RaptorsHQ Talks Raptors' Programming with Sportsnet.ca
by Adam Francis on Oct 8, 2010 9:00 AM EDT
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With Raptors' next pre-season match not until this Sunday, the HQ posts a "lost article" meant for last week's media discussions...
Last week at the HQ we dubbed "Media Week" as we talked to bloggers, mainstream media, and did a few other "media-related" posts.
There was one that got away however.
Earlier last month we reached out to Sportsnet.ca about their decisions this year regarding Raptors' basketball, specifically the decision to begin airing games again. However, with all the other content that we had going, we didn't get a chance to post the results of the brief Q and A we did with their Director of Communications.
Therefore, since we don't have another pre-season Raps match until Sunday night, today seemed like perfect day to post the brief Q and A...
1. RaptorsHQ: Sportsnet seemed to be moving away from basketball over the past few years. First the decision to no longer air the NCAA Tournament, then fewer and fewer NBA games and finally last season, there didn't seem to even be much emphasis on the game even in nightly recap's of the day's sports' news. Can you talk to us a bit about this evolution and why now the network has decided to get back into the basketball game?
A. Since Day 1 we have made a commitment to basketball. A competitve marketplace dictates that Sportsnet may not always be the successful bidder for rights. Also our programming grid and the advertising and affiliate revenue must support our business decisions. With the launch of Rogers Sportsnet ONE, a national digital channel, we have the opportunity to provide basketball to our audience.
2. RHQ: Moving specifically to the Raptors, can you tell us a bit about the network's decision to air a good chunk of the Dino's games this year?
A. With the launch of Sportsnet ONE, Rogers Sportsnet now has the flexibility to air Raptors and NBA games nationally.
3. RHQ: What about the timing of the decision? Was there any concern that with a Bosh-less Raptors the TV numbers wouldn't be there this season?
A. We understand that if the team is successful we will have a lot more viewers, but we remain optimistic that providing home team basketball to the marketplace will allow us to gain strong viewership. The Raptors are Canada's team in the NBA, so Bosh's decision never factored into our decision.
In addition, I asked Sportsnet about concerns from either the network or the Raps during negotiations, over alienating Raptors' fans with this new channel, similar to the whole TSN2 fiasco, however they simply stated that negotiations with the Raps in this respect were confidential.
I'd still love to get to the bottom of this story, but to do it, I think I'll have to try the other side of the fence, and talk to someone at MLSE or the Raptors themselves...
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RE Sportsnet 1
As with TSN/TSN2 the Sportsnet 1 situation will be eventually worked out. Their decision to add a new channel is a boon for all sports addicts, as was TSN2.
In todays world you must pay for your pleasures, be it sports, or entertainment, if you wish the best.
Does anyone remember the days before Sportsnet, or TSN were added to the sports world, what was available to see?
If not you can always settle for what is free and available off the air.
I remember the “pre-Sportsnet world.”
My old roommate and I would watch Sportsdesk on TSN to see NBA highlights, only to be teased by brief footage that promised to show basketball highlights “after the break…”
I say teased because often times, they just wouldn’t show them…
Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com
by Adam Francis on Oct 8, 2010 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
My Dad and I used to square off: TSN vs. CNN Headline Sports with Nick and Fred. TSN would give you hockey, hockey, hockey and maybe a basketball highlight about 20-25 mins in. CNN would take care of ball at the beginning of the show.
by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Oct 8, 2010 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Psshhhh… before that, it was Sports line with Jim Tati and Mark Hebscher. And the only bball I got was reading USENET forums.
How old are you guys?
I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist. But honestly, I don’t ever remember not having some sort of sports channel. I started getting into Basketball around the 89-90 season. I was ten and I always remember being able to see game highlights. When did Canada get it’s first sports channel. It had to be before then.
TSN started in 1984. I didn’t have cable probably till 89. One of the first video games I played was Larry Bird Vs Dr. J.
Because of USENET Arvydas Sabnois was a god.
The Leafs were on TV twice a week max (CHCH wednesday and/or HNIC and some weeks they weren’t on either when they were on the west coast).
Kevin McHale, Joe Dumars, Isaiah Thomas were heros.
Dave Collins was our left fielder. Heathcliff Johnson was our Catcher.
I used to “video tape” Sportsline just to watch the Hebsy’s.
There used to be this thing called “Antennas” and that was how most people got their TV. An “Antenna” would sit out side your home, sometimes on a big triangular tower or on your roof, and in bad weather, you might have to go outside and adjust it. In those days people wore onions on their belts, that was the style at the time, and we called nickels bees, we would say, i’ll give you 5 bees for a quarter. Welllllllll, we used to walk down to Ogdenville ferry……..(oppps sorry got possessed by Grandpa Simpson for a second). The point is, cable in Canada is less than 40 years old so enjoy your pampered cable existence.
OMG – the Hebsy awards. Wow, that show sucked.
by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Oct 8, 2010 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions
lol. Yeah, that was me in university… First place where basketball highlights would come up every night.
Kinnon "Vicious D" Yee
Author - RaptorsHQ.com Twitter @RapHQVicious
by Raptors HQ - Vicious D on Oct 9, 2010 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions
re the 13th
Franchise, I believe the Raptors play in Boston on the 10th, and Chicago on the 12th, before returning to the ACC on the 13th to face Philadelphia on a BB.
Are you intending to ignore thiose 2 away games iin your coverage.
Ha – my bad – just fixed, meant to say that there were no TELEVISED games till next Wednesday…
Always on point Johnn, always on point, love it.
Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com
by Adam Francis on Oct 8, 2010 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Sportsnet
meh!!! I bet we`ll have to pay extra for sportsnet 1 and a large amount of people won`t get to see those raptors games
by Jeffrey Thompson on Oct 8, 2010 10:27 AM EDT reply actions
As long as the contractual situation gets rectified, fine, no harm no foul. But as we saw with the TSN2 fiasco, that didn’t happen until a lot later than mosts fans wanted. That’s why following up with the Raps on this I think would be interesting.
Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com
by Adam Francis on Oct 8, 2010 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Darwin would argue
that at least one of these sports networks should die off… TSN/TSN2, Sportsnet/One, TheScore, and others can’t all survive showing endless repeats of last night’s news, can they?
Agreed...
Basically now we have 5 sportsnet channels, 2 TSN channels and the score pretty much dedicated to hockey updates 24/7 (the score not so much as the others). How this is sustainable is a mystery to me…
I watch The Score exclusively
I don’t even bother with Sportsnet or TSN. I’ve got no patience to sit through the same hockey highlights twice before getting a small glimpse of Basketball. Once Sportsnet stopped playing re-runs of beach volleyball, I officialy had no use for them. The only time I watch TSN in when they play a Raps game. Hopefully the Score is the last channel standing because I find their coverage of basketball much better than the other two.
My guess is you’ll end up getting an MLSE channel at some point, if Peddie’s comments in the Globe are to be believed.
by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Oct 8, 2010 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, but on one station along with Toronto FC and whatever other sporting properties they acquire. That was a sense I got from the Globe piece.
Of course, it was attached to the “imagine what we could charge for that” quote. And Peddie probably wonders why a lot of fans consider him a douche.
by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Oct 8, 2010 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Seriously?
Nothing new? My afternoon shifts are long enough without this website going cold on me for four hours. SOMEBODY SAY SOMETHING CONTROVERSIAL!!!
Let me try. Bargnani is the greastest center of our generation!
Anybody?
You guys suck!
Controversial? Reggie Evans is on the down low!
how else would you explain all of the ass- and ball-grabbing?
Slow day Posterized – although of note, I guess both Sonny and Linas are a bit banged up…think both will be good to go Sunday though.
Adam Francis - Publisher - RaptorsHQ.com
by Adam Francis on Oct 9, 2010 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions
death of sports
i’m so ticked about sportnet one and any other network that further alienates the fans. this is all about the short term gains and extreamly short sighted of the clubs who sign these deals. it’s a chicken and egg thing….first you sign the deal to make money….then the players want more money…..then the fan pays more money. in the meantime the kids dont get to see any games(only on pay channells)….and there goes your future. keep going after the buck….morons!!! P.S. missed a ton of Jays games (sportsnet one)down the strech when they should be trying to show everyone the future…for next year….ahahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
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