almost a symbolic role than what he's been doing today.

I'm puzzled though, why would that be the case? The argument surrounding Cherry has always been that while he might upset people he drives ratings. While he was on a public broadcaster people have said that they have a responsibility beyond ratings and that's why he shouldn't be on.

If things are being run by a private, for-profit enterprise why would they all of a sudden turf or try to tightly control someone who is a big draw?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

This article talks a little bit about Cherry's potential role in all of this:

Keith Pelley, president of Rogers Media, did not want to go into much detail about plans for Mr. Cherry and other Hockey Night in Canada broadcasters like his sidekick Ron MacLean. But he did allow, ?Don could appear on seven different networks.?

Rest assured that Mr. Cherry is held in much higher esteem in the boardrooms at Rogers than he is in the same quarters at the CBC. Those who run the CBC were never happy when Mr. Cherry set off a controversy and only tolerated him because of the massive ratings and associated revenue Hockey Night in Canada brought to the corporation.

But at Rogers he will be among friends. The late Ted Rogers was a huge admirer, and one year Mr. Cherry was snuck into the company building to lead the entire staff in a surprise rendering of Happy Birthday for the company founder. Rogers Sportsnet already plays host to Mr. Cherry?s popular radio show, and Scott Moore, Rogers Media?s president of broadcast, regularly defended Mr. Cherry to a series of exasperated CBC presidents when he was running CBC Sports.

I don't see them trying to hide him or phase him out either. He's their biggest draw at this point. And besides, lately he hasn't really been saying anything too offensive except when he's mispronouncing names. He's just been dumb.

 

[Zee]

Isn't CHCH where some of us first got introduced to Henny?

Yup.  Used to do Leafs games on CHCH, I remember those days fondly.

Some comical segments with Dick Beddoes and Harold Ballard....and a much younger Jim Hughson calling the Wednesday night games.

Wow, forgot about Dick Beddoes...there's a colorful name from the past.  Him and his hats.

 

[maplesyrup]

Wow, forgot about Dick Beddoes...

+1. Jeez.

 

[Rick C.]

I don't see them trying to hide him or phase him out either. He's their biggest draw at this point. And besides, lately he hasn't really been saying anything too offensive except when he's mispronouncing names. He's just been dumb.

I'd have to think they'd hire his sidekick, too.  Their schtick compliments each other.  Ron could also cover non-hockey sports, similar to what he does with the Olympics.  I've always liked Ron at the Olympics.

 

[Bonsixx]

I don't see them trying to hide him or phase him out either. He's their biggest draw at this point. And besides, lately he hasn't really been saying anything too offensive except when he's mispronouncing names. He's just been dumb.

I'd have to think they'd hire his sidekick, too.  Their schtick compliments each other.  Ron could also cover non-hockey sports, similar to what he does with the Olympics.  I've always liked Ron at the Olympics.

When they tried to turf Ron a few years ago, it led to a nation-wide cry (and petition) to bring him back.

 

[bustaheims]

I'd have to think they'd hire his sidekick, too.  Their schtick compliments each other.  Ron could also cover non-hockey sports, similar to what he does with the Olympics.  I've always liked Ron at the Olympics.

I would hope so. Cherry is bad enough with a counterbalance. I can only imagine how over the top he'd be without one.

 

[WalterSobchak]

Haven't seen it mentioned, but with RSN having full control of content, is Cherry on a tighter leash?

My guess is if he doesn't decide to "retire" they will keep him around but in a greatly reduced role. Maybe one short segment before the game vs. the whole 1st intermission soapbox thing.  More of almost a symbolic role than what he's been doing today.

I would have to say he will be on a short lease, ratings or not. We are talking about a network that fired Damian Goddard for making outrageous statements. Who's to say that Cherry won't offend someone along the way, and when he does, and they decide he can keep his job, there will those calling Rogers hypocrites.

 

[Kin]

I would have to say he will be on a short lease, ratings or not. We are talking about a network that fired Damian Goddard for making outrageous statements. Who's to say that Cherry won't offend someone along the way, and when he does, and they decide he can keep his job, there will those calling Rogers hypocrites.

Something tells me that the people at Rogers are equipped to deal with the possibility of being called hypocrites if they, TV executives, treat one person differently than another if one of them pulls in a ton of ratings and the other doesn't.

 

[princedpw]

Has anyone computed what this means for the salary cap in coming years?  (The deal starts next year -- does it affect next year's cap?)  It should give it a bump, yes? 5-10 million per year?

Is one of the reasons for the Leafs popularity the fact that they have dominated HNIC broadcasts on saturday, creating fans across Canada.  Will this go away, weakening the team's relative popularity and coffers in the future?