We are a month away from the start of the CFL season (June 29) and so we are almost a month away from knowing which, if any, outlets will carry the CFL in the United States in 2012.
Sure, the NFL Network has come through in the last couple of years, with added regular season games last year. The potential NFL strike had everything to do with that, so its 2012 offer won't be as generous. The problem remains the same: 0 post-season games in the two years the NFL Network has covered the CFL.
Waiting to see if a different suitor picks you could produce a worse scenario: no CFL coverage for U.S. cable viewers in the United States. However, one cable outlet is desperately seeking more sports coverage: NBCSN.
The channel we count on for postseason and some regular season hockey — NBCSN — would be perfect outlet for the CFL. Outside of hockey, NBCSN pickings are rather slim. A package of Friday night and Saturday games would slide in really well to the channel's viewers. And NBCSN would love to have live football programming on Sunday afternoons in November, including the 100th Grey Cup at Rogers Centre in Toronto on November 25.
NBCSN has worked with TSN in the past, running three late-season Vancouver games. NBCSN could get Doug Flutie or Darren Flutie or Jeff Garcia to run studio coverage if NBCSN wants to set up a studio show. NBCSN, then as Versus, even carried the 2008 Grey Cup.
NBCSN wants more live sports. CFL wants a steady U.S. outlet. NBCSN is used to working with Canadian-related sports. A marriage made on the 55-yard line.
So why won't it happen?
Cost: The NFL Network already has studio shows that ran the bumpers in and out of game action. The channel often ran games in the middle of the night, where ratings aren't as important. NBCSN doesn't have a studio setup. While the channel would benefit from live action, the ratings might not be as strong at first.
Schedule: Carrying 1-2 games a week plus the playoffs is a lot of live programming, even for NBCSN. The CFL is a huge commitment for a U.S. outlet, though having the league on the NFL Network has been a testing ground for the CFL in the United States.
Loyalty to the NFL Network: The CFL might be more willing to stick with a (somewhat) loyal partner rather than try someone new.
These are not good reasons, but you never know what mindset lurks in U.S. cable programmers minds.
The 100th Grey Cup is a big deal, and having it in Canada's largest city, should be tantalizing for NBCSN. Unless, someone somewhere finds some minor fault and the whole thing never happens.
I won't get to see any CFL games, here in Toronto. It's all on a single Sports Cable Network (approx. 30% owned by Disney/ESPN). The same Cdn network owners broadcasted a U.S. movie during the the last Grey Cup (without U.S. channel substitution) and regular season NFL games live during the earlier afternoon.
For other Big Cdn. Media kicks, see this same group's top 200 of the past 35 years' (Canadian Content portion) as played two weekends ago:
http://classicquarters.blogspot.ca/2012/05/chumfms-35year-update.html
Duh, you mean Bryan Adams Bryan Adams and Alanis Morissette? Canada's most listened to music station, ChumFm.
Posted by: CQ | May 29, 2012 at 09:50 PM
Thanks for the CHUM link. The impact of CanCon in one column. Wow. I remember a lot of those songs. I think I knew Jane Child was Canadian at the time.
As for the CFL on TSN, I'm a little confused. Do you not get TSN? Yes, CTV and TSN carry Sunday afternoon NFL games, but didn't TSN show the playoffs and Grey Cup? I agree that CTV should simulcast the Grey Cup, but that would sacrifice its American TV shows for a night.
Posted by: Chad | May 30, 2012 at 06:52 AM
CTV Toronto didn't have an American show that championship game night, last fall. Except for Amazing Race (then a Matt Damon movie its 2 hours)
A) I don't pay for 4/3 cropped cable. B) I don't pay extra for the price-bundled HD (widescreen) version of TSN1 B2) I do still pay Bell an extra $2.80 each month for "Touch-Tone" phone service. C) The original owner of CTV-Toronto (and its budding network) was also a 20-year owner of the football Argonauts (plus part-owner of the Maple Leafs in the 60s), here; his son later owned the Tampa Bay Bandits of the USFL in the 80s.
As to "wow the [music] impact"... The thing is this was a local top radio station playlist. I'm absolutely sure Chicago, Seattle, Austin, San Fran., Philadelphia, etc. etc. could ALL mirror their own kick-ass pop music charts with included locally popular(!) bands. For in-T.O., Morissette and Adams times 4&5 seriously doesn't cut it. Just a couple of years ago, GlobeMedia gutted a Chum-am tribute site and simply broadcasted audio off their newly purchased local cable news channel - still called CP24 (for CityPulse, the now Rogers owned - after gov't rejection of Bell/CTV/Globe's over purchase - CityTV channel).
Posted by: CQ | May 30, 2012 at 09:50 AM
My sympathies for the CanCon issues and not having the Grey Cup on OTA TV. You can watch the games in Canada on your computer through TSN.ca, including the Grey Cup. And if you win the lottery, you can go to the 100th Grey Cup in person in Toronto.
Posted by: Chad | May 30, 2012 at 11:45 AM
As for the CFL on TSN, I'm a little confused. Do you not get TSN? Yes, CTV and TSN carry Sunday afternoon NFL games, but didn't TSN show the playoffs and Grey Cup? I agree that CTV should simulcast the Grey Cup, but that would sacrifice its American TV shows for a night.
Posted by: nik heels | June 12, 2012 at 12:20 AM
Another complication for NBCSN carrying the CFL is NBC's need to use its sports network as part of its Olympic coverage in late July and early August. And, on Saturdays during the Fall NBCSN shows PAC 12 football. I certainly would like to see love CFL games down here in the States on TV, and not only on ESPN3.
Posted by: Ted | June 20, 2012 at 01:43 AM
I forgot about the Olympic coverage. I think the CFL and NBCSN can work around that. As for the Saturdays with Pac-12 football, the coverage can concentrate on Friday or Sunday games. All the playoffs are on Sunday afternoons, opposite the NFL but not college football.
Posted by: Chad | June 20, 2012 at 12:34 PM
Update: NBCSN to carry 9 regular season CFL games plus playoffs and Grey Cup.
http://balanceoffood.typepad.com/canadian_crossing/2012/07/nbcsn-to-carry-9-cfl-games-plus-playoffs-and-grey-cup.html
Posted by: Chad | July 21, 2012 at 10:44 AM