How Rogers NHL deal can affect CFL coverage

The Rogers-NHL deal is shaking up the hockey world, but the deal also have ramifications for the CFL on TSN.

All eyes are on Chris Cuthbert and Rogers. If Rogers makes Cuthbert choose between TSN and Rogers, he will have a difficult decision.

TSN and Rogers have a bitter rivalry. Rogers wants Cuthbert and Gord Miller to call hockey games on Rogers, and mostly likely want them to be Rogers-exclusive. But the two announcers have options, depending on their priorities.

So let's dance through the possibilities:

-- Cuthbert stays with TSN: Cuthbert remains the primary CFL play-by-play voice. Cuthbert could be the voice for TSN-Leafs, about 26 games, giving him some NHL games in the regular season. And Cuthbert would be a major part of the Olympics coverage if CTV/TSN gets them back.

Cuthbert could work some playoff games for the Comcast/NBC group, but would have to battle Gord Miller for some of those crossover options.

-- Cuthbert goes to Rogers: TSN would then have to decide whether Rod Black or Miller would be the #1 play-by-play guy for the CFL. Black has the experience but Miller would have the desirability of concentrating just on football (Black has occasional conflicts with other sports). Plus TSN would want to give Miller extra incentive to stay, especially with Cuthbert's departure.

If Cuthbert jumps, TSN will still need a 3rd play-by-play announcer. While Rod Smith did some games during the last Olympics, one outside shot would be Dave Randorf. Right now, Randorf's day job is studio host for the CFL on TSN. Randorf already calls Canadiens games on TSN-Habs. But TSN could give the studio role to James Duthie to reward him for staying at TSN.

-- Cuthbert stays at TSN and Miller goes to Rogers: This scenario isn't very likely. After all, Miller has been at TSN much longer than Cuthbert. He also has the World Juniors and would be in the mix for the TSN-Leafs games with Cuthbert. Miller has been more in demand than Cuthbert south of the border with NBCSN and NBC. He easily could get some of his NHL hockey fix via the NBC Group.

Still, if that happened, the CFL on TSN would need a 3rd play-by-play guy, either Randorf or Smith.

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If Cuthbert and Miller are both resistant to jump to Rogers, then Rogers might be more lenient to let them go back and forth between TSN and Rogers.

Since Rogers has a Sunday night NHL package, Cuthbert and Miller could alternate between the NHL and CFL. The beauty of TSN's NHL package is that the network wouldn't carry games on CFL days. The first 8 weeks of the NHL season coincides with the end of the CFL season, so there will be conflicts. Or Randorf, Black, or Smith could work extra CFL games.

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CTV/TSN have acquired the rights to the late games in the NFL starting next season. City TV and Rogers Sportsnet have carried the late NFL games, but with the new NHL deal, they want to start a pre-game NHL show starting at 4 pm Eastern.

Bell Media does have CTV2 and TSN2 that can handle some NFL games during the CFL season, though CTV2 has limited influence and CTV runs U.S. shows at 7 pm Eastern. Or TSN could influence the CFL to have fewer Sunday afternoon games in September and October.

Under this deal, Bell Media will have NFL games opposite the CFL playoffs and the Grey Cup.

One solution, not very likely, would be for TSN to farm out the Sunday afternoon regular season telecasts to the CBC.

TSN gave some CFL telecasts to CBC in the latter years of the public broadcaster carrying the games. CBC produced their own telecasts. If TSN chose that option, it might still produce the telecasts, but put them on CBC. Then again, Mark Lee, CBC's last CFL play-by-play announcer, is still around to call a few games.

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Would love to find a better TV solution for U.S. CFL viewers. ESPN2 did a really nice job with the telecasts and filled a nice hole in the beginning of the season. The extra telecast of September 20 was a symbol of what should happen.

Like the play-by-play situation, U.S. viewers need a third option. Since NBCSN is reluctant to go up against the NFL and has a number of conflicts with other sports, NBCSN should farm out telecasts to its sister station, CNBC.

CNBC steps up during the NHL playoffs and would have been a perfect place for the 1st round of the CFL playoffs. Plus, its open windows on nights and weekends is perfect for CFL games. CNBC could make a ritual of the Friday Night Football game that TSN spotlights each week.

NBCSN could keep the games it needs, and allow U.S. viewers to keep up on the league in the weeks where other sports force a conflict. CNBC gets live programming in timeslots where the channel draws miniscule ratings.

Comments

[Tyler]

Miller just tweeted this afternoon that he has "agreed to a long-term extension to remain at TSN" -- I guess expect him to figure prominently into CFL, regional NHL and international hockey game coverage. And other NHL-related programming.

[Chad]

Not a surprise, but good for Miller. He has many good choices, depending on work in the States and whether Cuthbert leaves TSN. If Rogers wants Miller, it won't be exclusive.