Canadian TV rights negotiations start January 1, 2025

[LadyStanley]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1859628055876005949

Wednesday on CNBC, Bettman discussed upcoming Canadian media rights, saying the league’s triggered a 60-day window to negotiate with Rogers. It opens Jan. 1.

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[Takuto Maruki]

It's going to be interesting to see if the trends that are cropping up within American TV bubbles (grossly overpaying for sports properties from legacy media, tech companies trying to get into the space) ultimately hold water up here. More then anything, even if the duopoly is insulating it massively, it's only a matter of time before the RSN apocalypse pops up here, mainly from Rogers deciding that it isn't worth it having a bunch of regional channels only really segmented by geography, and instead goes to the TSN model of 5 channels, with one as a designated second channel, the rest being overflow.

 

[Fenway]

 

[rojac]

It's going to be interesting to see if the trends that are cropping up within American TV bubbles (grossly overpaying for sports properties from legacy media, tech companies trying to get into the space) ultimately hold water up here. More then anything, even if the duopoly is insulating it massively, it's only a matter of time before the RSN apocalypse pops up here, mainly from Rogers deciding that it isn't worth it having a bunch of regional channels only really segmented by geography, and instead goes to the TSN model of 5 channels, with one as a designated second channel, the rest being overflow.

 

[varsaku]

It's going to be interesting to see if the trends that are cropping up within American TV bubbles (grossly overpaying for sports properties from legacy media, tech companies trying to get into the space) ultimately hold water up here. More then anything, even if the duopoly is insulating it massively, it's only a matter of time before the RSN apocalypse pops up here, mainly from Rogers deciding that it isn't worth it having a bunch of regional channels only really segmented by geography, and instead goes to the TSN model of 5 channels, with one as a designated second channel, the rest being overflow.

They need to split the streaming and TV rights. Blackouts to prop up TV rights is probably turning away a lot of casual fans who don't have cable. No casual fan is going to get cable to watch the occasional big game.

 

[Chileiceman]

What would happen after 60 days and no deal with Rogers? Why is it to the NHL's benefit to have a window of negotiating exclusively with one broadcaster? Are they obligated by the contract to trigger this window at some point?

The NBA made their deal with an entire season to go on the old one, so maybe that's what the NHL is looking to do as well.

 

[varsaku]

What would happen after 60 days and no deal with Rogers? Why is it to the NHL's benefit to have a window of negotiating exclusively with one broadcaster? Are they obligated by the contract to trigger this window at some point?

The NBA made their deal with an entire season to go on the old one, so maybe that's what the NHL is looking to do as well.

I believe it is built into the contract to have an exclusive negotiating window.

 

[Optimistic Cynic]

I believe it is built into the contract to have an exclusive negotiating window.

Okay, so it's built into the contract, but what advantage or disadvantage does that present to either party?

 

[jkrdevil]

Okay, so it's built into the contract, but what advantage or disadvantage does that present to either party?

The advantage for the broadcaster is it gives them an opportunity to strike a deal to extend the rights (and keep their programming without getting in a bidding war). For the league giving the current rights holder an exclusive window at the backend is an incentive to get them to pay more up front when the current deal is signed. It also helps relationships for future negotiations.

It’s kind of like a landlord selling a property that is being rented. Usually a tenant will get the first opportunity to buy. But if they can’t meet the price it goes to market.