Jack Todd: Hockey Night in Canada? More like Hockey Night in Toronto

[Chairman Maouth]

Sportsnet (through the CBC) has turned itself into The Leafs Network and Hockey Night in Canada has been dragged along, like it or not

JACK TODD, SPECIAL TO MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: October 6, 2019

These are sad days for those among us who recall the great Danny Gallivan and his Savardian spinorama — days when Hockey Night in Canada has become little more than a public-relations outlet for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

It has been going on for a couple of decades now, so this isn’t really new — but for all practical purposes, Sportsnet (through the CBC) has turned itself into The Leafs Network and Hockey Night in Canada has been dragged along, like it or not.

Our thanks to reader Paul Wilkinson of Dorval, who pointed out the Canadiens will be featured on CBC only six times all season — including the four games the Habs play against the Leafs. CBC will also show one game featuring the Habs against the Florida Panthers and one versus the Ottawa Senators.

More: Jack Todd: Hockey Night in Canada? More like Hockey Night in Toronto

Click to read more...

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

not new...always comes down to money and ratings, and the Leafs bring it

but this is why the rest of Canada loathes the Leafs and enjoys their 52 years of futility

 

[Former Referee 68]

Its true

 

[Chairman Maouth]

The CBC is funded by all Canadians, not just those in Toronto.

 

[Chips]

Why don’t the Caps get coverage? Unfair

 

[Bounces R Way]

As the writer correctly points out, it has been this way for decades. Not much to do about it.

 

[snipes]

Been this way for forever. Likely to only become more insufferable if the Leafs ever win a round.

 

[Chairman Maouth]

As the writer correctly points out, it has been this way for decades. Not much to do about it.

I'm pretty sure it's gotten worse though.

 

[The Big Swede13]

He sounds like a bitter little baby. If you check his twitter timeline all he does is talk about the Leafs yet he complains the media only talks about them aswell. Pretty ironic

 

[holy]

I don’t even care tbh, it’s not totally insufferable.

Having to watch the Canes broadcast for game 1 was brutal though, it’s like they couldn’t even find someone off this site to fact check things for them.

 

[Kamiccolo]

I mean, the Leafs have a pretty damn good team. Of course they are going to get talked about

 

[holy]

I mean, the Leafs have a pretty damn good team. Of course they are going to get talked about

They’re talked about a whole lot when they’re **** too though.

 

[Nineteen67]

Who really wants Montreal on the national broadcast? Is there a French CBC now? Do they do any games other than Montreal?

 

[Nineteen67]

Sounds like someone better get their team in order if they want the prime time spot. Leafs bring in more money

 

[Chairman Maouth]

Again, the CBC's mandate is to broadcast to all Canadians. All Canadians fund it yet it over-serves Leafs fans and under-serves others.

Why is this important? Because the CBC is available free to all Canadians. Sportsnet and other NHL broadcast networks are not.

 

[hector morrison]

Again, the CBC's mandate is to broadcast to all Canadians. All Canadians fund it yet it over-serves Leafs fans and under-serves others.

Haven't concerned myself with it,but how would you divvy up the broadcasts...percentage of fans or geographically or some other method? I mean,let's say (for example) that 10 % of hockey fans are Hab fans,then 90 % of the hockey fan base can suck eggs if they don't wanna watch? Then at the end of the season ,someone in accounting points out that the bottom line(Da Money!) isn't as good as the Leaf broadcasts,so now they want more funding (tax payer money) to show less popular teams playing....effing genius!

 

[93LEAFS]

The Golden Horseshoe accounts for 25% of the population, and 33% of the Canadian population is primarily English speaking provinces. What the hell do people expect?

 

[GoJetsGo55]

If you play Toronto on Saturday, the only time your team gets mentioned if it's being used in comparison to the Leafs.

 

[GoJetsGo55]

The Golden Horseshoe accounts for 25% of the population, and 33% of the Canadian population is primarily English speaking provinces. What the hell do people expect?

To not have a game between the Flames and Jets where Matthews name gets brought up more than the players on the ice.

 

[MessierII]

I don’t really disagree at all. It’s been a joke for years but it’s on a new level since the Leafs have been lighting up the regular season. The media is based out of there and I think that’s the root problem. I actually think sports net is still better than TSN when it comes to Leafs homerism though.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

The Golden Horseshoe accounts for 25% of the population, and 33% of the Canadian population is primarily English speaking provinces. What the hell do people expect?

there's 3 Eastern conference Canadian teams..perhaps rotate Saturday nights on CBC?

we don't see the Cowboys or Patriots every Sunday night

I mean, the Yankees playoff game was on MLB TV FFS

 

[KaseMeOutside]

It's alot of media cheerleading I think that's what irritates the non leafs fans beyond just showing them. As an American who does not regularly watch HNIC, when I do watch it's basically a Leafs regional broadcast so I can see how it annoys the rest of Canada

Jim Hughson used to be a good announcer but not anymore

 

[BananaSquad]

They play on either City Tv or Sportsnet on Saturday’s nation wide, the Habs will be fine lol.

 

[93LEAFS]

there's 3 Eastern conference Canadian teams..perhaps rotate Saturday nights on CBC?

we don't see the Cowboys or Patriots every Sunday night

I mean, the Yankees playoff game was on MLB TV FFS

No market in the United States is even comparable to the percentage of Canada's population the GTA and surrounding municipalities make up, then you add in the fact that Montreal's market is fragmented by language. To put it in perspective, the North-East megapolis (Boston to DC) accounts for roughly 17% of the United States. Those combined municipalities account for (Patriots, Jets, Giants, Redskins and Ravens). The GTA alone makes up 16% of the entire Canadian population. Turn that into the Golden Horseshoe which up until Niagara is Leafs tv territory you are talking 25%. Factor in CBC has its own francophone outlets in ICI.

Why would a business not put on the games that will sell the most commercials and increase revenue. Rogers is a buisness and has full control over HNC. CBC just gives them the air-time.

 

[viper0220]

With internet you can follow, any team, any time. You can get everything on your team and not hear a whisper on another team.