Rogers' anti-CFL agenda

[mac_davy]

Rogers signed a 12 Year exclusive contract for All Canadian NHL rights. It starts next season. They have agreed to sell Saturday nights back to CBC so that Hockey Night In Canada can continue but they will have full editorial control.

TSN has lost all their rights so they're going to have to lean on the CFL even more.

The Press Conference is at 11 AM Today.

Watching Betmans smug look, i just wanted to put my fist through the TV, An other monopoly to the dark empire, if it wasnt already the CFL with be Darling of TSN for the foreseeable future.

[Argocister]

rogers signed a 12 year exclusive contract for all canadian nhl rights. It starts next season. They have agreed to sell saturday nights back to cbc so that hockey night in canada can continue but they will have full editorial control.

Tsn has lost all their rights so they're going to have to lean on the cfl even more.

The press conference is at 11 am today.

yuck !!!!!!!!

[Ron]

Watching Betmans smug look, i just wanted to put my fist through the TV, An other monopoly to the dark empire, if it wasnt already the CFL with be Darling of TSN for the foreseeable future.

Did my eyes deceive me? Did Betman have the "Anti-sniper" podium glass that you see when US President's speak?

[shayman]

Did my eyes deceive me? Did Betman have the "Anti-sniper" podium glass that you see when US President's speak?

It's just a teleprompter. the glass reflects the screen of a monitor positioned below it. like this => http://www.telepromptermirror.com/sp...leprompter.htm

[ArgoRavi]

I know that Canadians like to beat up on Bettman but the reality is that attendance wasn't exactly strong in either Quebec City or Winnipeg when their teams moved south. Also, Bettman saved Canadians a world of hurt by not allowing Jim Balsillie to bring an NHL team north that, in hindsight, he clearly would have been unable to sustain. I think that Bettman is well aware now, if he wasn't before, that the NHL would be dead without Canada.

[rdavies]

Did my eyes deceive me? Did Betman have the "Anti-sniper" podium glass that you see when US President's speak?

You know it's funny, I always thought that's what that was until I got into the TV news biz and got up on the stage behind Chretien making a speech. Another illusion blown.

I was just going to put a smilie there but this big mother blue thing pops up. Is there a way to get rid of that? The icon took up more space than my post.

[rdavies]

This whole schmozz is very interesting and people seem to be taking the stance (elsewhere) that this will be bad for TSN. I think it's a great opportunity. Rogers (Sportsnet) is paying megabucks for things that may not offer as great a return as some of the smaller properties. What are they going to do with some of the smaller properties when they flog a dead horse with hockey and baseball all the time.

First, TSN is the preeminent sports station, I think most will agree on that. If TSN is able to pick up its coverage of certain amateur sports and give them the rub it could work well for them with little investment. Canada soccer and basketball are not going to get much attention from Rogers.

Two other interesting things. The Bell and Rogers people that make up MLSE don't seem to like each other much. Agreeing on a mega investment like the NFL could be very difficult.

And finally something that I have yet to hear mentioned. MLSE will be involved with NFL in Toronto if it ever happens. Who becomes king at MLSE then, NFL or Leafs? Just can't see that combination being a happy family for MLSE each vying to be King of the Hill.

[jerrym]

IMO, Rogers is a trying to control the sports market in Canada by taking on hockey and subletting parts of it to other networks, in addition to the Blue Jays they already own. This is a going for broke strategy that may backfire. You can also bet that if they go for a NFL franchise they will be looking for taxpayer subsidies in one form or another to reduce the amount they have to pay. I hope everyone will start screaming that billionaires should never receive these kinds of giveaways that raise everybody else's taxes.
On the other hand, the good news is that this will push TSN to promote the CFL even more.

[argos1873]

So you would prefer a commentator who was always either positive or negative to one whose opinion varies from time to time? I'd take the latter -- an actual opinion formed of its own merits, and not out of previously established dogma -- any day. And ol' Hunt also had lots of criticism for the CFL back in the day, by the way.

My point is that Simmons' critisism has not ways been constructive. Its often bordered on troll like commentary. Jim Hunt rarely took that route.

[Neely2005]

Lots of CFL talk on Prime Time Sports with Bob McCowan over the past few days. First John Cornish and the Lou Marsh award and last night about a new book that talks about the CFL's US expansion.

[Invader]

Lots of CFL talk on Prime Time Sports with Bob McCowan over the past few days. First John Cornish and the Lou Marsh award and last night about a new book that talks about the CFL's US expansion.

MLSE might have hinted to BM that they're close to an Argos deal and he wants to be the "go-to" guy for CFL news and talk.

[Skinny G]

Well TSN moved ahead with taking all of the NFL games from Rogers (Sportsnet): http://o.canada.com/sports/football/...l-in-with-nfl/

I wonder how this looks to the NFL now that Bell has all the rights and not Rogers, since it's Rogers seeking the team. May be another knock against them in the NFL's eyes .

As for programming. It'd be nice if TSN picked up some more of the CIS sports. I don't know how long the CIS programming deal is with The Score (SN360)? They will of course also go after more MLS and basketball games to make their Can-Con requirements. There is also the Toronto Rock as well... that don't seem to get much time on Sportsnet anyways (I think they are still on there?).

In terms of general content, I could see TSN push more into the NCAA programming off of ESPN as well - football and basketball, especially the bowl games and march madness.

[matthew]

According to some sources I have found, and as a once-proud Nordique fan, your statment does not appear to be the case. But I will let you judge for yourself.

In 1980, the stadium was converted to 15,750 seating capacity, the following are average attendance numbers through the season, the number indicates the season ending year, this the first season is 1980-81:

81:77.6%
82:96.0%
83:95.6%
84:95.1%
85:94.4%
86:93.8%
87:94.1%
88:94.8%
89:92.3%
90:95.7%
91:90.0%
92:86.7%
93:95.1%
94:92.7%
95:91.3%

These percentages are based on the Colisee capacity of 15 570.

From another site


http://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attendan...h.php?tmi=7584

[Neely2005]

Lots of CFL talk on Prime Time Sports with Bob McCowan over the past few days. First John Cornish and the Lou Marsh award and last night about a new book that talks about the CFL's US expansion.

---

Dec
10

Listen Prime Time Sports - 6pm
Prime Time Sports - December 10 - 6pm: Bob Ryan, Jon Cornish

Listen Prime Time Sports - 5pm
Prime Time Sports - December 10 - 5pm: Nick Kypreos, JP Morosi

---

Dec
11

Listen Prime Time Sports - December 11 - 6pm
Wednesday, 6 pm: Glenn Healy and Ed Willes


Listen Prime Time Sports - December 11 - 5pm
Wednesday, 5 pm: Fay Vincent & Jarrett Bell


End Zones and Border Wars: The Era of American Expansion in the CFL:


http://www.amazon.ca/End-Zones-Borde.../dp/1550176145

[ArgoRavi]

According to some sources I have found, and as a once-proud Nordique fan, your statment does not appear to be the case. But I will let you judge for yourself.

In 1980, the stadium was converted to 15,750 seating capacity, the following are average attendance numbers through the season, the number indicates the season ending year, this the first season is 1980-81:

81:77.6%
82:96.0%
83:95.6%
84:95.1%
85:94.4%
86:93.8%
87:94.1%
88:94.8%
89:92.3%
90:95.7%
91:90.0%
92:86.7%
93:95.1%
94:92.7%
95:91.3%

These percentages are based on the Colisee capacity of 15 570.

From another site


http://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attendan...h.php?tmi=7584

I should have said that attendance was "weakening" in Quebec. Winnipeg was doing much worse though and, quite frankly, did not appear capable of sustaining an NHL team by the time the Jets had moved to Phoenix.

[ArgoGabe22]

I should have said that attendance was "weakening" in Quebec. Winnipeg was doing much worse though and, quite frankly, did not appear capable of sustaining an NHL team by the time the Jets had moved to Phoenix.

The problem with Quebec is that no one wanted to play there. Similar to NBA FAs saying no to the Raptors.

[Neely2005]

Pinball was on Prime Time Sports today.

[Tau Ceti]

Pinball was on Prime Time Sports today.

He was on to talk about his charitable work. A worthy cause to give to this holiday season: http://www.mpcf.ca/home.html

[argotom]

The way turncoat McCown and his other announcers have treated the Argos and the league with his blatant disregard since Mr. Braley bought the team, no one here should be encouraging anyone to watch or listen to this clown regardless of how much he now wants to cover.
The station is completely off my programming dial.

[LLB997]

The way turncoat McCown and his other announcers have treated the Argos and the league with his blatant disregard since Mr. Braley bought the team, no one here should be encouraging anyone to watch or listen to this clown regardless of how much he now wants to cover.
The station is completely off my programming dial.

well said, sadly i did listen to his 1st hour today (call in segment).Buddy from Halifax called in asking about potential Maritimes CFL expansion and McClown started going on about his LV ownership attempt back in the day and talking about how many Vegas bigwigs he knew.