How stupid is the CBC?
Very, very stupid.
CTV announced it has secured the rights to the iconic hockey theme song used by CBC for Hockey Night in Canada for the past 39 years.
“The Hockey Theme song will now live on CTV Inc. properties TSN, RDS and across Canada on CTV during coverage of the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Olympics,” a news release from the company said Monday.
The “Hockey Theme song” is better known as the Hockey Night in Canada theme song. I didn’t even know it had another name. People who don’t know about hockey know that song. New entrants into Canada are required to hum the first few bars as proof they have turned on a TV in Canada. For 40 years the song was synonymous with hockey, Canada, hockey in Canada and hockey in Canada on a Saturday night. The song = Hockey Night in Canada, which is the CBC’s flagship (only???) program. So what does the CBC do? They screw up the negotiations with the legitimate copyright holder and allow CTV to come in and buy the song for TSN. It will be so freakin weird hearing that song on TSN broadcasts. I’m glad it was bought by a Canadian corp however…
Theme irreplaceable - ” I guarantee you the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation will flip-flop on its crack-fuelled decision to dump the Hockey Night in Canada theme song”. Heh. he’s wrong of course, but crack-fuelled is funny.
Let’s see what the CBC says: “CBC Sports executive director Scott Moore said he was disappointed but not surprised the song was shopped elsewhere. Moore said CBC had negotiated for 14 months but to no avail and that the agency was asking for $2.5 million to $3 million for use in perpetuity.”
$2.5M to $3M and the CBC said no? Idiots.
Remember when CBC lost the Olympic rights? Then the CFL rights? Now the HNIC theme.
Oh but they have a lame $100,000 competition for a new theme? Give me a break.
2.5 is stunning but 3 million of taxpayers money for a song is shocking and stupid and I can’t believe that it was even considered. Not sure if you have been watching the new HNIC, but lemme tell ya, it isn’t the same from when Grapes was in the plaid suits and was blasting Ron McLean about Haken Loob or Mark Messier. Now, Cherry commentates about the troops and causes. Where is the brutal and vicious remarks about whining europeans and such……thats what made it awesom. Who is this PJ Stock clown, no doubt a washed up ex NHL who along with Cassie Campbell should be covering the womens under 18 world tournament? Plus they have that arsehole Greg Millen (hates the 1 piece sticks, and thinks he is right about everything) doing color commentary for Bob Cole who is older than dirt and doesn’t even commentate the game and just says the players names. The CBC got rid of their best and most animated hockey commentator Chris Cuthbert and then relegates Jim Huston, who loves the game, to doing first round action. If you ask me, CBC fucked it all up before losing the goddamn song. The only problem with TSN coverage is that assclown Pierre Maguire oh yeah and that moron Bob Mackenzie. In fact, they should both combine, cut out the dead weight and they would have some decent coverage. WHEW……rant over
I agree 100% with everything you said, especially the bashing of PJ Stock, Greg Millen (who, for example hates the Oilers because they lit him up for 11 goals when he as a crappy goaltender) and how Bob Cole always calls goaltenders “the goalie” because he can’t remember the name, and also the firing of Chris Cuthbert (who also went to TSN).
For kids growing up today TSN will be where it is at.
The $2.5M - $3M is only as stupid as CBC existing as a public enterprise to begin with.