CFL, TSN, and RDS extend TV and Radio agreement through 2021

[R.J]

http://www.bellmedia.ca/pr/press/cfl-tsn-rds-extend-successful-broadcast-agreement-2021/

I'm not surprised at all by this, considering who will be the 50% owner of the Argonauts. I'm not going to lie though, I'm a bit disappointed by this news, I was really hoping that with Shaw (as a sponsor) coming aboard there was some hope that the league was going to finally start airing some games on OTA tv after 2018 and get another tv partner in order to grow the coverage of the CFL.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">As we mentioned back in January during the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFL?src=hash">#CFL</a> congress, TSN is going to launch &quot;Thursday Night Football&quot; during the summer.</p>&mdash; Kirk Penton (@PentonKirk) <a href="https://twitter.com/PentonKirk/status/604063439686750209">May 28, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFL?src=hash">#CFL</a> is getting ready to launch a new website as well and modernizing its stats system.</p>&mdash; Kirk Penton (@PentonKirk) <a href="https://twitter.com/PentonKirk/status/604063949315670016">May 28, 2015</a></blockquote>
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[argolio]

The #CFL is getting ready to launch a new website as well and modernizing its stats system.Good news!

[HereComeTheIrish]

good stuff

[paulwoods13]

This is a mistake, IMO, unless TSN has the right to dish some games off to Rogers, and does so. We could be in for six more years of the second-largest (and growing) sports network dissing and ignoring the CFL. Or the CFL/TSN could sell Rogers a game a week and force them to become invested in the success of the product.

Very disappointing.

(Not to mention Rod Black.)

[ArgoRavi]

This is a mistake, IMO, unless TSN has the right to dish some games off to Rogers, and does so. We could be in for six more years of the second-largest (and growing) sports network dissing and ignoring the CFL. Or the CFL/TSN could sell Rogers a game a week and force them to become invested in the success of the product.

Very disappointing.

(Not to mention Rod Black.)

I suspect that TSN has the right to sell games to another network, as they did to the CBC for years, but they don't seem to be interested in doing so. Perhaps they will at some point over the next six years though. I too would love to see CFL games appear on at least one other network, such as Rogers, so that the league can get enhanced TV coverage on that network. Hopefully with the Shaw deal though, we might see somewhat more of a CFL presence on Global even if they don't actually have any games.

[Tau Ceti]

This is a mistake, IMO, unless TSN has the right to dish some games off to Rogers, and does so. We could be in for six more years of the second-largest (and growing) sports network dissing and ignoring the CFL. Or the CFL/TSN could sell Rogers a game a week and force them to become invested in the success of the product.

Very disappointing.

(Not to mention Rod Black.)

Nothing about Rogers recent behaviour suggests they want to kiss and make up by taking a token CFL game a week. And TSN is not well advised to go multi-network with the last property in Canada they have exclusive rights over. Jays = Rogers. NHL = (mostly) Rogers. Raptors = split. If TSN also went for a split on CFL rights they'd essentially be crowning themselves a subordinate network. From a fan's perspective a multi-network deal would seem good for the game but I don't think it aligns with Bell/TSN thinking and we ought to consider that.

[LLB997]

Nothing about Rogers recent behaviour suggests they want to kiss and make up by taking a token CFL game a week. And TSN is not well advised to go multi-network with the last property in Canada they have exclusive rights over. Jays = Rogers. NHL = (mostly) Rogers. Raptors = split. If TSN also went for a split on CFL rights they'd essentially be crowning themselves a subordinate network. From a fan's perspective a multi-network deal would seem good for the game but I don't think it aligns with Bell/TSN thinking and we ought to consider that.

Not understanding why anyone would be pining for Rogers to air CFL. Their NHL coverage is god awful I don't need to see a panel with 4 Rod Blacks discussing 3 down ball. Ok, granted Randorf is there but am just not interested in seeing the sportsnet style of production. I'd be worried if TSN started shuffling off blue chip CFL content to other networks when they have very little blue chip content to air right now. Their reupping the CFL is good news and makes for a commited partnership.

Is anyone aware of the financials behind this extension?

[gilthethrill]

This is a mistake, IMO, unless TSN has the right to dish some games off to Rogers, and does so. We could be in for six more years of the second-largest (and growing) sports network dissing and ignoring the CFL. Or the CFL/TSN could sell Rogers a game a week and force them to become invested in the success of the product.

Very disappointing.

(Not to mention Rod Black.)

LOL re Rod Black...each year I expect him to be replaced...oh well, too bad Jordan Rodgers, younger brother to Green Bay Packer qb Aaron Rodgers decided to retire....

[Argo57]

LOL re Rod Black...each year I expect him to be replaced...oh well, too bad Jordan Rodgers, younger brother to Green Bay Packer qb Aaron Rodgers decided to retire....

Black still has Steve Tasker's son in the Hammer, Anthony Calvillo coaching in Montreal, Michael Sam story will keep him busy as well.

[paulwoods13]

No one here loves Rogers, obviously, but I believe they would be quite happy to acquire a ratings-grabbing property like the CFL, and if they had even one game a week their coverage of the league would instantly morph into positive.

[zontar]

Poor Rogers. "CFL isnt profitable" "Argos are worthless" "CFL doesnt move the needle" ...they tried so hard didnt they ?

[Will]

We don't know the "genesis" of this extension and whether the league even considered approaching Rogers. That companies' attitude towards the Canadian Football League (seems to be virulent in Toronto more than anywhere else) makes it difficult to want to partner with such an organization. It would be kind of strange to say to them "let's buddy up on a TV deal" after their flagship radio show has been bashing the Argos and to an extent the league for so long.

[Argocister]

Is it feasible that there was a clause in the original contract signed last year, that an extension was an option if the Argos ownership and playing location was secured? Let's face it, the GTA viewership is an important part of the deal.

[paulwoods13]

We don't know the "genesis" of this extension and whether the league even considered approaching Rogers. That companies' attitude towards the Canadian Football League (seems to be virulent in Toronto more than anywhere else) makes it difficult to want to partner with such an organization. It would be kind of strange to say to them "let's buddy up on a TV deal" after their flagship radio show has been bashing the Argos and to an extent the league for so long.

So now the league has pretty well guaranteed the Rogers hatred will continue for six more years. Seems kinda shortsighted to me.

[argolio]

So now the league has pretty well guaranteed the Rogers hatred will continue for six more years. Seems kinda shortsighted to me.Seems like Rogers guaranteed that long before the league. And I just can't see Rogers devoting all four of their main channels to CFL games and bumping a bunch of Jays games to Sportsnet One or 360.

[Tau Ceti]

So now the league has pretty well guaranteed the Rogers hatred will continue for six more years. Seems kinda shortsighted to me.

This isn't just about what the league wants and it isn't just about hating Rogers. As a few people have pointed out TSN has very legitimate reasons to fear its content position is eroding relative to Sportsnet and that giving away part of its last marquee holding is a bad idea. I'm sure if the league had its way they'd be on every broadcaster in the country but right now they gotta dance with the guy that brung 'em. And that would be TSN.

[LLB997]

Black still has Steve Tasker's son in the Hammer, Anthony Calvillo coaching in Montreal, Michael Sam story will keep him busy as well.

Anybody know who the Chad Johnson of the CFL will be this year seeing as Chad Johnson won't be back?