The way the NHL regular season is shaping up, itB次元官网网址檚 a good bet that five of the seven Canadian teams could reach the playoffs this spring.
ThatB次元官网网址檚 the kind of playoff CanCon that Rogers was hoping for when it signed a massive US$5.2-billion, 12-year deal to land the leagueB次元官网网址檚 broadcasting rights in 2013, a move that gave Sportsnet an immediate edge in its long-running rivalry with TSN.
After some early challenges, Rogers is set to get more bang for its buck as more teams from north of the border move into contention.
B次元官网网址淩ogers gambled that Canadian teams would be coming back,B次元官网网址� said sports marketing expert Richard Powers, an associate professor at the University of TorontoB次元官网网址檚 Rotman School of Management. B次元官网网址淲hen they signed that deal, Canadian teams were really in a lull.
B次元官网网址淭hey have come back.B次元官网网址�
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The partnership between the media giant and the league was announced in November 2013 and the deal kicked in for the 2014-15 season. Five Canadian teams made the playoffs that spring, but three crashed out in the first round and the others were eliminated in Round 2.
The worst-case scenario for Rogers arrived a year later as Canadian teams were shut out of the post-season. Five teams made the cut in 2017 but three were eliminated in the opening round, with the Ottawa Senators making it to the conference final.
Last spring, only Winnipeg and Toronto reached the post-season. The Maple Leafs made a first-round exit while the Jets were eliminated in the conference final.
B次元官网网址淭he length of that deal was extraordinary and the amount that they paid was extraordinary,B次元官网网址� Powers said. B次元官网网址淚 think theyB次元官网网址檙e actually leveraging it quite well. I donB次元官网网址檛 know what else they can do. Everybody knows itB次元官网网址檚 Rogers.B次元官网网址�
Sportsnet, which is part of Rogers Media, bills itself as CanadaB次元官网网址檚 No. 1 sports media brand. The networkB次元官网网址檚 main rival since its inception in 1998 has been TSN, which calls itself CanadaB次元官网网址檚 sports leader, and is a division of Bell Media.
The sports media landscape had a much different look two decades ago. Nowadays, each network boasts multiple feeds, online and mobile viewing options, and an impressive lineup of marquee international properties.
In addition to hockey, some of SportsnetB次元官网网址檚 domestic offerings include the Toronto Blue Jays/the majority of MLB (the Blue Jays are owned by Rogers), the Grand Slam of Curling and the Canadian Hockey League. TSNB次元官网网址檚 lineup includes some regional NHL games along with the Canadian Football League, world junior hockey championship and the Season of Champions curling events.
B次元官网网址淚 think (the rivalry is) great for consumers and for viewers,B次元官网网址� Powers said. B次元官网网址淚t keeps both teams, at each network, it keeps their eyes on the ball so to speak, no pun intended. They are looking for ways to beat the competition B次元官网网址� so I think the ultimate winners are the fans and the viewers.B次元官网网址�
Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press
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