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CTV scoops up Hockey Night theme song

PETER CHENEY

From Tuesday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 1:17 PM EST 09/06/08

Composer sells iconic song outright to rival network; CBC blames failed deal on animosity, price tag ...Read the full article

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  1. Alykhan Sunderji from Toronto, Canada writes: First the CBC doesn't bid on the Olympics and then it ditches HNC's theme song. It's almost as if George Bush is running the CBC. Let's make it function in such a terrible way that people won't want to keep it around.
  2. Able Bodied Man from It's NOT 'VICTORIA' Island, Canada writes:
    ... Or perhaps the theme song from 'World-wide Wrestling Slapdown!'
  3. Tim Cares from Canada writes: Honestly. Why is this such a big deal?
  4. Fake Name from Canada writes: Apparently the compensation arrangements are $500 per time they play the song. They should keep it at the start of the broadcast for the sake of tradition, but if they switched to some other (cheaper) jingle for coach's corner and the end-game commentary, that would be understandable.
  5. Erik Richards from Winnipeg, Canada, writes: What a joke. I thought the CBC already gave up on the theme, even when it was obvious a large segment of the population wanted the theme to stay. They were offered the theme at the same price as the previous contract, so to me it's a no-brainer. The fee was $500 per game (I assume that's per night?) which is less than $20,000 a year. Wow, imagine how much that could buy at The Corporation!
  6. Elmo Harris from Niagara, Canada writes: Let's keep things in perspective: It's not the song that makes Hockey Night in Canada, it's the game!

    In any event, the CBC is right to commission a new song for the game. Even if it makes a deal for the current piece, the new song will gradually displace the old one.
  7. John White from Canada writes: Everything comes down to the $$$.

    I read they offered her ~$1M to sell the rights to the song to CBC forever.

    She and her agent turned it down.
  8. canuck in chicago from United States writes: '... and after extended mediation, the CBC agreed to the terms of the contract, which set the deal at the previous rate plus a half-sack of Molson's Canadian per game and trading Scoot Moore for future considerations.'
  9. Andre Poirier from Canada writes: They should offer to renew Cherry's contract @ 100K per year, and same with the other guy Ron Mclean. (I believe a few years back they were @ 600 K/yr) If not they should hire some talented young people for that price and show Cherry and Mclean the door.

    We should all refuse to pay more than 5 bucks a game for tickets until the players get payed a decent wage like the rest of us. I just refuse to watch that stuff.

    I am voting with my feet. My kids are not in hockey and I am not encouraging it... There are other sports ... Sports is not about that ... i.e. The astounding and irrational management of money on the matter has created a twisted culture.

    Why on earth does CBC fund this stuff ??? Because it's Canadian ... and that's all we're about??? I'm Canadian and that's not what I'm about and I know lots of Canadians that are not about that. Is this what we are about ... working hard as slaves so we can give all of our money to over-glorified hockey players ... Is this what hockey has become ...?
  10. Alistair McLaughlin from Canada writes: Like millions of other Canadians, I grew up with that theme music. There is just something so comforting, so familiar about it, it would be a crying shame to lose it. HNIC theme music is some of the earliest music I can ever remember. And if it's the last thing I hear before I die, I'm fine with that. I'm fully aware that from a practical standpoint, it's no big deal. My quality of life won't change. In fact I'll scarcely notice it. But this is one time when I favour the purely sentimental response for purely sentimental reasons. PAY WHAT YOU NEED TO AND KEEP THE DAMN SONG!! It's just a wee little bit of Canadianna that makes me feel just a little bit more at home.
  11. Wide Awake from Canada writes: Its more than just a song. It is, in the current lingo, a crucial, widely recognized and successful brand and you don't just throw that away and start again (remember New Coke?).

    You can have a contest but - ask an advertiser - it would require an enormous investment to get people humming the song and have it universally recognized.

    TSN, on the other hand, would be able to scoop the old song and gain immediate goodwill for their version of hockey programming. Plus, each and every time it played, we'd be reminded of just how short-sighted the CBC execs were.

    (These are the same CBC execs who forgot to negotiate scheduling into their broadcasting contract and then were pissed that the NHL catered schedules to the US market, aren't they?).
  12. R. M. from Regina, Canada writes: Good grief. These managers have absolutely no sense and are getting lousy PR advice. After the initial grief and anger people have moved on to other bigger issues and are likely busy composing their own song for the contest. So the $100,000 contest is now off? on? Kind of like the CBC. Off or on???
  13. Nobody's Fool from Thailand writes:

    I just spent the entire weekend composing the new winning tune. If they stop the contest I will sue for damages. The Great Harperoid should send Hubert Lacroix to the bone-yard over this, where the bones of other fine Canadians are interned by Harperoid. We find there Aurther Carty, Linda Keen, Bernard Shapiro, Jean Pierre Kingsley, Johann Gelinas, Allan Amey, Adrian Measner, Yves Le Bouthillier and John Reid.

    He should have no problem destroying Lacroix over a song.
  14. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Please remind me.

    Does CBC stand for Cherry Blathering Constantly or Cannot Be Competent ?

    First, the CBC brass draws a line in the sand over the theme and then look to a mediator when that tactic fails...

    What a bunch of wieners!

    Did I mention that RDS's playoff coverage was up 20% this season and NBC's was up 111%....

    Cheers.
  15. uncle rukus from Mississauga, Canada writes: Why is this even in the news section. It funny how CAW strikes against GM and other new issues takes a back seat to a dumb TV tune. Grow up Canada!
  16. Bobby the K from Bogarttown, Canada writes:

    i have never felt *sniff* more canadian.
  17. Ned Chiwalski from Oilberta, Canada writes: It's not so much about the song, rather than the tradition it represents. Since one of the CBC's mandates is to bring together Canadians, it should listen to Canadians.
    There hasn't been an issue recently that has brought together so many across the country as this. If the over paid decision makers at CBC can't see what this means to us then can them all and get rid of the network off of the taxpayers back. Let them try to compeat as a real network.
  18. Marian Olson from Canada writes: I have a great idea - keep the song, dump the CBC, and save hundreds of millions of dollars. The populace would be spared the pompous, tiresome, far-left-of-center political views of its columnists and reams of mediocre broadcasting that normally would never see the light of day if it was based on viewer preferences. A grownup country would never need a 'vehicle' such as the CBC. And just a little bit out of touch, aren't they, when they thought that this little 'jingle' wasn't worth paying for.
  19. Doug Edwards from rural, Canada writes: Canadian hockey fans are goofy. They put up with lack-luster, loser hockey teams but get all excited about what music will play prior to a game.
  20. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: To all those who like Nobody's Fool in Thailand who have been hard at work composing the new HNIC theme for the $100,000 prize, I suggest that you join in a class action suit against the CBC if they reneg on that offer...

    These incompetent fools at HNIT completely deserve it.
  21. John Smith from Canada writes: Maybe there are those such as Alistair McLaughlin from Canada who are in favour of wasting taxpayer’s dollars, but some of us would prefer CBC negotiate the best price. Claman and her agent must be laughing hard at the gullible Canadians who have jumped on their negotiation tactic of 'going public'.

    Here is reality, the value of the song is not much more than nil when it is detached from Hockey Night in Canada broadcast. So their threats to walk away from negotiations and go elsewhere with their tune is, shall we say, lacking in substance.
  22. J M from Realityville, Canada writes: Once again, Harper taking his orders from Bush. Where is the investigation into this??? The neocons are fixated on destroying all of Canada's great institutions.
  23. Dr Demento from Canada writes: I wonder how much Stompin' Tom wants for the rights to the Hockey Song . . . ?
  24. D McAnn from Canada writes: The article concludes with the following two sentences:
    'CBC has already announced a contest to replace the theme, with a $100,000 grand prize going to the Canadian songwriter who submits the most popular original composition.

    Mr. Keay said the contest will go ahead and the winning music will be incorporated into the program even if an agreement to continue using the original theme can be reached.'

    It's amazing how many people comment wthout reading the whole story, and make an indignant comment with a mistaken assumption about the ending.
  25. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: J M from Realityville, Canada:

    Puuullllhhhhheeeeezzzzeee!

    How is it Bush and Harper's fault that Scott Moore cannot manage his way out of a wet, brown paper bag...

    If Don Cherry and HNIC are one of 'Canada's great institutions,' God help us all...

    Cheers.
  26. Randal Oulton from Toronto, Canada writes: I dunno, I think it's an older thing from a time and a place that has long gone.

    I think it would be good to bring in something else that newer Canadians can relate to.
  27. Green Milos from Canada writes: The HNIC theme makes me vomit. Replace it with Battery by Metallica.
  28. e wright from cowichan, Canada writes: Scott Moore is being more than a little disingenuous. He says he's still negotiating one day, then the next day there's a contest announced for a new theme, with a 100,00 prize. That plan was obviously not thought up overnight; he's been planning this for a while and got caught with his pants down when the word got out. Paying rights (and the accompanying lawsuit, which may or may not have validity) has obviously been a thorn in his side for a while. This is his short-sighted, petty solution, at the expense of a genuine Canadian tradition. He should be ashamed. Pay up CBC, bite the bullet and pay up.
  29. Rogerdoger W from Canada writes: Is this a great use of tax payers dollars!
  30. John Smith from Canada writes: P.S. for those suggesting that the licensing cost would be $20,000 per season should think again.

    'Scott Moore says he put two offers on the table, one to buy the song outright for close to one million dollars, and another one that would have seen them continue on with the agreement as they have right now, which is basically about $65,000 a year, where they get about $500 PER PLAY to the composer.'

    How much do you think the song is worth to Claman if it is not part of Hockey Night in Canada broadcast? I mean, I can't say I hear this tune getting a lot of play on oldies stations or the first dance at people's weddings.
  31. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: So if I am understanding correctly, the CBC is now proposing spending $100,000 to continue the contest to replace the theme and by bringing in Toronto based sports lawyer, Gordon Kirke (of MLS&E fame) it also appears that they are willing to come up in price to deal with Claman's demands to keep for the old theme....

    The CBC/HNIT crew are being mighty generous with our tax dollars, eh?

    Another great reason to watch A-B-C-B-C !

    Unless Amateur Hour happens to be your thing!

    Cheers.
  32. John Smith from Canada writes: e wright from cowichan, 'Scott Moore is being more than a little disingenuous.'. Actually e wright, it is the fact that Claman and her agent put this into the public as negotiation tactic that is disingenuous. So that they could get a reactionary general public all upset because in absence of the gullible, they have a near worthless song.
  33. Phil H from Canada writes: John Smith: haha it was played at my friends wedding... (not first dancethough.)
  34. John Hinkley from Thornhill, ON, Canada writes: The CBC sports department management team doesn't understand either sports or sports fans. Why else would they do what they've been doing?

    Just look at all the stupid decisions they've made over the past couple of years with regard to curling, the olympics, this theme song, etc.

    Leave the sports to the pros at TSN guys!
  35. Joseph Bloggins from Canada writes: Could of things....first, the CBC could cut funding to the idiotic 'Little Mosque on the Prairie' and use the money to pay for the rights to the song. Second to uncle rukus from Mississauga, Canada who says 'Why is this even in the news section. It funny how CAW strikes against GM and other new issues takes a back seat to a dumb TV tune.' Well, because the childish antics of the Bolshevik CAW are not really newsworthy...that's why.
  36. John Smith from Canada writes: Phil, don't let Doris Claman, her agent and lawyers know or they will be coming after your friend. He will have to hock the engagement and wedding rings to pay the license fee. She has been tossing around lawsuits over last decade or so to make up for bad deal she made back in 1968.

    BTW what was first dance, Stompin Tom's Hockey Song?
  37. Michael S from Canada writes: The CBC has had its New Coke moment. New Coke was still sold for several years after the initial uproar while the original was called Coca-Cola classic long enough for the executives responsible for the decision to retire and save face.

    There is a show on CBC radio about advertising that once talked about the New Coke phenomenon. I guess the CBC brass didn't catch it.

    I wonder how long the New Jingle will last?
  38. John Smith from Canada writes: Michael S from Canada, the comparison with New Coke is a bad analogy and reflects a different marketing concept. Do you seriously believe hockey fans will stop watching hockey because the theme song is gone? Hockey fans watch hockey, they don't tune in for a jingle. If Leaf fan's tune in year after year despite many mediocre teams, why would they tune out when the song that introduced their Stanley Cup curse is dropped.
  39. A Canadian Girl from Toronto, Canada writes: You know, up until I heard about this, I never realized that the CBC didn't own the rights to the song!
  40. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: If I were Claman and her agent, I would just sell the rights to the theme music to the pros at TSN, NBC, RDS, etc., etc. and be done with the nonsense of dealing with these incompetent buffoons at HNIT.

    Cheers.
  41. John Smith from Canada writes: Specifically got it from following Edmonton Journal blog item and have seen it in another paper a few days ago. Globe??

    http://communities.canada.com/edmontonjournal/blogs/hockey/default.aspx

    The 2.5 million you refer to is in regard to lawsuit Claman has against CBC.

    Who other than CBC would pay even 1 million for this song? No one. Its value is intrinsic to being a part of Hockey Night in Canada, not as a stand alone item. She and agent went public because they knew without knee-jerk reaction of gullible Canadians, they had no other options.
  42. One Eye Open from Calgary, Canada writes: The $100,000 cash prize will be awarded regardless of whether an agreement is reached to use the current song. This is a pathetic misuse of taxpayers funds by the liberal dominated corupt broadcasting corporation.
  43. John Smith from Canada writes: R Miller, why would NBC want this song? For that matter, TSN knows paying out the nose for this song would not have a material impact on the number of viewers watching so why would they do it? Its value is the intrinsic link with Hockey Night in Canada (a production that well predates the dumb jingle). HNC does not owe its success to the song.

    Sure glad its Scott Moore doing the negotiating and not the rather poor businessman known as R Miller.
  44. Michael S from Canada writes: http://www.cbc.ca/ageofpersuasion/2008/05/emotion.html

    Take two baseball Hall-of-Famers- Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth. Baseball insiders lean towards Cobb as the superior all-round player, yet Ruth towers above Cobb in popular culture. Why? For the same reason brands win and lose marketing wars: victory goes to those who forge the strongest emotional connection with consumers.
  45. Jon B from Saskatoon, Canada writes: I say let the deal expire for a year or two. Let Claman enjoy the loss of income for a while and maybe she'll bring her agent back in line to negotiate a lump sum sale for full rights to the tune.

    If she goes along with it, everyone wins. She gets her retirement nest egg and HNIC and fans have their song.

    If she doesn't, HNIC finds a new song for a much cheaper price, we get over it in a few years, and some lucky composer scores a one-time payout of $100k. Shame to see it go, but public nostalgia is hardly a sufficient excuse for the CBC to submit to this sort of blackmail.
  46. Doug Edwards from rural, Canada writes: Goodness!! We must keep this music. If we don't, the Maple Leafs, that we are forced to watch week after week, may not play well. They may not make the playoffs.
  47. Tim Cares from Canada writes: Make her an offer. Get an alternate song for play during the game. If she doesn't accept the offer, use the new song all the time.
    Why is all this support there? Just serves to give some old bag more of our money?
  48. John Williams from TO, Canada writes: Just DROP THE DUMB SONG already!
    Enough with the lawyers and media hype.

    Dump the dumb song.

    Have a contest.

    That is a great idea.
  49. Ziggy . from Canada writes: Erik Richards from Winnipeg, Canada, writes so to me it's a no-brainer. The fee was $500 per game (I assume that's per night?) which is less than $20,000 a year. Wow.
    No, the deal is “per game'. I believe the CBC does in the neighborhood of 140 regular and playoff games a year. So I think we’re looking at moret han a $700,000 a year problem. The real contentious issue is the litigation Mrs. Claman has not settled with the CBC in regard to copyright in other media. Ring tones are only the tip of iceberg when it comes to “other media” rights holders.
    I couldn’t agree more with John Smith. Miller’s business acumen is not very high. I wonder if he can feed himself. I know he can't afford cable
  50. Tim Cares from Canada writes: I've got a new song for the contest already. Kinda sounds like 'Wild Thing' or 'Louie Louie'. What can I say, I only know 3 chords.
  51. Michael S from Canada writes: $65K, including playoffs.
  52. Steve Church from Canada writes: Ziggy and John Smith - You guys should have the acumen of Claman & council. The $1mil, the mediator, the renewal - is all to avoid going to court. She own's the barrel they're over. Get it? You want to explain why she'd settle for $1mil, or continue a $65K annuity. She's get the case with the good behavior trying to get them to cease the infringement ... and they decided to rewrite their own rights. I wouldn't touch their offer. CBC should know this, get a court settlement, and run the contest. Something by Kate Smith maybe ...
  53. Fake Name from Canada writes: ' Erik Richards from Winnipeg, Canada, writes: They were offered the theme at the same price as the previous contract, so to me it's a no-brainer. The fee was $500 per game (I assume that's per night?)'

    I believe they play it several times during a game, now.
  54. Terry Terry from Brantford, Canada writes: Let that theme music go. HNIC used to start with that Esso 'Happy Motoring' song, it ended and the sun came up the next day. As many people have pointed out, HCIC made the music not the other way around. What's-her-name will come crawling back offering it for 25% or less, it's of no interest to anyone except HNIC.
  55. Michael S from Canada writes: Question:

    How many people know the theme to TSN's hockey telecast?
    How many people care?

    HNIC is a brand. All brands are symbolic.
    If a brand loses its symbols it becomes a pure commodity.
    If a brand intentionally loses its symbols the owners have lost their marbles.
  56. Brandon Linton from United States writes: HNIC is about the hockey, not the theme song.

    Maybe this will suffice for the time being:
    http://youtube.com/watch?v=GdaM8mxEBtY
  57. Sue City from Canada writes: Oh, I know! CBC can play it backwards. Does that count as copywrite infringement?
  58. Gogh Forit from Canada writes: I betcha that Mediator gets five times what it costs to pay the royalties for the HNIC theme. All this foolish over a measly $40,000 (based on 80 NHL games broadcast by the CBC each year) The CBC should be ashamed in making this some kind of issue. Forty grand is a drop in the bucket compared to the expenses generated by the Toronto CBC executive contingent. Why not publish the expense account of the president of the CBC. That one disclosure alone would pretty much tell the tale of just how cheap the CBC is to anything outside of its executive group.
    How many TO to MTL flights did the CBC brass use last year; taking forty five minute flights in first class when a phone call would have sufficed.
    Hopefully this debacle will turn into an investigation of just how the CBC spends taxpayers money.
  59. tim tubbs from Blackfalds,Alberta, Canada writes: Why would the rest of the country(the people who live outside the GTA and southern Ontario) care if the theme for 'hockey night in/from toronto' was taken off the air????
    It has ushered in endless hours of being forced to watch the most dysfunctional professional sports franchaise this country has ever seen.
    Let's get a new theme song and broadcast only games featuring Montreal and Ottawa(teams from the west to be featured on later broadcast).
    Leave the theme song and the Laffs games to be broadcast on their own channel.
  60. uncle rukus from Mississauga, Canada writes: Check out TSN.ca the song is now CTV's and the NHL on TSN! HA!!!! buh bye HNIC!
  61. pete . from Toronto, Canada writes: ctv/tsn/rds has acquired the HNIC song. see tsn.ca
  62. John Smith from Canada writes: Thanks but duh Steve Church from Canada, but that was the point of the posts. To acknowledge the wonderful PR use of a gulible public to put pressure on CBC to settle - stirring irrational emotions (how else to explain a 40 year old jingle elevated to status of national symbol - Canada and hockey on national television apparantly never existing to 1968). A good move on their part because without Hockey Night in Canada they will probably get $500 a year in royalty.

    Interesting addition is using the 'face' of Doris Caman when the actual song ownership belongs to a faceless publisher.
  63. Michael S from Canada writes: Wow. Balls.
  64. garlick toast from Canada writes: As is so often the case lately with the C.B.C.,management didn't anticipate the response to their bungling.They probably planned all along to dump the HNIC anthem and are now caught out and trying to lay the mess at the feet of the composer.They should fire themselves.
  65. Michael S from Canada writes: Goodnight, HNIC.
  66. Michael S from Canada writes: I stand corrected.

    I guess everyone will know the new TSN hockey theme song.
  67. Jodey D from Canada writes: Sheer stupidity on the part of the CBC but I am not too happy with CTV either. It simply will not be the same. To me, those opening notes announced its Saturday night and its hockey!

    Someone at CBC needs a good verbal lashing for dropping the ball on this one.
  68. Michael S from Canada writes: Folks, get your comments in and do it right, as this one is going into the B-School textbooks.
  69. Tania , from Canada writes: High price of fuel, 2600 jobs lost - for starters - at GM, inadequate childcare funding, etc., etc.

    But yeah, let's make this about wasting $1 million of our taxes on a song.

    I can just imagine everyone turning off hockey because it no longer plays the music you enjoy!

    If you, as individuals, are up in arms over this hostage taking, take money out of your bank account, send it to the composer and play the song in place of whatever the CBC replaces it with.

    I for one would rather we do something about mental health issues, poverty and homelessness.
  70. Carl Baldin from Canada writes: The beauty of Competition. CBC played 'hardball' with the composer (only $500 bucks a week).....so she sold it to CTV - Good on her!!!! CBC must have thought they were the only one showing hockey.
    Mud in their face or what!!!!
  71. Piet F from Canada writes: That's dirty CTV... very dirty.
  72. John Smith from Canada writes: No garlick toast from Canada, Claman and company correctly anticipated the bungled thoughts of guliable Canadian public, offering the majority of postings on this site as solid evidence. People like Michael S who actually believe people tune in HNIC for the theme song. Because we all know there was no such thing as hockey night in canada before 1968 and that hockey cannot be found (absent the theme song) on countless channels.

    Do any of you remember the music before 1968? Didn't think so.

    Ms. Claman and publisher will be happily cashing the cheques of a dumb Canadian public for years to come and all the praise to them for milking the dopes of Canada.
  73. M Poland from Calgary, Canada writes: There is no getting around the fact the CBC is an expensive whim; run for the benefit of a few elitists. Way to go, CTV!
  74. Brent V from Toronto, Canada writes: Bloody ridiculous. Nice job, CBC.
  75. Greg Out West from Canada writes: Piet F from Canada writes: That's dirty CTV... very dirty.
    -----------------------------------------------------------
    I actually think it's kind of cool. CBC sits around with their thumb up their (you know what) and in through the back door comes CTV. CTV rocks
  76. Carl Hansen from Canada writes: Big deal. Claman probably sold it to CTV for cheap because that's all it's worth. CBC makes HNIC, not some stupid jingle.
  77. Mitzi Maggie from Oakville, Canada writes: At least the taxpayers' money was not at risk with CTV buying the rights!
  78. Mark _ from Canada writes: HAHA! Tried to play hardball during the negotiations and now look what they lost! Personally, I could care less, but for some reason this matters to people...
  79. David F from Canada writes: I called it!!!
  80. Badges? We don't need no stinking badges from Canada writes: Way to go CTV....Too damn funny. Can't wait for a Habs game on CTV, using that music..
  81. Steve Zsipsak from St. Catharines, Canada writes: Typical CBC, They don't know how to manage anything! Their biggest money maker show HNIC, is now themeless. What stupidity over a few$$$$. Really it's time my taxpaying dollars stop supporting the CBC...Sell off the network to Private industry!!!!! Good for you CTV/TSN!!!!
  82. Shawn Bull from Canada writes: What a bone-head move by the CBC. You don't get rid of an icon. Play that song anywhere in Canada and people instantly know what it is.
  83. Randal Oulton from Toronto, Canada writes: >> CTV scoops up Hockey Night theme song

    HAHAHAHA! LMAO!
  84. Edward King from Canada writes: We should get one of the Canadian Idol winners to compose the song. What? You can't remember any of their names? Maybe Rex Murphy can write us a jingle.
  85. Farenheit 451 from Canada writes: Thousands of people die in Dafur and no one cares. An advertising jingle is threatened and millions of Canadians call talk shows and write protest notes.

    Welcome to planet of the narcissists.
  86. Imperial K from Toronto, Canada writes: Who cares, it's a song. If you are that attached to a song, well I'm sorry..time to grow up and get on with it.

    I'm about as sad about this as throwing out a Ikea lamp or dying plant. It's a song, impacts me at zero percentile.

    And yes, the entire hockey night in canada operation was sustained by a jingle? If indeed that's why you watched, then yes...we are very stupid...tame and robotic humans. Not to mention pathetic.

    I'm sure CBC was gruff about it, she got bitchy and sold it off. Who cares. Stop existing for the lies coming out of your TV...maybe play hockey once in a while.
  87. Allan Simonson from Canada writes: TIME TO PULL THE PLUG ON THE MOTHERSHIP!
  88. Andrew Pakula from Caledon, Canada writes: LOL I predicted that CTV would do this.

    Just another CBC blunder, haha
  89. Alberto Bayo from Canada writes: Really funny....Love it
  90. Gord Cee from Canada writes: There is NOTHING I like about the CBC but on the odd occasion that I wanted to watch a particular hockey game I did enjoy the Hockey Night In Canada Theme. Now CBC will almost never be on my viewing schedule especially since I have my TV programed to skip over the tax sucker. Unfortunately I must legally keep paying taxes to support it. Pity!
  91. Comments closed, censored, deleted or made to disappear from Mini Bushland, Canada writes: This deserves to be the national top story all over the country, it being the national top priority!
  92. Imperial K from Toronto, Canada writes: No don't pull plug, since the private networks will tell you zero about what's really going on.

    Do you think for a moment CTV or Global would tell you about bad products or food like Marketplace does?

    Oh sure after it kills people, they'll say something, but nothing up until that point.

    No we'd be left like cattle to slaughter while they gorge themselves on advertising.
  93. Joseph Bloggins from Canada writes: Now let's move Hockey Night in Canada over to CTV and be done with it. I'm sure the CBC will exist showing 'Little Mosque on the Prairie'......Bwahahahahahahahahahaha.
  94. E Stuhl from NYC, United States writes: I heard the CBC used a consulting group based in India to advise them on whether to keep the jingle or not.
  95. John Smith from Canada writes: Michael S from Canada, if you read books on negotiation tactics you would realize this is a classic scenario on the part of Claman's agents. There is nothing new about going public on issue and stimulating the irrational ramblings of the general public to force an issue. It is quite standard, if you have read the books.

    If you read the business books, you would also know there is limited financial gain for TSN to top the offer. It would have minimal impact on size of their viewing audience and constitute shrinking their profit margin. They get a song, not a Saturday night hockey audience. Ditto, HNIC would probably suffer minimal loss of audience if they dropped the song - but clearly wish to retain the song although - as good businessmen - without breaking the bank.
  96. C Braun from Canada writes: Now it's just a matter of time before CTV acquires that other bastion of Canadian hockey culture: Coach's Corner and with it Don and Ron.

    One can only hope.
  97. Deeply concerned citizen from Great White North, Canada writes: A CBC head will probably be demoted, if not fired, for this.
  98. Al B from Toronto, Canada writes: Greed 0 Taxpayers 1. That's the bottom line.
  99. R. M. from Regina, Canada writes: I never thought I'd see the day to say that CTV is 'stupider' than CBC. Reminds me of the famous tulip bulb investment bubble.
  100. Joseph Bloggins from Canada writes: Shawn Bull from Canada says 'What a bone-head move by the CBC. You don't get rid of an icon.'

    Well, if you are the CBC, your job seems to be to deliberately get rid of icons. That is what they have always done....to replace them with vapor more in their line of collective thinking.
  101. Stan L from Canada writes: I have no idea what idiot at CTV thinks this is a good idea.....Are they stupid enough to think that people watch hockey night in Canada on CBC BECUASE of the song? Are they stupid enpugh to think people will be 'tricked' into watching their broadcasts becuase they have the song now? (here's a free tip CTV they have to be on your station in the first place to hear it.....) All the brand equity in that song is tied up with CBC and hockey night in Canada.....you can't buy 40 years of equity on the tune and hope people are going to make the link to you.......whoever is the idiot who thought this was a good idea just demonstrated that they are extrememly short on marketing prowess and very long on ridiculous game playing.
  102. R L from Canada writes: Bleh. CTV will be bought up by some American company anyway and then the yanks will own the song.

    At least at CBC you know it's staying in Canada.
  103. Hugo Hall from Calgary, Canada writes: Far be it for Canadians from coast to coast to unite and agree on anything - unless, that is, someone messes with HNIC. What an amusing country we are.
  104. John Williams from TO, Canada writes: The negotiator for the song seems to have behaved very sleazily.

    The song is not that great, and is not worth what they paid.
  105. Joseph Bloggins from Canada writes: Al B from Toronto, says 'Greed 0 Taxpayers 1. That's the bottom line.'

    I agree....the CBC is very greedy when it comes to taxpayer money.
  106. 100% Conservative from Victoria BC, Canada writes: Oh my God! I can't believe it only one post blaming this on Harper? Come on left wing nuts you can do better than that!
  107. Kevin Desmoulin from Toronto, Canada writes: Ok Lets get the NHL marketing rights to CTV, I can see they got brains.
    To Hell with some stupid song competition.
  108. evelyn robinson from Canada writes: who cares about the dumb theme song/ I am more interested in hockey and our team smartening up and getting some good offensive players.
  109. Jimmy K from Toronto, Canada writes: Hilarious.

    CTV should create a show called Night of Hockey, In Canada!, with the classic HNIC theme song, and basically steal all their brand equity away, build over the last 40 years, over night.

    HILARIOUS!!! Well done to CTV!
  110. Mac- GLG from Canada writes: Farenheit 451 from Canada writes: Thousands of people die in Dafur and no one cares. An advertising jingle is threatened and millions of Canadians call talk shows and write protest notes.

    Welcome to planet of the narcissists.
    .
    .
    .
    .
    ..If you're that worried - spell it right - 'Darfur'
  111. John Smith from Canada writes: If five years, no one will remember there was such a song on Hockey Night in Canada. As Al B from Toronto, Canada writes: 'Greed 0 Taxpayers 1. That's the bottom line'