The competition in the sports broadcasting world has come to rival the competition these outlets cover. With more hands in the pot, money and coverage rights have become more exposed as the driving force.
Hockey Night in Canada has been bringing National Hockey League (NHL) games to the TV sets of Canadians for almost 60 years. They’ve had time to perfect their craft, while TSN only signed a broadcasting deal in 2002 and has only been in existence since 1984. Before their big NHL broadcasting deal, there was next to no games shown on TSN.
CBC (who broadcasts Hockey Night in Canada) is a public broadcaster and, in recent years, has been losing much of its long time strong holds on certain sports coverage. Events like the Olympics used to be staples on the CBC air. CTV, a private company, who owns the majority share in TSN, now has rights to Olympic coverage as well as all Canadian Football League (CFL) games and some NHL playoff games involving Canadian teams.
The pendulum seems to be swinging toward TSN. They have the money to go out and buy bids. Bids like the rights to one 40 year old theme song that’s often referred to as “Canada’s second national anthem.”
In 2008, CBC had the opportunity to sign a new licensing agreement with the composer, Dolores Claman. CBC wanted to purchase the rights instead of continuing to lease it. The two could not come to an agreement. Claman felt the song was worth more than CBC was offering. A few days later, CTV bought the copyright to the song and TSN, and its French sister station, have been using it ever since.
Now, indeed it is a song of great cultural significance. However, it loses a lot of meaning when it changes networks. This is not a common occurrence. It’s certainly associated with Canada’s love of hockey, but it’s equally associated with Canada’s oldest network–a channel that has always reached more living rooms than any other.
It’s associated with Saturday nights and it’s associated with bringing people together to
enjoy “our game.” TSN lacks this feel. They’re flashier than CBC and put much more time into
analyzing the play and issues related to hockey. Hockey Night in Canada is by no means stuck in the past. They have a nice studio, they cover all the bases of what’s going on in the hockey world and they do use some gimmicks.
But they don’t over-hype or overdo things–that’s what sets Hockey Night in Canada apart from TSN’s hockey coverage. Last month’s NHL all-star game was a perfect example of TSN’s tendency to over-hype.
This year’s game was done in a different format. Instead of the traditional East versus West all-star game, the league decided to let two captains pick the teams from a previously determined field of all-stars from the NHL.
In the weeks leading up to the game, TSN could not go a day without mentioning one of the players would have to be picked last, mostly ignoring the fact that the unlucky last pick is still one of the top 50 players in the league this season. It’s fine to look for something to promote, but just make sure your promoting won’t make the viewer hit the mute button or the channel changer.
Theme song isn’t the only thing that’s moved from CBC to TSN. Chris Cuthbert and Brian Williams have made the move after Cuthbert was fired in during the NHL lockout of 2005. Negotiations to renew William’s contract didn’t pan out.
Things turned out well for Cuthbert. He regularly calls NHL games for TSN as well as several CFL games per week. His call of Sidney Crosby’s overtime 2010 Olympic Gold Medal winning goal will live on forever.
With CTV winning the bids to broadcast the 2010 and 2012, Williams resumed his longtime role as the face of Canada’s Olympic coverage. The hosts and personalities that appear on hockey coverage are the key. CBC has been able to hold on to Ron MacLean, the host of Hockey Night in Canada since 1987. He has a huge hand in why Hockey Night in Canada remains supreme.
A host really makes the broadcast, they guide our enjoyment. MacLean is the Gretzky of today’s hockey coverage. He does the best job of “setting the scene” and providing an accurate reflection on the games. He’s best at moderating panel discussions and keeping Don Cherry in check as well.
Love or hate Cherry, he adds something different to the coverage. You could never call him another talking head. He’s colourful and confident in what he says, even if it might be a little inappropriate.
TSN’s strategy is the revolving door of former and current players, coaches and executives as analysts who often seem to have very similar and predictable opinions. TSN’s choices on topics of debate and time spent on certain subjects gets excusing repetitive quickly. This month, TSN introduced a second show completely dedicated to hockey coverage.
TSN is certainly necessary for Canadians thrust for hockey,but Hockey Night in Canada still remains of higher quality. It’s like cooking, you’ll still eat and enjoy the food if it’s a little overcooked, but it’s that much better if it’s done just right.
