The Business of HockeyDiscuss the financial and business aspects of the NHL. Franchise sales, valuations, TV contracts, ratings, expansion, relocation, the CBA and work stoppage discussion goes here.
NHL would prefer to get their $$$ for a few more sources. They get $$$ in Canada from Bell, Rogers and the CBC. Reducing it to two places would not be favorable to them. And I doubt Rogers/Bell would overpay to compensate for the loss.
NHL would prefer to get their $$$ for a few more sources. They get $$$ in Canada from Bell, Rogers and the CBC. Reducing it to two places would not be favorable to them. And I doubt Rogers/Bell would overpay to compensate for the loss.
National rights are split among CBC and Bell (TSN).
CBC may be able to retain the Saturday night games, but I'd be willing to bet they lose a large chunk of the playoff rights they currently own. Providing the playoffs free over the air is not the best way to maximize revenue.
NHL would prefer to get their $$$ for a few more sources. They get $$$ in Canada from Bell, Rogers and the CBC. Reducing it to two places would not be favorable to them. And I doubt Rogers/Bell would overpay to compensate for the loss.
They'll overpay because sports fans are the last bastion of a dying model as the cable providers fend off streaming services like Netflix and digital delivery services like iTunes.
when MLSE was up for sale I always thought which ever company lose out on the ownership of the Leafs. they would end up with the NHL national contract.
but since Rogers/Bell teamed up I now believe that Bell/Rogers will get the national deal but the Saturday night games will be shown on CTV with weeknight games shown on TSN and Sportsnet
I think it will go like something like this Bell will buy the Hockey Night in Canada brand from CBC as it will be useless for CBC to keep and move HNIC to CTV.
Bell get's leaf games/National games on CTV Saturdays nights same like CBC is doing now.
Bell will give Rogers the larger amount of Leaf games during the week and both SN and TSN will share the other weeknight national games. keeping up with the brands the networks have built ie TSN Wednesday night games.
Rogers will rebrand Sportsnet One as thier national network to air National games they get out of the joint deal with Bell and the NHL.
the benefit of this would be a situation where SN using their 4 regional networks and national SN1 would be they could air all Canadian team on the same night. Where that same night TSN could air a game like Penguins vs Capitals. So a combined TSN/SN networks would air the biggest games that night.
both Rogers/Bell would split the Stanley Cup finals showing it on CTV/Citytv every other year ie what the NFL does with CBC/FOX/NBC.
the NHL doing a split National package involving Bell bc they co-own in Canada the NHL network so more hockey games could air on the NHL network.
so I think the next NHL TV package in Canada will look like this
- CTV get's Saturday night games and buys HNIC
- TSN/TSN2, 5 Sportsnet network's,NHL network spit the weeknight games
- playoff series 1st and 2nd are split between TSN/CTV and Sportsnet
- 3rd and Finals are traded off every other year between CTV and Citytv
as for the CBC they would be wise to rethink their Sports department strategy and focus more on the MLS ,AHL, Junior Hockey/Amateur Sports. They should focus alot of their $$ on going BIG on the World Juniors tournament once the contract is up.
CBC's ability to bid will be compromised, we all agree on that. But I do legitimately believe that the survival of the corporation is tied completely to having HNIC (until they manage to develop the next big thing, anyway, which seems like a remote possibility). So I believe they will do what it takes to be competitive.
Until they stop having a BILLION dollar budget courtesy of the Canadian tax payers, they're not competitive. While it would be odd having to turn on CTV instead of CBC to watch HNIC, I would wholly support it if it meant the end of the CBC.
If the CBC were to change how it operates (regarding access to information requests), then I could perhaps stomach/tolerate it being on the public tit.
They'll overpay because sports fans are the last bastion of a dying model as the cable providers fend off streaming services like Netflix and digital delivery services like iTunes.
Agreed. Sports are the only TV events left that need to be watched live.
CBC may be able to retain the Saturday night games, but I'd be willing to bet they lose a large chunk of the playoff rights they currently own. Providing the playoffs free over the air is not the best way to maximize revenue.
Terrible for consumers, though.
I'd argue that NOT providing playoffs free over the air is worse for the league. First, advertising reaches a bigger audience. It would be madness to not have the playoffs broadcast as such. Second, if people are forced to pay for it the audience will be much smaller, and the future audience size will shrink. Why would a kid who doesn't watch the game (because its only available on a cable channel) attend a game or become a fan as an adult? Merchandise sales would also be hit.
Would the NFL air the Superbowl only on ESPN? Never. It's insanity. Should the NHL allow Bell to restrict Hockey Night in Canada and the playoffs to TSN, it would seriously hurt the NHL in the long term. Playoff hockey and HNIC are essentially the same as how Wal-mart has loss leaders. Low priced items that get your foot in the store.
I'd argue that NOT providing playoffs free over the air is worse for the league. First, advertising reaches a bigger audience. It would be madness to not have the playoffs broadcast as such. Second, if people are forced to pay for it the audience will be much smaller, and the future audience size will shrink. Why would a kid who doesn't watch the game (because its only available on a cable channel) attend a game or become a fan as an adult? Merchandise sales would also be hit.
Would the NFL air the Superbowl only on ESPN? Never. It's insanity. Should the NHL allow Bell to restrict Hockey Night in Canada and the playoffs to TSN, it would seriously hurt the NHL in the long term. Playoff hockey and HNIC are essentially the same as how Wal-mart has loss leaders. Low priced items that get your foot in the store.
It works. RDS gets insane numbers during the playoffs.
I think one could make an argument that CBC's sports division should only broadcast events deemed culturally significant, like say the Commonwealth Games or the Memorial Cup.
But you could then argue that HNIC is of more cultural significance than any other sporting event in Canada.
I'd argue that NOT providing playoffs free over the air is worse for the league. First, advertising reaches a bigger audience. It would be madness to not have the playoffs broadcast as such. Second, if people are forced to pay for it the audience will be much smaller, and the future audience size will shrink. Why would a kid who doesn't watch the game (because its only available on a cable channel) attend a game or become a fan as an adult? Merchandise sales would also be hit.
CBC serves small communities OTA while TSN doesn't have one transmitter tower to worry about.
TSN has revenue for commercials and subscriptions, while CBC only has commercial revenue
Quote:
Originally Posted by Reed Solomon
Would the NFL air the Superbowl only on ESPN? Never. It's insanity.
They would if they could. They only thing stopping them is that the NFL relies on an antitrust exemption, and fans would scream to lawmakers. Remember the year that the Patriots were going for a perfect record? Their final game of the season was broadcast on the US OTA networks, even though it was on a weekday. A phone call from a few senators ("Duhhhh. Nice anti-trust exemption youse got there, Mr NFL. Youse wouldn't want something terrible to happen to it...") and the cable-only game went OTA.
Last edited by knorthern knight: 04-06-2012 at 05:01 AM.
Reason: Fix a typo
In Canada, the vast majority of TV viewers have cable, including either TSN or its french sister service RDS
Certainly, but people are cutting the cord, and will resent being forced to pay for cable just to get one sports channel.
And if there are no OTA saturday night games or playoff games on OTA, people will be furious.
The Grey Cup numbers aren't really indicative of anything. TSN bought the rights to the CFL just when the CFL was starting to become popular. It probably even hindered popularity. Though I still consider it bad policy that they don't air the Grey Cup or at least one game a week on CTV.
I think one could make an argument that CBC's sports division should only broadcast events deemed culturally significant, like say the Commonwealth Games or the Memorial Cup.
But you could then argue that HNIC is of more cultural significance than any other sporting event in Canada.
We thought that was gonna happen when they won all the curling rights a couple of years back.
Didn´t turn out that way when most of the games went onto CBC Country Canada (now Bold).
CBC serves small communities OTA while TSN doesn't have one transmitter tower to worry about.
TSN has revenue for commercials and subscriptions, while CBC only has commercial revenue
They would if they could. They only thing stopping them is that the NFL relies on an antitrust exemption, and fans would scream to lawmakers. Remember the year that the Patriots were going for a perfect record? Their final game of the season was broadcast on the US OTA networks, even though it was on a weekday. A phone call from a few senators ("Duhhhh. Nice anti-trust exemption youse got there, Mr NFL. Youse wouldn't want something terrible to happen to it...") and the cable-only game went OTA.
Cbc does get about a billion a year from the feds so i don't think its fair to say they only get money from commercials.
HNIC on CBC is one of the few traditions we have left. Take away all the leagues traditions, history, and character and I am not sure what kind of NHL we will be left with.
A prosperous, growing league not burdened by morons like Cherry and Healy.
CBC budget being cut by 10%. Might Cherry's job be part of the cuts?
I dont think it will in the short term leading up to the expiration of the CBC's contract in 2015, at which time he'll likely retire.
It wouldnt be very prudent to try and re-invent the existing format & segments now without even knowing whether theyll be in a position to bid much less secure another deal with the league 3 years hence....
Cherry draws viewers & of course advertisers & sponsors follow. No heir apparent to his role even if they did force him out.
when MLSE was up for sale I always thought which ever company lose out on the ownership of the Leafs. they would end up with the NHL national contract.
but since Rogers/Bell teamed up I now believe that Bell/Rogers will get the national deal but the Saturday night games will be shown on CTV with weeknight games shown on TSN and Sportsnet
I think it will go like something like this Bell will buy the Hockey Night in Canada brand from CBC as it will be useless for CBC to keep and move HNIC to CTV.
Bell get's leaf games/National games on CTV Saturdays nights same like CBC is doing now.
Bell will give Rogers the larger amount of Leaf games during the week and both SN and TSN will share the other weeknight national games. keeping up with the brands the networks have built ie TSN Wednesday night games.
Rogers will rebrand Sportsnet One as thier national network to air National games they get out of the joint deal with Bell and the NHL.
the benefit of this would be a situation where SN using their 4 regional networks and national SN1 would be they could air all Canadian team on the same night. Where that same night TSN could air a game like Penguins vs Capitals. So a combined TSN/SN networks would air the biggest games that night.
both Rogers/Bell would split the Stanley Cup finals showing it on CTV/Citytv every other year ie what the NFL does with CBC/FOX/NBC.
the NHL doing a split National package involving Bell bc they co-own in Canada the NHL network so more hockey games could air on the NHL network.
so I think the next NHL TV package in Canada will look like this
- CTV get's Saturday night games and buys HNIC
- TSN/TSN2, 5 Sportsnet network's,NHL network spit the weeknight games
- playoff series 1st and 2nd are split between TSN/CTV and Sportsnet
- 3rd and Finals are traded off every other year between CTV and Citytv
as for the CBC they would be wise to rethink their Sports department strategy and focus more on the MLS ,AHL, Junior Hockey/Amateur Sports. They should focus alot of their $$ on going BIG on the World Juniors tournament once the contract is up.
Never happen.
The NHL will always have a relationship with the CBC. It has aired hockey since 1931 and (as hokey as it seems) helped establish an important piece of Canada's national identity while making ice hockey and the NHL the league it is today. This relationship is win-win for both the NHL and CBC so it makes little sense for the NHL to exclude the CBC from airing hockey.
Also IMO, Rogers and Bell will be in some serious trouble when the internet and cell phone industry (?) is deregulated in Canada within the next ten years. I don't think these companies can compete with companies like Sprint, AT&T and Virgin when they are allowed to compete on a level playing field. When they do go under, who will own the leafs? Who will air the games?
Also Kimota summed up my last point the best:
Quote:
NHL would prefer to get their $$$ for a few more sources. They get $$$ in Canada from Bell, Rogers and the CBC. Reducing it to two places would not be favorable to them. And I doubt Rogers/Bell would overpay to compensate for the loss.
Simply, it makes sense for the NHL to have the games over numerous channels (including the CBC) rather then one or two.
