I had a long post ready to go about the Malkin story, but something else has come to my attention. As for Malkin, check this out. I have to agree with it’s opinion that Malkin’s ‘escape’ was not an escape at all. Sure Malkin is a kid, sure he’s being pulled in many different directions, sure life in Russia can be harsh and sure, he wants to play in the NHL. BUT, he’s playing hockey in Russia, and they treat their hockey players very well. And, I’m sure Ovechkin was in the same situation last year but he managed to get out of Russia easily. He didn’t sign ten different contracts, switch agents every week….
Anyways, on to something else; the possible and seemingly more likely demise of Hockey Night in Canada on CBC. With CBC’s contract due to expire at the end of the 2007-2008 season, and the mobilization of forces by the evil opposition, otherwise known as Bell Globemedia, HNIC is possibly two years away from extinction.
“Bell Globemedia is reportedly considering paying the league $140 million a year for 10 years for the deal in an attempt to outbid the CBC, which has been broadcasting Hockey Night in Canada since 1952.”
Since they might be offering $140 million per year compared to CBC’s $65 million per year contract right now, it does not look good. With TSN/CTV winning the 2010 and 2012 Olympics (ugh I hate CTV Olympic coverage), exclusive rights to curling and possibly exclusive rights to the CFL, they’re taking over the sports world.
I, for one, am not amused. I prefer sports on CBC. I have found TSN to be damn annoying, particularly their hockey broadcasts. Pierre McGuire and Bob Mckenzie are THE most annoying people in the entire world. When they are on tv, I change the channel. Yes, they are that irritating. And since they are taking sports away from CBC, I am beginning to hate TSN.
I remember back in 1995, I was in university and just moved into my first apartment. I finally got cable which included TSN. I no longer had to watch the local hour-long news to get the sports highlights. I now had sports 24/7. I was blissful. I still preferred my Olympics, football and hockey coverage to be on CBC but TSN had the highlights. Sportsdesk was the name, and highlights were their game. Those were the days!
So, is anyone else happy that TSN might be stealing our hockey and broadcasting it full-time?? CBC can’t compete with that amount of money, if it’s accurate. I read somewhere that maybe the federal government would pony up the rest of the dough to help save hockey on CBC. Soon, there won’t be any sports on CBC. That’s the only reason I watch CBC, yes the only reason. Also, with hockey moving to cable and not free tv, the audience might diminish (I read that somewhere too). I think that’s a very good possibility.
So join me in denouncing satan, aka TSN.
I believe competition is good, but I agree, TSN et al are horrible. I can’t stand their ‘experts’. McGuire doesn’t know his head from his ass and all he does is pontificate. McKenzie, jeezuhedges, that guy may have all the contacts in the world but he’s no ‘expert’. Just look at his ‘analysis’ of the Sabres-Hurricanes series, he flip-flopped more than a bunny on PCP.
Bell Globemedia is just plain awful at sports coverage beyond highlights. And they WILL make it more pay cable based and free TV coverage will suffer, the extent of which I really don’t know though. If you think that Bob Cole is bad, and you think you can’t stand him, try listening to Pierre and company for more than 20 seconds.
I’m with you 100% on this Scar., it’ll be a dark cold day when HNIC dies.
What about all those amazingly good Canadian movies on CBC?