MONTREAL – This could be the final year for the puns of Ron McLean and the bombast of Don Cherry.
While Rogers Communications and the CBC have come to an agreement where Hockey Night In Canada will remain a staple on the public broadcaster for four more years, viewers will likely be in for a shock – just as the folks working the program at CBC were surprised this morning.
In a memo to staff, CBC CEO Hubert Lacroix called today’s announcement that Rogers has signed an exclusive $5.2 billion 12-year contract with the NHL for the broadcast and multiplatform rights a “day of mixed emotions for sure. Today, the NHL announced that they have chosen Rogers as the exclusive rights holders for NHL hockey in Canada going forward,” he wrote.
“While this isn’t the outcome we had hoped for, I'm pleased to say that through an agreement with Rogers, CBC will retain HNIC on Saturday nights, including 320 hours of prime-time hockey and the Stanley Cup Final for the next four years.”
However, the CBC will only be the outlet for the games as it pays no rights costs for the broadcasting of hockey games. “Rogers is bearing the sole risk around hockey revenues; (they sell the inventory and keep the revenue – the overall selling process is yet to be defined), while we continue to make Canada’s game available to all Canadians wherever they live,” writes Lacroix.
Rogers will also determine the game scheduling and all of the on-air talent and other required resources for the NHL games on CBC. The CBC will be consulted, but Rogers has the final say. Lacroix also noted that the deal does provide the Corp “with a high-traffic place to promote all of our other fantastic Canadian content during a broadcast that brings the nation together week after week.
“This may not be the ideal scenario but, it is the right outcome for Canadian hockey fans and is an acceptable adaptation to the role of the public broadcaster in the modern world of professional sports rights. A world in which partnering with a wide array of other actors is a key to success,” he wrote.
“I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the remarkable HNIC technical team at CBC, you are hands down the best in the business and I’m glad your hard work and talents will continue to be shared with Canadians through our new deal with Rogers. However, starting next year, Rogers will assume all editorial control (all editorial decisions with respect to the content, on-air talent and the creative direction of HNIC – we have the right to be consulted and there is a commitment to excellence) under the new agreement.”
The CBC had been in negotiations with the NHL for many months, in the hopes it could retain the national package it has had for 60 years. “(T)he CBC was prepared to do a fiscally responsible deal to preserve hockey on Saturday nights and to help the NHL to build the hockey brand through a variety of significant events and outreach activities,” wrote Lacroix. “The NHL chose a deal with only one broadcaster – that’s their choice and that’s their prerogative.
“I want to personally thank the negotiating team of Neil McEneaney and Jeffrey Orridge who for months have poured so much smarts and passion into trying to make the best deal happen with the NHL, and for going the extra mile in securing our agreement with Rogers over the last few days (and nights) – thank you."
The CEO also added that this will mean some job losses, but added “the staffing impact would have been much greater had we lost hockey entirely, as CBC is still producing hockey. Preserving HNIC also allows CBC to maintain a capacity to execute a sports strategy and fulfill its existing contractual obligations (i.e. Olympics, Pan-Am, FIFA),” Lacroix wrote.
Lacroix and other senior executives will be speaking to CBC employees at 1:30 today in a livestream on the iO! portal at http://io.cbcrc.ca/Pages/En/news/employee/2013/new-agreement-for-nhl-games.aspx and will take place in Studio 42 of the Toronto Broadcasting Centre (south-west corner of the 10th floor). Those unable to watch the livestream or attend may also call in using the following: Local dial in: 416-406-0743; Toll free: 1-800-806-5484; Participant pass code: 677640
Questions for this presentation may be emailed to townhall@cbc.ca.
