Rogers in talks to sell Monday night NHL game package in Canada to Amazon

[GKJ]

Good to see Andi Petrillo back in the national mix.

 

[DaBadGuy7]

Amazon is gearing up to be a major player in the next NHL rights contest. I wonder if part of the reason Bell sold their MLSE stake was to be able to have a bigger warchest for NHL rights. Although maybe they feel like they dodged a bullet not trying to outbid Rogers the last go around.

Yea, I wouldn’t be surprised if this similar package will become a dual US/CAN deal. It could be a unique type of deal that benefits all fans in North America and Amazon has the money do it.

 

[Yukon Joe]

Yea, I wouldn’t be surprised if this similar package will become a dual US/CAN deal. It could be a unique type of deal that benefits all fans in North America and Amazon has the money do it.

So the precedent is the Apple / MLS deal, where Apple was given WORLDWIDE streaming rights to MLS games. So it's certainly possible.

It's a little bit different in that MLS is really a secondary soccer league (even with a few top stars), while that hockey might be a secondary sport, but NHL is the top hockey league in the world. NHL makes money selling hockey rights not only in Canada / US, but also in various other markets as well.

Problem is all those rights expire at different times.

 

[DaBadGuy7]

So the precedent is the Apple / MLS deal, where Apple was given WORLDWIDE streaming rights to MLS games. So it's certainly possible.

It's a little bit different in that MLS is really a secondary soccer league (even with a few top stars), while that hockey might be a secondary sport, but NHL is the top hockey league in the world. NHL makes money selling hockey rights not only in Canada / US, but also in various other markets as well.

Problem is all those rights expire at different times.

Certainly true, but much like the new NBA media deal, the NHL gonna need a 3rd package to get at least 2x more in their next US media deal and Amazon with this deal has the early leg up to do it. How they can structure it around the next US and CAN deal I’m not sure, but I’m sure from a financial standpoint, but makes sense to have Amazon involved.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Do Canadian Prime subscribers also get NFL Thursday night games?

No, it’s on TSN , like all NFL games in Canada. Also CTV has games, but CTV owns part of TSN I think.
Also games on CBS, Fox or whatever the big networks show

 

[Yukon Joe]

Certainly true, but much like the new NBA media deal, the NHL gonna need a 3rd package to get at least 2x more in their next US media deal and Amazon with this deal has the early leg up to do it. How they can structure it around the next US and CAN deal I’m not sure, but I’m sure from a financial standpoint, but makes sense to have Amazon involved.

Yeah, so I'm not a major media executive, but it does seem to me like it's probably in the league's best interests to follow the example of the NFL. The NFL has got pretty much every single media company in the US involved.

Sunday regional games are split between CBS (AFC) and NFC (Fox). Monday Night Football is on ABC/ESPN. Sunday Night Football is on NBC. And now Thursday night football is on Amazon.

This makes everyone an NFL "partner" and thus gives them a reason to want to promote the overall league, and makes them a bidder for rights in the future.

I'm going to compare that to the CFL, which has been exclusive to one broadcaster for a number of years - TSN. If you flip to Sportsnet you will see CFL highlights - eventually - but Sportsnet does nothing to really promote the league.

Or same thing with ESPN - for all those years when ESPN/ABC weren't involved in the league ESPN did nothing to promote hockey.

No, it’s on TSN , like all NFL games in Canada. Also CTV has games, but CTV owns part of TSN I think.

CTV and TSN are both owned by Bell.

 

[Golden_Jet]

CTV and TSN are both owned by Bell.

Thanks, I’m aware, it was more just listing the channels, as Bell isn’t a channel, but good to point out Bell as well.

 

[varsaku]

So the precedent is the Apple / MLS deal, where Apple was given WORLDWIDE streaming rights to MLS games. So it's certainly possible.

It's a little bit different in that MLS is really a secondary soccer league (even with a few top stars), while that hockey might be a secondary sport, but NHL is the top hockey league in the world. NHL makes money selling hockey rights not only in Canada / US, but also in various other markets as well.

Problem is all those rights expire at different times.

MLS had instructed teams years before to ensure none of their local deals exceeded a specific year when they planned to go this route. I am sure they also ensured international deals also expired around the same time.

Certainly true, but much like the new NBA media deal, the NHL gonna need a 3rd package to get at least 2x more in their next US media deal and Amazon with this deal has the early leg up to do it. How they can structure it around the next US and CAN deal I’m not sure, but I’m sure from a financial standpoint, but makes sense to have Amazon involved.

If Rodgers couldn't make it work at that price point per game. i am not sure how splitting it to a higher price per game would make it financially viable.

 

[rojac]

Thanks, I’m aware, it was more just listing the channels, as Bell isn’t a channel, but good to point out Bell as well.

i'm pretty sure that the statement was made in response to your comment about thinking that CTV owned part of TSN by basically saying that they are sister networks both owned by Bell.

The Thursday Night Football package also airs on CTV2, which, of course, is also owned by Bell.

 

[Golden_Jet]

i'm pretty sure that the statement was made in response to your comment about thinking that CTV owned part of TSN by basically saying that they are sister networks both owned by Bell.

The Thursday Night Football package also airs on CTV2, which, of course, is also owned by Bell.

Well if you want to be technically accurate, which I wasn’t trying to be, other than listing channels, the games were on.

TSN is owned by Bell and ESPN (which has its own parent companies above it).

 

[rojac]

Well if you want to be technically accurate, which I wasn’t trying to be, other than listing channels, the games were on.

TSN is owned by Bell and ESPN (which has its own parent companies above it).

Fair enough.

 

[DaBadGuy7]

If Rodgers couldn't make it work at that price point per game. i am not sure how splitting it to a higher price per game would make it financially viable.

If the new Canadian media deal is a split between Amazon and/or Rogers, and Bell, then Amazon would have paid a pretty penny to do so. Amazon is paying for the right to broadcast the most valuable sport in the country. They aren’t concerned about the financials and probably better for Rogers not to pay as much for the whole pie anyway.