Canadian Crossing

Oakland, Green Bay to play NFL preseason game in Winnipeg

We finally have a confirmation of a NFL preseason game in Winnipeg on August 22 at 7 pm CDT with the Oakland Raiders as the home team against the Green Bay Packers. 

The Raiders are in the process of moving from Oakland to Las Vegas. There was a conflict with the Oakland A's over the Week 3 NFL preseason game.

The game at IG Field (formerly Investors Group Field) in Winnipeg will be the first NFL game in the province of Manitoba, and only the second game ever in western Canada. Outside the Buffalo Bills series in Toronto, the last NFL preseason game in Canada was on August 15, 1998 when the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks played at BC Place in Vancouver.

Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 am CDT. Prices range from $75-$340 Canadian. If you are going to the game, the sightlines are rather good there. Even the end zone seats are pretty nice.

NFL exhibition games in Canada used to be more common. Previous NFL exhibition games in Canada have primarily focused on Eastern Canada in Toronto, Montréal, Ottawa, and Hamilton.

American fans of a different kind of football will be familiar with what was then called Investors Group Field when the 2015 U.S. Women's World Cup soccer team played in Winnipeg. The stadium got some NHL focus with the 2016 Heritage Classic. IG Field also hosted the 2015 Grey Cup.

See you soon, Canada. 🇨🇦

We’re heading north of the border for the first time ever, hosting the Packers in Winnipeg this preseason.

Release » https://t.co/mSRqNCFJTH
Learn more » https://t.co/tJgQbKrUPb@NFLCanada | #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/a6aVF1CoUz

— Oakland Raiders (@Raiders) June 5, 2019

The Week 11 CFL schedule was a determining factor. Winnipeg is in Edmonton on Friday that week. The Blue Bombers did not want the NFL game to be on the same night as the CFL game.

Oakland's first choice was Mosaic Stadium in Regina, home of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Roughriders, hosting Ottawa on Saturday night, felt the field conversion would cut too close. The Raiders then looked east to Winnipeg.

Touchdown Atlantic is Sunday so the CFL didn't ideally want a game in Canada opposite the game in Moncton.

The Valour FC Canadian Premier League soccer match for August 22 at IG Field will have to be rescheduled.

After seeing Winnipeg on TV, you should go see for yourself

Winnipeg the true winner of the 2016 Heritage Classic

The Heritage Classic shines NHL spotlight on Winnipeg

CFL in the Prairies is where the league shines

2015 Women's World Cup notebook: Canada on the world stage

Aaron Rodgers may be the biggest name to play in the game, but the loudest cheers might be for Luke Willson, actual Canadian NFL player. Willson played mostly with Seattle but played for his nearby hometown team Detroit last year. Willson is from LaSalle near Windsor in Ontario. The Oakland Raiders signed Willson in March.

CanadianCrossing.com NFL coverage

CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage

The game will be carried by the Oakland and Green Bay local networks. U.S. fans should get a tape-delayed version of the game via the NFL Network. TSN and RDS will have the game live in Canada.

photo credit: me
Twitter capture: @Raiders

CTV aired American ads during Super Bowl LIII with no confirmed trade deal

The folks at Bell Media thought they caught a break since the CUSMA or USMCA stipulated that CTV had to simsub the Super Bowl. The idea that coverage of a football game got to the level of international trade is more about the pettiness of an angry toddler.

Since no country has passed this new trade deal, CTV had to follow the CRTC decision that doesn't allow CTV to simsub the Super Bowl.

Canadians were able to watch U.S. commercials on CBS but only during Super Bowl LIII from Atlanta.

Canadians had many options for the Canadian coverage on multiple Bell Media properties, including CTV and TSN. Bell Media even had a special SportsCentre with Jay and Dan that aired on CTV and TSN after Super Bowl LIII.

Super Bowl LII ads light on Canadian content

Bell Media Super Bowl LI ratings drop 39% from last year

Canada makes little presence in Super Bowl LI ads

Canadians can watch Super Bowl LI ads but not without U.S. pressure

Super Bowl XLIX preview: CRTC to allow Super Bowl ads in 2017

Canadians get a lot of U.S. TV, but normally get shut out of Super Bowl ads

CanadianCrossing.com NFL coverage

Our sibling site, BalanceofFood.com, analyzes Super Bowl ads each year. This year, we did have Michael Bublé do an ad for Bubly playing on the similarities in names.

Ranking food and drink Super Bowl LIII ads

Our recent Super Bowl ads coverage 2018  2017  2016

The spot shows Bublé having fun with the pronunciation of names. He had a bit of fun, outshining the product itself.

The BalanceofFood.com response to the ad was not as kind. "This felt like a spin-off on the Bai Super Bowl commercial with Justin Timberlake and Christopher Walken. The latter ad will be better remembered than the 2019 spin-off." We can agree that Bublé will get more out from the ad than Bubly.

CanadianCrossing.com advertising coverage

We have seen in recent years that Super Bowl advertisers embrace using Canadian talent to sell their products. 2016 is the watermark moment in recent years.

photo credit: Bell Media/TSN

Super Bowl LII ads light on Canadian content

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect this year's Super Bowl ratings on CTV, CTV Two, and TSN.

Super Bowl advertisers have certainly relied on Canadians to sell their products. So in the second year where Canadians can watch Super Bowl ads on their TVs, we only have a single Canadian as a spokesperson. Squarespace had Keanu Reeves as its 2018 spokesperson.

Reeves uses Squarespace for his Arch Motorcycle company Web site. The company says Reeves did his own stunt on the motorcycle.

In 2017, Justin Bieber was the sole Canadian used in a Super Bowl ad, this one for T-Mobile commercial.

Canada makes little presence in Super Bowl LI ads

Canadians can watch Super Bowl LI ads but not without U.S. pressure

The big year for a Canadian presence was 2016 for Super Bowl 50.

Canada has strong impact on Super Bowl 50 ads

• Ryan Reynolds in Ryanville for the Hyundai Elantra
• Seth Rogen for Bud Light along with Amy Schumer where they recruit people for the non-partisan Bud Light Party
• Drake poking at his Hotline Bling video for T-Mobile
• Drake for Air Jordans
• Norm Macdonald as Colonel Harlan Sanders for Kentucky Fried Chicken
• John A. Macdonald via the Canadian $10 bill for PayPal
• Eugene Levy for Snickers

This feels like revenge since Canadians can watch the Super Bowl ads as a time to stop hiring Canadians to promote the American products.

Like last year, there was a commercial for a Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson movie. In 2017, the movie was Baywatch while this year, Skyscraper is the movie. Baywatch looked a lot better than this movie. As we noted, Johnson's father was Canadian; the younger Johnson was on the Calgary Stampeders practice roster as a linebacker in 1995 but didn't last long.

Bell Media Super Bowl LI ratings drop 39% from last year

Bell Media lost 2.85 million viewers between 2016 and 2017. In 2017, Bell Media expanded the game to be shown on CTV, CTV Two, and TSN. 

Like last year, Bell Media offered cash and prizes to entice Canadians to watch their feed instead of a NBC TV affiliate. Russell Peters was added to the showcase effort this year.

In 2016, the viewership was 7.32 million. In 2017, the numbers were 4.47 million. When we get numbers for 2018, we will update this story.

The Canadian TV ratings for Super Bowl LII were comparable to last year's numbers. Super Bowl LII drew 4.45 million Canadians, down from 4.47 million for Super Bowl LI in 2017. The slight drop mirrored the U.S. ratings with a 7% drop from 111.3 million in 2017 to 103.4 million viewers in 2018.

At least this year, there wasn't a screwup with how the contest worked.

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In the only other Super Bowl played in Minneapolis, Mark Rypien became the only Canadian to win the Super Bowl MVP award in Super Bowl XXVI at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome as Washington defeated Buffalo 37–24 on January 26, 1992.

video credit: YouTube/Squarespace
photo credit: Squarespace

Toronto fans can finally root for the Buffalo Bills in the NFL playoffs

Congratulations to the Buffalo Bills, the final team in the 4 major North American sports to make the playoffs in the 21st century. The Bills will travel to Jacksonville for the NFL playoffs and play in the early afternoon on Sunday.

The Buffalo Bills weren't that good during the Bills Toronto series from 2008-2013. That was one of several problems during the time that Buffalo played at Rogers Centre. You can read more on that in the links below.

The Bills and Toronto had an original 8-game, 5-year deal with 3 exhibition games and 5 regular season contests. That was shortened to 2 exhibition games. A new 5-year deal started in 2013 but the contract was suspended in 2014.

17 seasons.

We could hear Bills fans celebrating around the world on Sunday. #GoBills pic.twitter.com/wOIu1ruSuL

— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) January 2, 2018

The Buffalo team last made the playoffs 18 years ago. Tennessee fans remember that day as the Music City Miracle. CFL star Doug Flutie had been the starting quarterback for the Bills, but didn't get the playoff start.

Buffalo has been a bit snake-bitten in the playoffs. The Bills have a current 4-game losing playoffs streak; the last Buffalo playoff win came on December 30, 1995 with a 37-22 wild card game win over Miami.

Buffalo hasn't won a league championship since the 1965 AFL championship. That fact was featured in the film Buffalo '66.

Given that Toronto is in the Buffalo territory, Toronto NFL fans can watch Bills games on CTV or over the air from Buffalo via CBS or Fox.

The Detroit Lions have some fans in Windsor. There is a contingency of Seattle Seahawks fans in British Columbia. But no NFL team has a strong a connection in Canada as the Buffalo Bills and southern Ontario. Now Toronto fans can root for a NFL playoff team, only 4 years after the end of the Bills Toronto series.

You can watch the Buffalo Bills playoff game on CBS in the United States and CTV in Canada.

2014

Bills Toronto series is done

Bills Toronto series suspended for 2014

2013

Buffalo Bills suffer through Rob Ford, another loss at Rogers Centre

2013 Buffalo Bills in Toronto preview: Atlanta Falcons come to Canada

2012

Buffalo trounced 50-17 in final Bills Toronto series game

Buffalo welcomes Seattle as its 2012 Bills Toronto opponent

2011

Buffalo Bills win first game ever in Toronto, shutout Washington 23-0

2010

Chicago Bears get Toronto treatment in Bills Toronto series

Bills, Colts throw in some excitement in NFL preseason game at Rogers Centre

2009

NFL Network sharply underscores value of NFL game in Toronto

2008

Miami wins first NFL game in Canada

NFL goes to Toronto; Bills play 1st of 8 games at Rogers Centre

 

Buffalo Bills in Toronto (regular season)

Date	Winner	Loser	Attendance
December 7, 2008	Miami 16	Buffalo 3	52,134
December 3, 2009	New York Jets 19	Buffalo 13	51,567
November 7, 2010	Chicago 22	Buffalo 19	50,746
October 30, 2011	Buffalo 23	Washington 0	51,579
December 16, 2012	Seattle 50	Buffalo 17	40,770
December 1, 2013	Atlanta 34	Buffalo 31 (OT)	38,969

 

logo credit: NFL
Twitter capture: @BuffaloBills

Bell Media Super Bowl LI ratings drop 39% from last year

We know the Canadian TV ratings for Super Bowl LI took a 39% plunge, but what does that mean for the CRTC no Super Bowl simsub experiment?

Super Bowl 50 only on CTV drew 7.32 million while Super Bowl LI on CTV, CTV Two, and TSN drew 4.47 million. By contrast, RDS drew comparable numbers to last year.

Each Super Bowl is different: this year, Atlanta jumped out to a huge lead so some viewers could have tuned out. Then again, based on my Twitter feed, some people tuned to CTV out of habit being unaware that they had a choice.

Bell Media also responded to the online concerns about the error message people were getting when they entered the contest designed to keep Canadians watching the Canadian feed. Bell Media said when replies were delayed, the incorrect message would go out. The company says those people were registered for the contest.

Canada makes little presence in Super Bowl LI ads

Canadians can watch Super Bowl LI ads but not without U.S. pressure

I wanted to wait until the numbers to weigh in on this topic. Until now, speculation has ruled and I prefer to work from facts.

As much as I mocked the people (outside Bell Media) for their pressure on the Trudeau Government, their overall principle is valid. Simultaneous subbing is how the system works and there isn't a true, valid reason to make an exception. However, this only affects the NFL and Bell Media. Any other player is only objecting from the slippery slope concept. No other program in North America generates this level of excitement for commercials. Whichever program is second is light years from the Super Bowl. You are only embarrassing yourself if you think otherwise.

Bell Media lost 2.85 million viewers last night if we make everything even. While I have not watched a Canadian-ads filled Super Bowl, everyone I have ever spoken to or heard from mocks the lame Canadian ads, the repetition of Canadian Tire ads, and the endless Bell Media promos. That sounds way better than what the NHL Network runs during their simsubs of Hockey Night in Canada, though we have gone more than 50 days since the channel carried a Hockey Night in Canada game.

We also hear complaints that CTV doesn't know how to get back to NFL games in a timely pace. CTV and Canadian companies have to work harder to get those 2.85 million back. You don't need a huge budget to produce a quality Super Bowl ad. U.S. companies use the Super Bowl to launch, promote, or reinforce. Are Canadian companies doing the same? Are they actively running ads with a purpose? A smart company can take advantage; if the lack of simsub continues, over time Canadian companies can adapt. Hopefully, they will respond to the challenge.

I don't want to just pick on CTV, since Global and City TV also simsub U.S. programming on a regular basis. Are you serving your TV audience or is money more important?

The NFL is fully aware that a lack of simsub will reduce the economic impact of the league's deal in Canada. The NFL would rather have the money. The league is also aware that Bell Media is the best option for the league in Canada, so a future deal with Bell Media will be affected by any losses the company suffered as a result. Global doesn't have a cable option. Rogers has part of the NFL package but with the NHL deal, Rogers can't cover Sundays the way Bell Media can. If Bell Media gets concessions, their losses will get smaller.

CTV, NFL, and Canadian companies have to work within the rules as they are, unless the rules are changed again. Let's see what happens.

Wrapping up the 2016 CFL season

ESPN is actually going to Toronto for the Blue Jays

ESPN airs CFL legends fight, but no Grey Cup highlights?

JaMarcus Russell arrest illustrates U.S.-Canada difference over codeine

Codeine tablets recall from Canada, but returning them may not be necessary

Codeine from Canada (Chris Berman video)

This was Chris Berman's swan song at ESPN. Berman will have a much-reduced role at the network. He will give up hosting Sunday NFL Countdown, the NFL Draft, and Monday Night Countdown, among other duties. Berman will be a panelist on the latter show.

Chris Berman has been a champion of the CFL on ESPN showing Grey Cup highlights over the years on ESPN. And not just showing the highlights, we've seen him with an Anthony Calvillo Montréal Alouettes jersey on the set. When Calvillo was close to passing the all-time passing yards mark in football, Berman honoured him on the 2-Minute Drill.

Chris Berman finally attended his first CFL game live at the opening of Tim Hortons Field on Labour Day 2014. Berman and fellow ESPN colleague (and Canadian) John Saunders helped out Rod Black and Duane Forde with the play-by-play on TSN. Saunders, who passed away in 2016, helped Berman with the way to say certain words in Canada.

Berman's other claim to fame involving Canada is a 2007 videotape of Berman, while hosting the halftime of Monday Night Football, admitting to being on TV with 4 deux deux deux the 222s, or acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), codeine, and caffeine. On the video, recording while the program was not on the air, Berman goes through the explanation of how Americans can get the codeine. He implies in the video that he bought the 250 pill bottle, stuffing 4 of them in a suitcase. The potential 1,000 tablets far exceeds the 50 tables per person per 30 days that is legally allowed in the United States.

As Berman put it so well on the tape, "You always hope to have one Blue Jay(s) game a year."

We know Chris Berman isn't completely leaving ESPN, but this is a good time to give him some love for his love for Canada, over the counter and otherwise.

photos credit: CTV; ESPN
videos credit: YouTube/Shawntavius Caesar; YouTube/Northwest57

Canada makes little presence in Super Bowl LI ads

Canadians could finally watch Super Bowl ads but there was little of Canada to be found in those Super Bowl ads. Super Bowl 50 ads were chock full of Canadians but Canadians were scarce this year.

Justin Bieber made the biggest impact by far in a T-Mobile commercial. Drake starred in a T-Mobile commercial last year, so the company is consistent. Bieber leads the commercial in a celebration of touchdown dances. The ad shows Bieber at his best as a "celebration expert" going through the history of touchdown celebrations. New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (who was injured and couldn't play in Super Bowl LI) and former NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens are also featured in the ad. #UnlimitedMoves allows Bieber to show off his own dance moves.

Not true to form of a lot of Super Bowl ads, the content correlated to the product. This ad was well above average. Our main criticism would be for the company since the Kristen Schaal ads with the 50 Shades of Grey parody that ran later in the game were more interesting in lots of ways and its angle took away from the message in the Bieber ad. Competition is fierce in Super Bowl ads without trying to compete with yourself.

Canadians can watch Super Bowl LI ads but not without U.S. pressure

Canada has strong impact on Super Bowl 50 ads

Hulu ran a couple of promos for its adaptation of The Handmaid's Tale, originally written by Margaret Atwood.

We saw a promo for the Baywatch film starring Canadian citizen Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Johnson's father was Canadian; the younger Johnson was on the Calgary Stampeders practice roster as a linebacker in 1995 but was cut two months into the season.

When the KFC gold commercial came on, I thought I spotted another Canadian. I thought the new "Colonel" was Kiefer Sutherland. Turns out I was fooled by a Billy Zane impression done by Billy Zane. Norm Macdonald was the first, and perhaps only Canadian, to play Colonel Sanders.

Canadians had their choice of Super Bowl LI feeds: CTV, CTV Two, and TSN for Canadian TV ads and Fox for U.S. ads. Based on my Twitter feed, a number of people got responses that they were too late when sending in a text for the contest designed to bribe, er, reward Canadians for watching a Bell Media property.

We are very curious about how well the ratings went in Canada. Those who watch the Fox feeds in Canada won't be measured on either side of the border. But to show a contrast, CTV and RDS drew an average of 8.3 million with 18.2 million unique viewers tuning in at some point. The high mark was 2015 with a 9.2 million average to CTV and RDS.

The CRTC may reconsider its decision if the ratings took a significant tumble. Once the numbers are in, we will have another story filled with analysis on this topic.

photo and video credit: T-Mobile
Twitter credit: @AlanClough

Canadians can watch Super Bowl LI ads but not without U.S. pressure

The blitz was intense. Powerful pass rushers trying to sack the quarterback that wasn't used to such outside force. In the end, the CRTC evaded the pressure from the United States and Canadians can watch Super Bowl ads on Sunday during Super Bowl LI.

The NFL, Barack Obama’s outgoing trade representative, and U.S. senators Marco Rubio and Ron Johnson, among others, wanted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to overrule the CRTC. Bell Media in Canada, owner of CTV, was part of that pass rush from the start. There was even word this week that the NFL complained to Donald Trump.

We've known this was going to happen since a 2015 CRTC decision to prevent CTV from simultaneous substitution (simsub) of the Super Bowl. For the American protesters, the decision came down before Trudeau was elected prime minister.

CTV will still carry Canadian ads on the Super Bowl LI telecast on Sunday. The difference is that Canadians can tune to the Fox station over-the-air (in limited parts of Canada) or on cable and satellite and get the American ads. Bell Media thinks its CTV ratings will crash as a result. The company referenced the decision in announcing yet more layoffs this week.

Bell Media is upping the ante on the telecast showing the game on CTV, CTV Two, and TSN (information below on possible U.S. markets to view the signals). The company is launching a contest to increase viewership with prizes such as a trip to Super Bowl LII, a 2017 Nissan Titan, and $300,000 in cash prizes. Bell Media is also offering BigGameAds.ca, where Canadians can watch American Super Bowl ads, thereby staying tuned to a Bell Media channel for Super Bowl LI. Full details on the Bell Media coverage can be found here.

Canadians who lived near U.S. stations could pull in TV signals with Super Bowl ads. However, Toronto, Montréal, and Windsor are the only 3 Canadian markets where that is an option. So if you ever read about a Canadian who acts as if all Canadians can do that, good money is on them being from Toronto.

Canada has strong impact on Super Bowl 50 ads

Canada featured prominently in last year's Super Bowl ads. Ryan Reynolds, Seth Rogen, Drake, Eugene Levy, Norm Macdonald, and John A. Macdonald (no relation) via the $10 bill appeared in Super Bowl ads in 2016.

Super Bowl ad notebook: Actual Canadian Super Bowl ads

The Canadian ads have been criticized as not as exciting as the Super Bowl ads. We've seen Canadian Super Bowl ads in recent years that looked pretty good. Another criticism is that CTV uses the air time to promote its prime time lineup, which is almost exclusively American TV shows.

Blackberry Super Bowl ad needed to tell us why we should buy the smartphone

The Blackberry Super Bowl ad in 2013 was actually more relevant to Canadians since they could get the smartphone 2 days after the Super Bowl. The phone wasn't available in the United States until March.

Super Bowl XLIX preview: CRTC to allow Super Bowl ads in 2017

Super Bowl XLVIII Canadian notebook

Super Bowl XLVIII from a Canada perspective

Canadians get a lot of U.S. TV, but normally get shut out of Super Bowl ads

How Americans can see Canadian Super Bowl ads on CTV

There aren't too many places where Americans can pick up a CTV affiliate over the air or on cable. The following list is not complete but list the more prominent sources for a CTV signal in a U.S. town.

Buffalo, NY — CFTO Toronto
Bellingham, WA — CIVT Vancouver
Champlain Valley — CFCF Montréal
Watertown, NY — CJOH Ottawa or CKWS Kingston
Port Huron, MI — CKCO-TV Sarnia via Kitchener
Sault Ste. Marie, MI — CHBX Sault Ste. Marie
Grand Forks, North Dakota; Fargo ND–Moorhead MN — CKY Winnipeg

Since CTV Two is also carrying the Super Bowl, here are some CTV Two options:

Detroit, MI — CHWI Windsor
Bellingham, WA — CIVI Victoria
Erie, PA — CFPL London
Buffalo, NY — CKVR Barrie

If we missed an active CTV option for those in the United States, please let us know in the comments section.

Logo credit: CTV

Canada has strong impact on Super Bowl 50 ads

In the last year where Canadians have to be sneaky to see U.S. Super Bowl ads on television, Canadians certainly had a significant presence in Super Bowl ads from Super Bowl 50.

There are a lot of Ryan Reynolds in "Ryanville" in this Hyundai Elantra ad. Since my day job involves cars, I won't comment too much on this ad, except to say Ryan Reynolds dominates the ad.

I wonder if Ryanville also has room for fellow Canadian Ryan Gosling. Or NHL star Ryan O'Reilly or even honourary Canadian Ryan Stiles.

Bud Light makes Amy Schumer and Canadian Seth Rogen say the word "caucus" a lot. The two celebrities are rallying people around the Bud Light Party to bring people together in a non-partisan fashion. Definitely a job for a secret Canadian who rallies the cry for an independence day by quoting from the American film "Independence Day."

Super Bowl XLVIII Canadian notebook

Super Bowl XLVIII from a Canada perspective

Blackberry Super Bowl ad needed to tell us why we should buy the smartphone

Super Bowl ad notebook: Actual Canadian Super Bowl ads

 

"I told a lot of people I'm from Canada but I lied."

Drake had a lot of fun poking at his "Hotline Bling" video in a T-Mobile commercial. The suits interrupt Drake dancing in the yellow box with fine print changes. The above line has the restrictions of calling Mexico and Canada. Drake really is Canadian but fun to watch him make fun of that fact.

Drake made it into a CBS promo for the Grammys as a performer. So Drake took to Twitter during Super Bowl 50 to set the record straight. The Grammys are February 15; presumably Drake will be in Toronto the previous night for the NBA All-Star Game. He didn't say he wouldn't be there, just that he won't be performing.

Drake also had an Air Jordan commercial as part of its #WEAREJORDAN campaign.

 

Norm Macdonald always seemed an odd choice to play the role of Col. Harlan Sanders, but has done a good job since last August. A Quebec City native playing a Southern colonel, a comedian not known for his impressions, unlike the previous "Colonel" in Darrell Hammond.

Macdonald makes it to the first 5 seconds of the Super Bowl ad in that role before Jim Gaffigan steps in as the new "Col. Sanders." Given Gaffigan's love for fast food and being from nearby Indiana, playing the "Colonel" in commercials makes a lot of sense.

But having a Canadian play Colonel Sanders isn't that much of a stretch, given that Sanders moved to Mississauga, Ontario to oversee his Canadian franchises in 1965 and lived in Mississauga until 1980, the year of his death. Sanders sold most of the rights to Kentucky Fried Chicken in 1964, but didn't include the restaurants in Canada.

The end of the ad lends an impression that Macdonald isn't completely done in his role as "Col. Sanders."

The ad ran during the pregame and in the second half of the live stream of the game.

KFC in Canada

NHL Center Ice Fall 2015 free preview analysis of Canadian ads

Canadian ads in the 2014 spring NHL Center Ice free preview

Spring 2013 Canadian ads from NHL Center Ice

The PayPal ad shows old money while talking about new money. All of the bills are U.S. currency except for the Canadian $10 bill.

Canadians are more likely to know that Sir John A. Macdonald (no relation to Norm), the country's initial prime minister, is on the $10 bill.

Eugene Levy makes a cameo in a Snickers commercial. The ad plays on the variation of a famous person who is out of sorts. In this case, Willem Dafoe is Marilyn Monroe on a grate.

"This scene will never make the cut. Morons." — Levy on the now famous scene.

Canada has its own Super Bowl ads, though there aren't many of them. One company at the forefront of making Canadian Super Bowl ads is American company Budweiser. This ad keeps the goal light theme of the ads that sponsor Coach's Corner with Don Cherry.

Budweiser is bringing a huge goal light to the top of the Arctic Circle in September. So we will definitely be hearing more about this quest in the months to come. Given that September is at the end, look for huge tie-ins to the World Cup of Hockey 2016, which will be in Toronto.

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As we noted, Super Bowl 50 is the last Super Bowl where most Canadians will have to suffer through domestic ads. Thanks to the CRTC decision, CTV will still run Canadian ads on its feed in 2017, but can't sim sub Fox TV signals from the United States on cable or satellite.

Super Bowl XLIX preview: CRTC to allow Super Bowl ads in 2017

Canadians get a lot of U.S. TV, but normally get shut out of Super Bowl ads

How many Canadians will stay loyal and watch Super Bowl LI (51) on CTV in 2017? Some, but not as many as CTV would like.

videos credit: Hyundai; Bud Light; T-Mobile; KFC: Snickers; Budweiser Canada
photo credit: PayPal
tweet credit: @Drake

Michael Sam will find Montreal a great place to be a trailblazer

The Montréal Alouettes signed a defensive end to a 2-year contract. That defensive end was interviewed on ESPN. Yes, the signing of Michael Sam is a bit different from usual football signings.

The reality is that Michael Sam is better suited for the CFL based on his on-field game. Given the off-field reasons why so many care, Montréal is the perfect place for him.

Michael Sam and Jackie Robinson may or may not be an apt analogy, but the Montréal connection between the two breakthroughs can't be completely overlooked. At the end of the day, the Alouettes are just hoping that Michael Sam can give them some help with the pass rush.

"I'm so excited to get back on the football field and get back to work," Sam said in a press conference this week.

Sam's effectiveness in convincing people that a gay athlete in a team sport is just another athlete will come on the field. Robinson had to prove himself on the field for the Montréal Royals in 1946.

The Jackie Robinson story in Montréal is also about how warmly he was received. The city has laid out a similarly warm welcome to Michael Sam.

Like Robinson, Sam may move on if things go well for the Alouettes. Or he might find his on-field style is better suited to stay in the CFL.

Doug Flutie might be the better analogy for Sam. Both players were determined not to be suited for the NFL because of size issues. Flutie proved them wrong by going to the CFL.

Chad Johnson, one of Sam's new teammates, can help guide Sam on how to deal with the spotlight and adjusting to Canada. They can also reminisce about their days on "Dancing with the Stars." The Alouettes might set a professional football record for the most "Dancing with the Stars" alumni on the field.

Michael Sam may fall in love with Montréal as a place to live. The Texas native will discover that Montréal is among the most gay-friendly cities in North America, especially with Le Village, aka the Gay Village, east of downtown.

ESPN2 is scheduled to carry Sam's first regular season game for Montréal. Even though a few more U.S. eyeballs will be glued to the Alouettes, hopefully they will come away more with praise for the CFL than wondering about who Sam spends his time with off the field.

photo credit: Globe and Mail

Super Bowl XLIX preview: CRTC to allow Super Bowl ads in 2017

A lot of Canadians care about the NFL but even more Canadians care about the Super Bowl ads. Thanks to the CRTC, at the latest by 2017, Canadians will be able to watch U.S. ads on Super Bowl Sunday, even on CTV.

If Bell agrees to do so in 2016, the ban could start earlier, but this will not affect the commercials this Sunday.

"The Super Bowl is something special," CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais said in an interview. "The advertisement around the Super Bowl is part of the spectacle, there's hype and has been for decades before the event and during the event. It is very much a special case."

CTV will carry a major sporting event without the ability to make money from the deal. Sounds just like what the CBC does in carrying Rogers NHL games but unable to generate ad revenue. The difference is that CTV only does this once a year.

NBC is offering an online option to check out Super Bowl ads at NBCSports.com/ads during the game. The site will likely be limited to U.S. ISPs but Canadians should try and access the Web site.

• Canadian influence guides Seattle Seahawks to Super Bowl XLIX

• Super Bowl XLVIII Canadian notebook

• Super Bowl XLVIII from a Canada perspective

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Traditionally, Canadians have had 2 ways to watch U.S. Super Bowl commercials in real time.

• Have access to U.S. TV via antennas.
• Find a satellite feed that didn't block all the possible network feeds in SD or HD.

The commercials aren't the only concern with sim subbing. Canadians regularly complain about losing access to the programming where Canadian commercial breaks last too long.

Very few Canadians have direct access to U.S. TV signals without cable. The transition to digital signals reduced the range. Windsor, Toronto, and folks south of Montréal have the best shot at reaching U.S. signals via an antenna.

The Super Bowl airs on NBC in the United States this season, so start aiming your antennas or channel guides at your local NBC affiliate.

Those in Windsor and the surrounding area can watch on Channel 4 WDIV from Detroit. In Southern Ontario around Toronto and Hamilton, you can pull in Channel 2 WGRZ-TV Buffalo.

Those in Montréal and points south to the U.S. border will have to rely on Channel 5 WPTZ-TV, licensed to Burlington, VT but also serving Plattsburgh, NY.

If we missed a Canadian community that can pick up a NBC OTA signal, please let us know in the comments section below.

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As we've noted last year and earlier this season, the Seattle Seahawks have a strong Canadian presence with punter Jon Ryan and tight end Luke Willson. Former Winnipeg Blue Bombers wide receiver Chris Matthews is also on the Seahawks squad.

New England Patriots cornerback Brandon Browner won a Grey Cup with Calgary and Super Bowl with Seattle. Well, Browner has a ring with Seattle. Browner was suspended over missing drug tests and missed last year's Super Bowl.

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Lenny Kravitz will be part of the halftime show at Super Bowl XLIX. Kravitz was the halftime artist at the 2007 Grey Cup at Rogers Centre in Toronto. But Kravitz is only the 3rd music act to perform at halftime at both football championships.

Shania Twain completed the perfecta in slightly more than 2 months. Twain performed at the 2002 Grey Cup in Edmonton on November 24 and Super Bowl XXXVII on January 26, 2003. She performed "Up" at both events.

Given that Super Bowls are in February, no other artist can beat that quick turnaround time.

The Black Eyed Peas played the 2005 Grey Cup in Vancouver and Super Bowl XLV in 2011. The band played "Pump It" at both events.

Of the 3 music acts that have completed the feat, only Twain is Canadian.

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Canadians benefit from time shifting, so they can watch U.S. and Canadian stations in multiple markets, depending on their cable/satellite options. The four major U.S. markets for these stations are Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, and Seattle — 2 of those are playing in Super Bowl XLIX.

Win or lose, you can expect extended coverage from WHDH/Boston and KING/Seattle, the NBC stations in the teams' home cities.

The rivalry is also regional among Canadians. The Seattle Seahawks have quite a following in British Columbia and the New England Patriots are very popular in Eastern Canada, especially the Maritimes.

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Canadians do occasionally get a Super Bowl ad just for Canada. This year, Hyundai Canada will be one of those sponsors. (Full disclosure: my day job is involved in the world of cars.)