Two CBC Announcements

I have a couple of CBC press releases for you. We start with an announcement which states that Canada’s public broadcaster has a new five year agreement with the Calgary Stampede.

CBC AND THE CALGARY STAMPEDE

ANNOUNCE FIVE-YEAR BROADCAST AGREEMENT

100^th Anniversary to be celebrated on CBC in 2012

Calgary – CBC and the Calgary Stampede today announced a renewed broadcast agreement, to begin July 2011 and continue through 2015, with an option for additional coverage in 2016 and 2017.

The agreement ensures that coverage of the world-renowned The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth will continue to be seen on CBC Television, CBCSports.ca and CBC’s digital channel bold, including coverage of the 100^th anniversary of the legendary event taking place in July, 2012. The current broadcast agreement between CBC and the Calgary Stampede began in 2008.

“The fun and excitement of the Calgary Stampede appeals to people across Canada and around the world, and this extended agreement with CBC ensures that excitement will continue to reach Canadians coast-to-coast-to-coast,” said Vern Kimball, chief executive officer, Calgary Stampede.

“The Calgary Stampede is an iconic sport and cultural event and a great Canadian tradition,” said Scott Moore, executive director, CBC Sports. “They have been great partners, and we are very pleased to be continuing that partnership with another five seasons of coverage on CBC.”

The first Stampede rodeo was presented by Guy Weadick in 1912, and July 2012 will mark the 100^th anniversary of what is now known as The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. One of Canada’s most famous tourist attractions, the Calgary Stampede draws 1.2 million visitors each year while the Calgary Stampede Parade is the world’s largest western-themed parade with over 350,000 spectators.

And CBC has announced it has a new Executive Producer for Hockey Night in Canada as its current EP, Sherali Najak has decided to return to live game producing.

TREVOR PILLING NAMED EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

OF CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA

Toronto, July 23, 2010—Award-winning producer Trevor Pilling has been appointed executive producer of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s flagship sports property Hockey Night in Canada. He succeeds Sherali Najak, who has chosen to return as senior producer responsible for hands-on, live production in the HNIC mobile broadcast truck.

“This transition will be terrific for Hockey Night in Canada and its fans,” says Scott Moore, executive director of CBC Sports and general manager of media sales and marketing. “Trevor is one of the most gifted sports producers in the business, with many best-in-class productions under his belt, including most recently the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. He’ll bring his considerable skill set to the world’s oldest and most iconic sports property. We know he’ll be a great fit with the HNIC team.”

“Sherali has been involved with the show in a senior capacity for more than 15 years,” Moore says. “As executive producer, he moved the program forward by creating a dynamic studio home base which allowed the show to evolve substantially. Sherali is among the best anywhere in the ‘hot seat’ of a production truck and we’re delighted he’s chosen to return there.”

“It’s hard to top an experience like the World Cup, but Hockey Night in Canada is far and away the most exciting sports program on Canadian television,” Pilling says. “It’s also an incredible ride from the beginning of the season right through the playoffs. I can’t wait to be part of it.”

With CBC since 1994, Pilling joined CBC Sports in 1997 as an associate director for CFL on CBC, graduating through increasingly senior roles to executive producer over the course of five Grey Cup championships and six consecutive Olympics. He has seven Gemini Award nominations and a win for best live sporting event for the Beijing Games.

The new season of CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada gets underway October 7 with the Edmonton Oilers hosting another “Battle of Alberta” against the Calgary Flames and the Toronto Maple Leafs facing their perennial “original six” rival the Montreal Canadiens at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

Last season, Hockey Night in Canada’s Game One averaged 1.8 million viewers, an all time record. Game Two averaged more than 1 million viewers. HNIC averaged over 2 million viewers throughout all four rounds of playoffs and captured more than 3.1 million viewers for the Stanley Cup final.