Hockey Night in Canada replaced by Bowling?

[Phil Pork]

Hey -

Has anyone else heard about Hockey Night in Canada getting replaced by Bowling when Rogers deal expires (2107)?

This sounds crazy?

[JackStraw]

According to an article in the Philly papers, Rogers has contracted with CBC to continue HNIC:

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sports/flyers/What-does-Canadian-TV-deal-mean-for-Flyers.html

[Phil Pork]

Oh man!  Rogers is the worst.  I dug up that article, though. http://www.hammerinthenews.com/posts/bowling-night-in-canada-cbc-to-fill-hockey-slot-by-2017

[jammer2]

@JackStraw  It's my understanding, that Rogers is allowing CBC to tag along, BUT...Rogers will call the shots as to which game gets aired on Saturday night. So, we get hockey on that night, but not exactly what we are used to. Saturday night without the Leafs on HNIC is a sickening thought. Even a Leaf hater like me realizes the importance of the Leafs being the lead game on HNIC...it's tradition. This is a very strange agreement.

[goalnut3133]

'Tis a very strange agreement indeed!  Haven't seen all the details so I still don't fully understand it all.  In the words of Don Cherry when he was interviewed on his thoughts about it: "I don't know what's going on."  

[jammer2]

@goalnut3133  I have heard rumors that Don and Ron will be retained....they better be, or Canadians will backlash against Rogers BIG TIME. You can raise our taxes, introduce a sickening 7% GST tax on items, but take away Don and Ron and there will be unprecedented anarchy!!

[goalnut3133]

@jammer2  Oh absolutely!! That would be sacrilege!  I also really hope they are going to retain the HNIC theme song, the original song is synonymous with hockey to me since childhood, but I'll even take the newer modified version if I had to....just keep something the same!  

[jammer2]

@goalnut3133  TSN bought the rights to the old HNIC theme song 2 years ago. The CBC no longer has the rights to play that song. The guy who wrote it sold it off to TSN, forget how much but think it was half a  million or something around there. I was and still am devastated by that, like you, it is a cherished childhood memory that was sold off for the almighty buck.....SICKENING!!  The CBC should have ponied up, heck it's owned by tax payers, if everyone agreed to a few cents per Canadian, it should and would have stayed with the CBC. Still having trouble coping with this loss....it's like a family member died....and I'm not joking. 

[hf101]

Well here is a suggestion of what the new TSN Schedule will look like.  

 

also click the link for more of the schedule

 

 

 

[JackStraw]

@jammer2 - I didn't realize the Leaf were on every week, I thought it was a game with at least one Canadian team. God forbid an American network tried to do something like that here, if Fox decided to show the Yankees every week (actually, it seems like they already do), or ESPN wanted to show the Cowboys every week on MNF, there would be blood in the streets.

[jammer2]

@JackStraw  The second late game always varies, different Canadian teams share the spotlight, but in Ontario, the Leafs *always* rule Saturday night. Really, that is the way it should be, there are far more Leaf fans than any other team, it's not even close...so when you wanna sell commercials etc, it makes sense to have the team on that people will tune into....that's why I think Rogers will be smart and use the Leafs to make money....in the end, that's what it's all about, no?

[blocker]

I get HNIC from CBMT in Montreal.  Our Saturday night games are more often than not, Canadiens games. 

[JackStraw]

@jammer2 - so is it just in Ontario that the Leafs are on every week? I would think that Canucks fans (not to mention Habs fans) wouldn't be thrilled to see the Leafs taking over their TV every Saturday night!

[jammer2]

@JackStraw  Yep, it's mostly a Ontario thing. They try and do regional coverage. If the Leafs are visiting another Canadian team, it's usually on nationwide though.

[goalnut3133]

@jammer2  Yah, I thought I had heard the old theme song somewhere!  That is totally, totally disgusting!!!  Really, nothing is sacred anymore!