Finally the NHL has signed a Canadian television rights deal. To the shock of many, however, TSN is not a part of it. The 12 year, roughly $5.2 billion agreement was officially announced on Tuesday, marking a huge change in NHL broadcasting in Canada. For now it appears that the NHL on TSN award winning broadcasting is finished, with Rogers Communications owning exclusive rights to Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday nationally televised games, plus the playoffs and Stanley Cup Finals. It is expected the rights will be stretched across Sportsnet, CBC, TVA and CITY TV.
Ever since the NHL reached their previous 10 year deal with TSN for national television rights, hockey broadcasting has been revolutionized. With staples in their program, such as The Quiz and One Up, One Down, TSN gives by far the greatest in-game coverage and analysis of any other network. Furthermore, their coverage of the trade deadline, the opening day of free agency and the NHL draft is impeccable and definitely the best in the business. Knowing this, why would the NHL not renegotiate a deal with TSN, who clearly have provided the best coverage in the game?
The answer, as per usual, is money, money, money. The NHL has expanded to a $4 billion business, close to double what it was when the last Canadian TV deal was reached. Naturally, the league would want to see the amount paid by providers to increase accordingly. According to Greg Wyshynski, TSN paid the NHL $40 million as part of the last agreement and were reluctant to increase their payment to an amount the NHL deemed appropriate. Sportsnet, the number one competitor of TSN desperately wanting to supplant them as the premier channel to watch the NHL, jumped on TSN’s hesitation to pony up the money. Previously having no rights to NHL playoff hockey, Sportsnet has created a monopoly and controls the rights to all playoff hockey (including the Stanley Cup Finals), while TSN is left with local broadcasting rights for the Winnipeg Jets and Montreal Canadiens.
However, with increased responsibility, expectations will also increase for both broadcasters. The biggest reasons TSN has a leg up when it comes to NHL broadcasting is the quality of their analysis. Some of the biggest, brightest, and most respected names in the business work for or contribute to the NHL on TSN. Bob McKenzie, Darren Dreger and Pierre Lebrun are arguably the best insiders in the business, constantly relaying information to hungry fans before it is even officially announced. Chris Cuthbert and Gord Miller are two of the best play-by-play commentators in the business, with Cuthbert responsible for the legendary “Golden Goal” call in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Ray Ferraro is also an important part of the broadcast team, providing in depth colour analysis from between the class and proving to be a huge upgrade over predecessors Pierre McGuire and Glenn Healy. Aaron Ward is a rising star in the business, and also interesting to watch.
If Sportsnet and CBC wish to provide superior coverage to TSN, they will have to try to woo some of this talent to join one of their networks. Pierre Lebrun previously worked for CBC, it’s possible he may be interested in rejoining. Darren Dreger previously worked for Sportsnet, and now that he’s blossomed with TSN would be a great asset to their broadcasts. Although CBC is iconic for its Hockey Night in Canada broadcast, they have lost a lot of talent in recent years, seeing Scott Morrison, Jeff Marek, and the previously mentioned Lebrun leave. Besides the ever controversial Don Cherry and his loyal counterpart Ron McLean, and the always insightful Elliot Friedman, the insight and experience is lacking on CBC coverage. As for Sportsnet, although they have established hockey people in place, many fans find Nick Kypreos and Doug Mclean to be arrogant and annoying, ditto for Darren Millard. The addition of a Dreger or Lebrun would do wonders in ensuring an interesting and tolerable broadcast from them.
What happens to TSN? It is unfortunate that they will no longer be nationally broadcasting the NHL, however they still have broadcasting deals in place with curling, the CFL and the World Juniors. They also have regional rights to the Winnipeg Jets, and starting next season will be getting regional coverage of the Toronto Maple Leafs. TSN also currently has regional coverage of the Montreal Canadiens, but this contract is up for renewal, and the rights holder for 2014-15 is yet to be decided.
There is an intriguing option to help fill the void of the NHL, however. Canadian Hockey League rights are currently owned by Sportsnet, with one year left on the broadcast deal. TSN has provided excellent coverage of prospects in their broadcasts, plus they turned the World Juniors from an afterthought into one of the biggest events on the annual hockey calendar after acquiring the rights to the tournament in the 1990s. I wouldn’t be surprised to see TSN purchase the rights to the CHL, and do their magic again, turning Major Junior into a nationally broadcast and recognized league, giving the young men who play there the coverage they deserve. As a hockey fan, all I can do is hope that this happens. TSN without hockey is a strange thought.
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