This began developing around 11 p.m. ET on Monday. TSN NHL Insider Bob McKenzie tweeted that it appeared that two Canadian TV networks had made an agreement with the National Hockey League and reading between the lines, it appeared that TSN was out.
Pains me to report this, but NHL closing in on landmark CDN TV deal with two CDN networks. Many years (10+), many billions. #overandout
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) November 26, 2013
Now, we have the latest tweet from Bob that indeed, it is true that CBC will retain rights to Hockey Night in Canada and the Stanley Cup Final. This had been a top priority for Canada’s public broadcaster to keep Hockey Night in Canada.
Official announcement expected Tuesday by NHL: CBC and Rogers have exclusive English-language NHL rights deal. Believed to be 12 year deal.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) November 26, 2013
The big shocker is that Rogers, the owner of Canada’s other cable sports network and TSN’s competitor, Sportsnet, took the pay cable rights.
For TSN to lose the rights to Canada’s national sport is similar to NBC losing MLB in 1988 and CBS losing the NFL in 1994. Both were gamechangers in the United States and this move is a huge gamechanger for TSN.
While TSN still has the CFL, curling, Olympics through CBC and the World Junior Hockey Championships, it leaves a big programming hole. TSN’s coverage was on a par with CBC and in some cases better. Its Tradecentre coverage during the NHL’s Trade Deadline became the standard for trade deadline coverage in North America, something MLB Network has tried to copy with limited success.
TSN has local rights to the Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets, but will no longer be able to air national games after this season. TSN also had plenty of NHL playoff coverage and part of the Conference Final. Its hockey panel was among the best to cover the sport and it’s likely that a lot of its talent will move to CBC, Sportsnet and maybe even NBC/NBCSN.
The 12 year period means that TSN will be without the NHL into the next decade. We’ll have the official announcements when they become available on Tuesday.
