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CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada 2013 Schedule

Here’s the press release from CBC which celebrates the 60th season of North America’s longest running sports series on television, Hockey Night in Canada. On Saturday, January 19, CBC will have a season opening tripleheader which will include Ottawa at Winnipeg at 3 p.m. ET and then Toronto at Montreal at 7 p.m. which will be followed by Anaheim at Vancouver for the nightcap.

We have the press release followed by the Hockey Night in Canada schedule.

CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA RETURNS FOR ITS 60TH SEASON ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 19

The puck drops on the new season with Ottawa @ Winnipeg (3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT) followed by Toronto @ Montreal (7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT) and Anaheim @ Vancouver (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT)

CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA is ready to hit the ice for its 60^th season beginning Saturday, January 19 with 49 games on the schedule. CBC gives viewers the best seat in the house to catch the best games, marquee players and is the exclusive home of the Stanley Cup Final.

“Canadians have missed their game, and we’ve missed bringing it to them. We look forward to the return of the teams and the players, and CBC will be there as they drop the puck,” said Kirstine Stewart, Executive Vice President, English Services, CBC.

CBC hosts the biggest hockey night of the week where appointment viewing and fan engagement take center stage. This season’s schedule includes 10 Original Six pairings and rivalry games featuring Toronto/Montreal, Edmonton/Calgary, Ottawa/Toronto, and Montreal/Boston. Eighteen all-Canadian match-ups also highlight the schedule including three that anchor a full day of coverage on Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada on February 9.

CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA’s season gets underway with Ottawa @ Winnipeg at 3 p.m. ET (12 p.m. PT). CBC will have simultaneous live coverage of select moments from the official Stanley Cup banner raising in Los Angeles between 3-3:30 p.m. ET (12-12:30pm PT). Coverage continues with a CBC-exclusive concert event live from Montreal as Scotiabank Hockey Tonight returns at 6:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. PT), followed by Toronto @ Montreal at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT). Wrapping up the night is Anaheim @ Vancouver at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT).

Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi presented by Chevrolet returns every Saturday night with double-header action.

“We’re thrilled to be able to share the tradition of Hockey Night in Canada with the nation once again this year,” said Jeffrey Orridge, Executive Director, Sports Properties, CBC.

Hockey Day in Canada is back for its 13^th year. Ron Maclean and Don Cherry celebrate the Day from Peterborough, Ontario, when all seven Canadian teams will be in action. The Under the Lock Hockey Tournament on the Trent Canal and the OHL game between the Peterborough Petes game and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds will provide the background for the day. Lloydminster, AB/SK will host the five-day celebration in 2014.

“This will be Hockey Night in Canada’s 60^th season and we can’t wait to celebrate with our viewers in interactive and engaging ways,” said Julie Bristow, Executive Director, Studio and Unscripted Programming, English Services, CBC.

Fans can connect with CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA online, through Twitter (#HockeyNight) and Facebook and with the Hockey Night in Canada app for iOS and Windows 8.

Further details of CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA’s programming elements and celebrations surrounding the 60^th season will be announced in the coming days.

After the break, I’ll have the schedule for you.

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NHL Releases The 2012-13 Regular Season National TV Schedules

This is like last year when the NBA released its national TV schedules in the midst of its lockout and nobody cared. Now, it’s the NHL’s turn to release this and until the lockout is settled between the league and its NHL Players Association, this means nothing.

After all the momentum the NHL built at the end of last season, there’s labor strife and Commissioner Gary Bettman seems to be in no hurry to end despite a nice fat TV contract with NBC and a TV negotiation upcoming in Canada that could further expand the league’s coffers.

Anyway, we have this press release from the National Hockey League talking about the number of games on NBC, NBC Sports Network, NHL Network, CBC, RDS and TSN.

NBC Sports Group will combine for over 100 regular season games including games on Sunday afternoons, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

CBC will carry 101 games including Hockey Night in Canada doubleheaders on Saturday nights.

TSN has Wednesday Night Hockey and will take 237 games on its combined TSN/TSN2 group.

RDS is the French language rightsholder for Canada and will carry all Montreal Canadiens games plus the Winter Classic and All-Star Weekend.

NHL Network will have 82 regular season games mostly from local feeds.

Take a look at what the NHL is saying. After that, I’ll post the press releases from the NHL’s TV partners in separate posts.

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE UNVEILS 2012-13 NATIONAL TELEVISION SCHEDULE

NEW YORK (August 30, 2012) – The National Hockey League (NHL) announced today the television schedules for national partners NBC, NBC Sports Network, CBC, TSN, TSN2, RDS and NHL Network-U.S. for the 2012-13 regular season.

In the U.S., NBC and NBC Sports Network enter the second season of the 10-year agreement with the NHL, the largest media rights deal in League history. It also is the eighth consecutive season both networks have served as a national television partner of the NHL in the U.S. In Canada, CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada begins its 60th regular season of NHL® broadcasts. TSN, whose relationship with the NHL dates back to 1987, continues as the League’s national English-language cable partner. French-language telecast partner RDS has been televising NHL games since its inception in 1989 and enters its 10th consecutive season presenting every Montreal Canadiens game.

NBC Sports Group
Throughout the season, NBC Sports Group once again will offer hockey fans in the U.S. more than 100 games across NBC and NBC Sports Network. NBC Sports Network will air NHL games three consecutive nights each week on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Wednesday nights will be exclusive, and in January, NBC Sports Network will add a second exclusive night on Sundays, giving NHL fans four straight nights of hockey action. The network will include a live pre-game (NHL Live™) and post-game (NHL Overtime™) show before and after every telecast. NBC Sports Network also will televise NHL All-Star Weekend live from Columbus, Ohio, Jan. 25-27, 2013. Coverage includes the NHL All-Star Player Fantasy Draft™, NHL All-Star Skills Competition™ and the NHL® All-Star Game.

For the second consecutive season, NHL on NBC broadcast coverage launches on Thanksgiving Friday, with the 2012 NHL Thanksgiving Showdown™ featuring the Boston Bruins playing host to the New York Rangers at 1:00 p.m. ET. NBC will follow up that broadcast with the 2013 NHL Winter Classic® on Tuesday, Jan. 1, at Michigan Stadium on the campus of the University of Michigan, before airing the weekly “Game of the Week” beginning Jan. 20. On Feb. 17, Hockey Day in America will be expanded to a triple-header, with two afternoon games on NBC followed by evening game on NBC Sports Network.

CBC
CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada returns for its 60th season, marking a new milestone for one of the longest running and most iconic programs in Canadian television history. The 60th anniversary season is highlighted by 101 regular-season games, including a special Thursday, Nov. 1, match-up between the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs, just as it did in 1952 when Hockey Night in Canada first took to the TV airwaves. The 2013 NHL Winter Classic® and the 60th NHL All-Star Game also return exclusively to CBC this season. Hockey Night in Canada on CBC will continue to honor Canada’s pastime as Hockey Day in Canada celebrates its 13th annual broadcast from Lloydminster AB/SK, Canada’s only border town, on Feb. 9, 2013. All Canadian teams will be featured on the day-long broadcast, which commemorates and highlights local hockey heroes.

With CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada continued commitment to connect Canadians to the NHL and the sport of hockey no matter where they are on game night, all 101 regular-season games will be streamed online as well as available for iPad and iPhone users.

TSN
TSN platforms will broadcast 237 NHL regular-season games during the 2012-13 season, its most extensive broadcast package ever. TSN will broadcast 88 regular-season games nationally, including 74 games featuring Canadian teams. TSN2 will air 63 games. Highlighting TSN’s 2012-13 NHL regular-season broadcast schedule is the Hockey Hall of Fame Game, airing for the first time on TSN. Featuring New Jersey at Toronto on Friday, November 9, the Hockey Hall of Fame Game honors 2012 Hockey Hall of Fame inductees Pavel Bure, Adam Oates, Joe Sakic and Mats Sundin. In addition, TSN has exclusive Canadian coverage of the NHL Draft, NHL Draft™ Lottery and the Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Celebration while retaining the English-language exclusivity of “Wednesday Night Hockey” during which there is no other national or local NHL telecasts.

RDS
RDS will once again have French-language coverage of all 82 regular-season Montreal Canadiens games. RDS and RDS INFO also will broadcast a package of games featuring other NHL teams, including the 2013 NHL Winter Classic® and full coverage of the NHL All-Star Weekend.

NHL Network-U.S.
NHL Network-U.S. will televise 78 live games for its American audience this season, focusing on Thursday nights and Saturdays, including 14 doubleheaders and three tripleheaders. Regular-season coverage on NHL Network-U.S. gets underway on Friday, Oct. 12, at 7:30 p.m. ET and features Nashville at Detroit. The Red Wings will begin their quest for a 22nd consecutive postseason berth against captain Shea Weber and the Predators, the very team that eliminated them from the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

On Saturday evenings, NHL Network-U.S. will continue to incorporate the highly acclaimed CBC programming “Coaches Corner” and “Hotstove” into intermission content for American fans. Other highlights include eight appearances by the current Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings and Zach Parise’s return to New Jersey when the Minnesota Wild take on the Devils on Sunday, Nov. 11, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

NHL Network’s signature show, NHL Tonight™ hosted by Kathryn Tappen and featuring a rotating cast of analysts, returns across North America, providing highlights and analysis of every NHL game on a nightly basis. In addition to NHL Tonight, the network also will feature live original programming each evening with  NHL Live™ and NHL On the Fly™. As always, NHL Network™ will continue to bring fans exclusive coverage from all of the NHL’s signature events throughout the season. Information on the dates and times of the NHL Network live-game schedule for Canadian viewers will be released in the near future.

2012-13 Regular Season
The NHL’s 2012-13 regular season is scheduled to commence on Thursday, Oct. 11, with a quartet of games. The following night – Friday, Oct. 12 – the Los Angeles Kings will raise the first Stanley Cup® Championship banner in franchise history in front of a national audience on NBC Sports Network.

Opening night will feature nationally televised double-headers in both the U.S. and Canada. In the U.S., NBC Sports Network will air the 2011 Stanley Cup® champion Boston Bruins visiting the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center as well as the St. Louis Blues taking on the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center. In Canada, CBC and RDS will televise the Montreal Canadiens playing host to the Ottawa Senators at Bell Centre and the Calgary Flames battling the Vancouver Canucks at Scotiabank Saddledome.

Under the NHL scheduling matrix, each team plays six games against each team in its division (24 games), four games against the non-division teams within its conference (40 games) plus 18 non-conference games – including at least one game against each club in the other conference (15 games) and three other games against select teams.

The 2012-13 NHL regular season will conclude on Saturday, April 13, with 28 teams competing in what promises to be a thrilling 14-game fight to the finish.

NBC Sports Group’s schedule is coming up.

CBC’s Hockey Day in Canada Heads To Alberta/Saskatchewan

CBC has announced that its iconic Hockey Day in Canada celebration will be held in the only town that borders two provinces, Lloydminster, Alberta/Saskatchewan. Over the years, Hockey Day in Canada has been hosted by several Canadian locations like Prince Edward Island this year and Toronto when the concept first started. It has mostly been hosted by smaller towns since CBC began this tradition.

And Lloydminster will be a bit more special as the 2012-13 season will be the 60th consecutive year that Hockey Night in Canada has been aired on Canada’s public broadcaster.

The Hockey Day concept has been cloned in the United States especially by Fox Sports North for its annual Hockey Day in Minnesota and of course, NBC has its own Hockey Day in America which for the last two years has been held a week after Hockey Day in Canada.

While you won’t get journalism on Hockey Day, I do eat up the stories by CBC celebrating Canada’s game. It’s a great day to watch the stories and fall in love with hockey all over again.

We have details from CBC on 2013′s edition of Hockey Day in Canada which will be held in February of next year and will be simulcast in the US on NHL Network.

HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA ON CBC BRINGS ITS 13^TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION TO CANADA’S ONLY BORDER CITY, LLOYDMINSTER, AB/SK, IN FEBRUARY 2013

Canada’s annual celebration of hockey, HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA, will head west in February, 2013, to Lloydminster, AB/SK. Ron MacLean will host the live broadcast that culminates a week of community activities and events celebrating the game across Lloydminster.

“Hockey Day in Canada is one of our favourite events each year and we’re thrilled to be bringing our annual celebration of grassroots hockey to Lloydminster in 2013,” said Julie Bristow, CBC’s Executive Director of Studio and Unscripted Programming. “The 2013 season represents Hockey Night in Canada’s 60^th year and with an eager group of volunteers ready to get started, Lloydminster will be enthusiastic and welcoming hosts for this extra special event.”

Canada’s only border city, Lloydminster straddles the boundary between Alberta and Saskatchewan and is home to more than 30,000 residents. The community’s passionate hockey fans support teams on a variety of levels. The Jr. B Bandits are a perennial powerhouse in the North Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League, while the Junior A Bobcats of the Alberta Junior Hockey League are community owned by 87 local investors and were featured on the 2012 Hockey Day in Canada broadcast. The Senior AAA Border Kings won the Allan Cup in 2001 and 2007 and hosted the Championship for the third time since 2000 this past spring at the Centennial Civic Centre.

“One of the best parts of Hockey Day in Canada every year is the chance we get to highlight local hockey heroes from coaches to homegrown NHLers to volunteers that keep the game growing in communities across the country,” said Trevor Pilling, Head of Programming, CBC Sports and Hockey Night in Canada. “The Lloydminster community has a rich hockey heritage and is a shining example of why the game continues to be such a great source of pride and passion for players and fans of all ages.”

The Lloydminster minor hockey program has produced dozens of NHL alumni as well as current NHL players Scott Hartnell, Andrew Ference, Braden Holtby, Colby Armstrong and Clarke MacArthur.

HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA’S 13^th annual broadcast in February 2013 marks the continuation of an important Canadian hockey tradition. Winner of three Gemini Awards, it was recognized for Best Sports Program (2004) and Best Host in a Sports Program (Ron MacLean in 2004 and 2006). Previous host locations include Prince Edward Island (2012), Whitehorse, YT (2011), Stratford, Ont. (2010), Campbellton, N.B. (2009); Winkler, Man. (2008); Nelson, B.C. (2007); Stephenville, Nfld. (2006); Shaunavon, Sask. (2004); Iqualuit, Nunavut (2003); Windsor, N.S. (2002); Red Deer, Alta. (2001); and Toronto, Ont. (2000).

HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA will also be available live and on-demand at CBCSports.ca.

And we’ll have more throughout the day. Maybe even linkage if I can squeeze it in tonight.

Some Quick Thursday Links

Ok, going to attempt some linkage here. Quite busy, but I’ll try to sneak some stuff for you.

Eric Fisher of Sports Business Daily looks at the new $3.99 charge for the new March Madness Live app for the NCAA Tournament.

R. Thomas Umstead of Multichannel News/Broadcasting & Cable also writes about the new March Madness Live app.

Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch talks with ESPN’s Ron Jaworski about being removed from the Monday Night Football booth.

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio has the impression that ESPN’s Jon Gruden didn’t agree with the decision to take Jaws out of the MNF booth.

Former New York Times columnist George Vecsey is now on Twitter and he’s a bit apprehensive about it.

Glenn Davis at SportsGrid is confused about yesterday’s Colin Cowherd interview with Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit cover girl Kate Upton.

Timothy Burke at Deadspin has audio of CNBC’s Darren Rovell explaining his Valentine Day’s proposal to Kate Upton.

Maury Brown at the Biz of Baseball says not every local MLB deal is equal and fair.

Anthony Crupi from Adweek notes that CBS El Capo di Tutti Capi Les Moonves predicts record ad rates for Super Bowl XLVII which will be aired on the Tiffany Network next year.

Adweek has a video with NASCAR CEO Brian France on the upcoming Sprint Cup season.

Toni Fitzgerald of Media Life Magazine says thanks to the Super Bowl, NBC leads the February sweeps by a 2-1 margin over CBS.

Sam Eifling of The Big Lead talks with a Memphis sports radio host who kept grinding and has been rewarded with national recognition.

At the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center, Ronnie Ramos talks about how to maximize your Facebook and Twitter strategies.

Also at the National Sports Journalism Center, Eric Deggans of the Tampa Bay Times cautions traditional media about falling into prejudicial traps when writing about Jeremy Lin.

Karen Hogan of Sports Video Group explains the logistics for CBC’s Hockey Day in Canada.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell says one sporting goods chain is going all in for Jeremy Lin.

Kevin Lincoln at the Business Insider’s Sports Page notes that Time Warner Cable is sending out small refund checks for those missing MSG Network.

WEEI’s Kirk Minihane lists the best and worst Boston TV announcers.

The Boston Herald’s Inside Track found Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez going through the ESPN “Car Wash” yesterday.

To the Worcester Telegram & Gazette where Bill Doyle gets Comcast SportsNet Celtics sideline reporter Greg Dickerson to talk about epilepsy and Tourette syndrome which have plagued him.

Over to the New York Times’ Richard Sandomir who looks into ESPN’s Monday Night Football personnel move.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union has the New York Mets Spring Training TV schedule.

Ken McMillan of the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record posts the Yankees Spring Training TV and Radio schedules.

Ed Barkowitz at the Philadelphia Daily News says Jaws being taken off Monday Night Football doesn’t mean the end for him at ESPN.

From the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog, Dan Steinberg says DirecTV has added Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic’s overflow channel in HD, finally.

Jim Williams at the Washington Examiner says a two man booth will benefit Monday Night Football.

Tom Jones of the Tampa Bay Times writes that local sports radio talk show host is out of a job today.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle says Astros voice Milo Hamilton may be retiring after this season, but the team won’t be losing him altogether.

The Houston Astros website has an entire section devoted to Hamilton’s career including some of his most famous radio calls.

Bob Wolfley at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says the Brewers will be featured at least six times on Fox’s Saturday baseball package.

Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times says the NHL finally has a TV partner which is fully promoting the league.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has reaction to Bob Ryan’s announced retirement from the Boston Globe.

Barry Wilner at the San Jose Mercury News gets some details of the new Pac-12 Network from league commissioner Larry Scott.

Blogs and reporters are constantly receiving public relations pitches. Here’s one regarding Jeremy Lin and it’s a bit over the top.

Sports Media Watch notes that the 2012 MLB on Fox schedule is reduced from last year due to the 2012 Olympics.

SMW says Golf Channel set a ratings record last Sunday.

The Canadian Sports Media Blog has the sports TV viewership numbers for last week.

Mike Silva of the Sports Media Watchdog has a review of the new CBS Radio Mike Francesa Show app.

Joe Favorito says the Phoenix Suns are using the Samsung Galaxy tablet on the sidelines.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media has the numbers for the NHL on NBC Sports Network from early this week.

Ben Koo at Awful Announcing notes that ESPN is not tiring of the Jeremy Lin overkill.

Lou Clinton at 38 Cliches is rooting for former Red Sox announcer Jerry Trupiano.

And that’s where we’ll end it. Enjoy your Thursday.

CBC’s Hockey Day in Canada 2012 Heads To Tiny Prince Edward Island

CBC’s annual Hockey Day in Canada goes Eastward this year and stops in the country’s tiniest province of Prince Edward Island. There will be plenty of activities throughout the days leading up to the celebration of Canada’s Game on February 11, 2012. And of course, there will be games involving Canadian teams throughout the day on CBC. Ron MacLean will host and Don Cherry will bring his entire array of suits and ties. More details will be announced later, but here’s your first look at what will take place next year.

BIG NEWS FROM CANADA’S SMALLEST PROVINCE:  HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA ON CBC TO BE HELD IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND FOR 12^th ANNUAL CELEBRATION ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2012

For the first time in its 12-year history, HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA on CBC will be heading across the Confederation Bridge to the province of Prince Edward Island this winter.  Host Ron MacLean will broadcast live from PEI for the first time, alongside the legendary Don Cherry on Saturday, February 11, 2012. The province will host a series of local weeklong activities and events celebrating the game leading up to the big day.

“We’re thrilled to be bringing this celebration to the province of Prince Edward Island,” said Joel Darling, director of production for CBC Sports. “Hockey is truly a Canadian passion, shared equally among players and fans from our biggest cities to the tiniest communities, so we think it’s especially appropriate to be taking Hockey Day in Canada to the cradle of Confederation, where the entire province can share in the experience.

PEI has a rich hockey history, having produced the likes of Brad Richards, Adam McQuaid, Steve Ott, Gerard Gallant, Rick Vaive, Allan MacAdam, Bob Whitlock, Charlie Cahill, Clarence J. “Windy” Steele, Forbes Kennedy, Errol Thompson and William Stewart (Billy) MacMillan, to name just a few. Notably, PEI has 27 rinks provincewide, the most per capita in Canada.

HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA’S 12^th annual broadcast on February 11 marks the continuation of an important Canadian hockey tradition. Winner of three Gemini Awards, it was recognized for Best Sports Program (2004) and Best Host in a Sports Program (Ron MacLean in 2004 and 2006). Previous host locations include Whitehorse, YT (2011), Stratford, Ont. (2010), Campbellton, N.B. (2009); Winkler, Man. (2008); Nelson, B.C. (2007); Stephenville, Nfld. (2006); Shaunavon, Sask. (2004); Iqualuit, Nunavut (2003); Windsor, N.S. (2002); Red Deer, Alta. (2001); and Toronto, Ont. (2000).

“This is a big day for our province. Hockey Day in Canada 2012 will bring together a partnership led by Hockey PEI along with the Province of PEI, the City of Charlottetown and the City of Summerside to host the event.  The local organizing committee looks forward to hosting this celebration of the game with the people of Prince Edward Island,” stated Hockey PEI executive director Rob Newson, representing the local organizing committee.  “This is an exciting opportunity to showcase the game of hockey on PEI, a chance to celebrate the past, the present and the future of the game in our province. And, of course, to welcome Ron MacLean and Don Cherry and the CBC crew to celebrate with us.”

The wall-to-wall hockey celebration is an annual tradition featuring all six Canadian NHL teams in action across the country (match ups and times to be announced at a later date).

HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA will also be available live and on-demand at CBCSports.ca.

That will be it for now.