How Would Moving the CFL Season Earlier Affect the Argos?

[AngeloV]

At this point in the season, there are only three Canadian teams in contention for the playoffs, as Edmonton, Vancouver Montreal and Ottawa are all well behind in the standings. Furthermore, Calgary is on the borderline between being in or out of the playoffs. However, for the Argos, the Leafs have a six point plus margin for the last playoff spot. So barring another Leaf swoon song, the Argos could well have to contend with the Leafs soaking up media attention in the buildup to the start of the CFL season.

Exactly. It's not even entirely about ratings. The league needs all the media attention it can get at key points in the year. TSN and every other media platform are all over the Stanley Cup playoffs, whether there are Canadian teams still in contention or not. Rogers as the rights holders for NHL are even deeper in. The way the season is now, the league has full media attention at the start of the season, and throughout their playoffs, which start after the World Series. Why on earth would they want to give that up?

[KCargosfan]

Exactly. It's not even entirely about ratings. The league needs all the media attention it can get at key points in the year. TSN and every other media platform are all over the Stanley Cup playoffs, whether there are Canadian teams still in contention or not. Rogers as the rights holders for NHL are even deeper in. The way the season is now, the league has full media attention at the start of the season, and throughout their playoffs, which start after the World Series. Why on earth would they want to give that up?

Makes sense. So the league basically shouldn't go any earlier than it is this year, with regular season games starting June 14-16.

[Neely2005]

Exactly. It's not even entirely about ratings. The league needs all the media attention it can get at key points in the year. TSN and every other media platform are all over the Stanley Cup playoffs, whether there are Canadian teams still in contention or not. Rogers as the rights holders for NHL are even deeper in. The way the season is now, the league has full media attention at the start of the season, and throughout their playoffs, which start after the World Series. Why on earth would they want to give that up?

Increased ticket sales and increased US TV $.

[AngeloV]

Increased ticket sales and increased US TV $.

Sure, if you say so. I say it will result in overall decrease in ticket sales. Less press = less awareness. And even if the US TV deal brought in 10M per year, which I have doubts on, that is not significant enough on a per team basis.

[Neely2005]

Sure, if you say so. I say it will result in overall decrease in ticket sales. Less press = less awareness. And even if the US TV deal brought in 10M per year, which I have doubts on, that is not significant enough on a per team basis.

It's probable that the next US TV deal will be worth more than the current Canadian TV deal.

[paulwoods13]

It's probable that the next US TV deal will be worth more than the current Canadian TV deal.

Wow, $40M Cdn per year from US TV? I'll take that bet.

[Argofan_1000]

Wow, $40M Cdn per year from US TV? I'll take that bet.

NFL networks have 70+ million subscribers @ $200 US per season each. $40M Canadian is approx 5 cents per subscriber per month. They can afford it and the CFL has earned it. Also NFL needs to keep CFL strong as the CFL works well with the NFL. Any other US league (XFL) it will be difficult to get a foot hold in the US if the CFL pays players more than they do. This is insurance for the NFL in the US.

[paulwoods13]

NFL networks have 70+ million subscribers @ $200 US per season each. $40M Canadian is approx 5 cents per subscriber per month. They can afford it and the CFL has earned it. Also NFL needs to keep CFL strong as the CFL works well with the NFL. Any other US league (XFL) it will be difficult to get a foot hold in the US if the CFL pays players more than they do. This is insurance for the NFL in the US.

As I said, I'll take the bet. What the CFL "has earned" is whatever someone is willing to pay them. I simply can't believe NFLN will pay $40M Cdn/season for CFL rights. Would love to lose the bet, but I don't think I will. As for what will keep the XFL at bay, I suggest it has far more to do with the Big 4 networks all being under contract to the NFL than it does with the CFL paying its players more.

[AngeloV]

NFL networks have 70+ million subscribers @ $200 US per season each. $40M Canadian is approx 5 cents per subscriber per month. They can afford it and the CFL has earned it. Also NFL needs to keep CFL strong as the CFL works well with the NFL. Any other US league (XFL) it will be difficult to get a foot hold in the US if the CFL pays players more than they do. This is insurance for the NFL in the US.

I think you are confusing the NFL network price for the NFL ticket price. They are not related. NFL network is actually a free part of digital cable subscriptions in the US, and really has not been a big money maker for the league, which is why they stopped producing Thursday night games themselves and contracted CBS and NBC to start doing it.

And regarding any other league, do you really think the NFL worries about that? Vince McMahon has put aside 100M to possibly start up the XFL again. Players in that league will not be making anywhere near the minimum NFL salary, and since he will own the league entirely as he did the first time, there will be no real allegiance among fans. It would fail again, just as everything he has ever done outside of wrestling has.

[Neely2005]

Wow, $40M Cdn per year from US TV? I'll take that bet.

Right now TSN is paying $35+ Million a year just for the Ottawa Senators LOCAL TV rights. The CFL TV rights are National and for the entire league, not just one team.

http://ottawasun.com/2014/01/29/live...9-0c9352b14533

TSN is massively under paying for the Canadian CFL Canadian TV rights.

The US has ten times our population and the CFL is putting up good numbers with little or no promotion. Do you really think it's a coincidence that all this talk of moving the season up is gaining traction at the same time that the US CFL TV deal is about to expire?

[paulwoods13]

Right now TSN is paying $35+ Million a year just for the Ottawa Senators LOCAL TV rights. The CFL TV rights are National and for the entire league, not just one team.

http://ottawasun.com/2014/01/29/live...9-0c9352b14533

TSN is massively under paying for the Canadian CFL Canadian TV rights.

The US has ten times our population and the CFL is putting up good numbers with little or no promotion. Do you really think it's a coincidence that all this talk of moving the season up is gaining traction at the same time that the US CFL TV deal is about to expire?

I have no doubt the league thinks it might get a big score from US TV. And I have little to no doubt it will not come even close to getting $40M/year for spring and summer coverage of a league that most Americans do not follow or care about.

The league is smart to see if it can increase revenues -- in fact, I argued many times that increasing revenue and growing the business was the primary factor they should look for in a new commissioner -- but that doesn't mean a windfall is about to happen.

What TSN pays for local hockey rights is completely irrelevant in this discussion, as is what TSN pays the CFL. Whether or not Bell is getting a bargain in its CFL deal is a matter of conjecture, but I can guarantee NFL Network does not base its programming purchase decisions on any economics other than how any deal would affect its own bottom line.

[AngeloV]

It's probable that the next US TV deal will be worth more than the current Canadian TV deal.

I have serious doubts about that. I think the money is not even at the 10M amount I used as an example. My guess is Ambrosie is taking a gamble that NFLN will be happy with the viewership and perhaps offer bigger bucks down the road. A gamble which IMO is not worth the risk.

And for the record, I get why you are defending this so hard. I know that you were the most vocal about not liking the move to BMO because you had no desire to sit outdoors in November to watch games. So you're looking at it from a personal point of view. I will be at the games no matter when they are played. I just think it's best to limit the competition around the most important times of the season.