There are several interesting developments out of this:
On Wed, Nov 27, 2013 at 9:16 AM, Brad Beam <[email protected]> wrote: > Rogers Communications has bought exclusive national TV rights to the NHL > for 12 years totaling C$5.2B. (By comparison, NBC signed for 10 years/$2B > last year.) > > CBC will retain HNIC broadcasts, but ESPNorth (TSN) will lose big as > Rogers' SportsNet will no doubt become Canada's sports leader. > > > http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/NHL/2013/11/26/NHL-tv-Canada-rights-Rogers-sportsnet-TSN/3746859/ There are several interesting ramifications from this: - TSN is damaged, but it will survive. This isn't the first time it lost the national cable rights - that happened in the mid-90s, when (then) Sportsnet first started. TSN does retain the local cable rights to two teams (Winnipeg & Montreal) and is said to be increasing its coverage of Toronto games next year. My guess is they will bid aggressively for the other teams' local-game cable rights when they come up. Presumably they will pick up a lot of basketball, the junior hockey that Sportsnet has now, all the curling they can stand, and tons and tons of poker. - HNIC remains on CBC for four years, but becomes a Rogers/Sportsnet production. CBC pays nothing for the sublicensing, but gains nothing from the ad revenue. This is a huge hit for the CBC in general, as it's generally assumed that half of their total ad revenue comes from hockey. - The French rights are interesting, if only that initially TVA Sports will get about 20-25 games, plus playoffs, while RDS (French TSN) retains the other 60-65. However, I would expect TVA to go after the RDS local games as well, which would crippling to RDS. What may keep RDS going is the fact that the Canadiens are 18% owned by Bell (who owns TSN), and so they may be loathe to sell that content to a competitor. - The ramifications for a potential team in Quebec City are also interesting. It was thought that TVA Sports was created largely to be the eventual carrier for a new QC NHL team. (TVA's owners, Quebecor, are heavily involved in the new arena there, and are assumed to be the backers of any NHL team there.) With TVA in the room, that might be an impetus for the NHL to place a team in Quebec City, particularly if RDS retains the Canadiens local contract. - NBC's coverage is likely to get better, as I could see some TSN refugees heading south rather than go over to Rogers. - I'm surprised the NHL locked itself in for this long. In 12 years, the media landscape could be radically different and they may be leaving some money on the table. It also means that after that length of time there won't necessarily be other bidders willing or able to put up the money when the time comes. John -- John Edwards "You can insure against the weather, but you can't insure against incompetence, can you?" - Phil Tufnel -- -- TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TVorNotTV" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
