Sports+Television+in+Canada

= = toc =Sports Television in Canada= Sports are an important aspect in Canadian culture. Many Canadians take great pride in both their local and national sports teams. In Canada there are three major networks that broadcast different sporting events 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These networks include TSN, The Score, and Sportsnet. They all follow a similar broadcasting. Each station begins the day showing highlights of the previous day's sporting news; these recap shows typically last between 30 minutes to an hour and are replayed several times during the day. The stations also broadcast shows, similar in format to talk shows, in which the sporting news anchors discuss all relevant sporting matters from around the world. This format usually involves more than one anchor with the addition of many guest hosts who have specific knowledge of a particular sport. Another popular segment of sports television is the broadcasting of syndicated shows from around the world. This may include poker or sports game shows. Finally, the similarity of these sports networks extends to the broadcast of live action events. These events include live hockey, basketball, football, golf, soccer, curling, auto racing, and rugby. "These are the broadcasts that get the highest audience viewership out of all the other different formats." (Wikipedia)

= = =TSN (The Sports Network)= [|TSN] debuted in Canada in 1984 and was modeled after the highly successful American version [|ESPN]. When it p remiered in Canada it was the only 24 hour a days sports network in the country. Since then TSN has grown to become Canada’s largest sports television network. The network was originally owned by the Labatts Brewing Company but has been sold of in recent years to Bell Globemedia while ESPN in the United States holds a minority share. (Wikipedia) TSN prides itself in the production of Canadian content. They are the sole rights holders of the NHL in Canada (except for Saturday night games which are held by [|CBC]). Hockey is perceived to be a Canadian game and TSN pays large amounts of money to keep there NHL rights. They also are the sole rights holders to curling in Canada which is also considered a Canadian game. (Wikipedia) The main criticism of TSN is that it is located in Toronto and is biased to Toronto teams. Realizing this issue TSN now broadcasts out of Vancouver to cover the west coast audience. (TSN: Total Sports Network)

=Rogers Sportsnet= Rogers [|Sportsnet] debuted in 1999 when they purchased CTV shares in CTV Sportnet. Entering the sports television market in Canada would prove to be a difficult task because of the strong hold TSN has had for over 20 years. Realizing the criticisms that TSN was facing because of their bias towards Toronto based teams, Sportsnet decided to broadcast nationally in Canada with four regional feeds. This allowed Sportsnet to format the broadcasts to the particular audience of that region. In 2005, Sportsnet won the bid to broadcast the 2010 winter Olympics in Vancouver and the 2012 summer games in London. (Wikipedia) This was considered the cementing of Rogers Sportsnet position in Canadian sports television. (Rogers Sportsnet)

=The Score= The Score Television Network debuted in 1997 and was initially a national 24 hour anchor-at-desk sports news service. In 2000, the CRTC granted [|The Score] the liscenes to broadcast live action sports. The Score was innovative as they were the first sports station in Canada to add a 24 hour a day sports ticker (rotates the scores of all sporting games). Realizing that they had to create their own identity in a crowded sports market, The Score also launched a radio broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio. This allows consumers to get all the up-to-date sport scores and news while there in their car. (The Score Television Network)

=CBC= Although CBC does not specifically cover sports 24/7 unlike the other stations, it should still be acknowledged as one of Canada's sports networks. CBC is well known for [|Hockey Night in Canada], and remains as one of the highest rated Canadian programs on television. Originally introduced to CBC in 1952, it has since then created the famous Ron MacLean and Don Cherry as icons to hockey fans across the nation. Also, CBC Sports is known for airing major events such as the Olympics, the CFL and Canadian Interuniversity Sports. Unlike other networks, CBC is Government owned, and stays true to our Canadian heritage. Unfortunately, due to bigger and stronger television corporations, the battle of gaining power over CBC's sport broadcasts is still a rising concern for the station. Losing hockey on CBC would be a tremendous loss to our country. (Wikipedia)

=Growing Trends= A growing trend in sports television in Canada is the owning and operating a regional television channel by a sports team that presents original programming. This is the case with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd who owns and operates two category 2 cable channels which provides programming inside the province of Ontario for their sports teams the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Raptors. This was a move made in order to increase revenues by controlling the broadcast rights for a limited number of live action games. The channels broadcast live action games, classic games, pre/post-game shows, highlights, daily news and interviews. The cost to purchase these channels ranges from $.99 to $7.99 per month depending on your service provider. (Leafs TV) [|Leafs TV] broadcasts 12 regular season games in which no other television company can broadcast while [|Raptors TV] broadcasts 24 regular season games. (Leafs TV)

Another growing trend is an alternative to purchasing these channels. Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment has teamed with 25 Cineplex Entertainment movie theatres around the GTA and Ontario to broadcast the 12 regular season games on Leafs TV live in high definition. This gives the Maple Leaf fans who cannot afford the Leafs TV the chance at watching the games at a reduced cost. (Leafs TV) media type="youtube" key="nPEWku-HxMY" This is an example of "Leafs Late Night" where the host has discussions with other hockey experts about the current state of the Toronto Maple Leafs.


 * Works Cited**

Wikipedia (2006) The Score Television Network. Online at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Score_%28television_network%29 Consulted on: November 3rd, 2006 Wikipedia (2006) Rogers Sportsnet. Online at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogers_Sportsnet Consulted on: November 3rd, 2006 Wikipedia (2006) TSN: Total Sports Network. Online at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TSN Consulted on: November 3rd, 2006 http://tsn.ca/ Consulted on: November 3rd, 2006 http://thescore.ca/ Consulted on: November 3rd, 2006 http://www.sportsnet.ca/ Consulted on: November 3rd, 2006 http://www.mapleleafs.com/tv/index.html Consulted on: Novmeber 23rd, 2006 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hockey_Night_in_Canada Consulted on December 1st, 2006