Toronto Sports Media Discussion Thread - v7 (2022 Edition)

Marmoset

Registered User
Apr 4, 2015
712
362
GTA


I think I still get this channel as part of a package but I haven't watched it for more than a few seconds in a decade. (I'm not exaggerating). There's just nothing there. I don't know why or how they kept it on the air this long.

The Raptors equivalent has actual content besides "classic" games from eons ago. Not that I watch often, but you can catch some of the US analysis and panels there in addition to some game action.

Both the Leafs and Raptors channels came into existence when the number of channels was exploding. I won't be surprised if the Raptor channel disappears too eventually because even though it has content, you can find equivalent content in many places now that didn't exist a decade ago.

That said, I don't think this channel had to fade away. They just didn't do anything with it. Wasted potential.
 

SeaOfBlue

The Passion That Unites Us All
Aug 1, 2013
35,591
16,776
I think I still get this channel as part of a package but I haven't watched it for more than a few seconds in a decade. (I'm not exaggerating). There's just nothing there. I don't know why or how they kept it on the air this long.

The Raptors equivalent has actual content besides "classic" games from eons ago. Not that I watch often, but you can catch some of the US analysis and panels there in addition to some game action.

Both the Leafs and Raptors channels came into existence when the number of channels was exploding. I won't be surprised if the Raptor channel disappears too eventually because even though it has content, you can find equivalent content in many places now that didn't exist a decade ago.

That said, I don't think this channel had to fade away. They just didn't do anything with it. Wasted potential.

Honestly, it probably could have survived by playing Marlies games, having some behind the scenes, and having some decent panels (but they would be taking away from TSN/Sportsnet's crappy overpaid panels so that would never fly considering Rogers/Bell own a decent portion of MLSE) in addition to playing some classic games.

This market thrives on low intelligence but high volume... And it works.
 

TheTotalPackage

Registered User
Sep 14, 2006
7,645
6,012
I think I still get this channel as part of a package but I haven't watched it for more than a few seconds in a decade. (I'm not exaggerating). There's just nothing there. I don't know why or how they kept it on the air this long.

The Raptors equivalent has actual content besides "classic" games from eons ago. Not that I watch often, but you can catch some of the US analysis and panels there in addition to some game action.

Both the Leafs and Raptors channels came into existence when the number of channels was exploding. I won't be surprised if the Raptor channel disappears too eventually because even though it has content, you can find equivalent content in many places now that didn't exist a decade ago.

That said, I don't think this channel had to fade away. They just didn't do anything with it. Wasted potential.
Can't help but wonder if this is another victim of the Bell budget cuts. I know Rogers is also a part-owner, but I doubt they'd want to foot the entire bill for the station.

At the time, it was like a trailblazer station where not many teams/sports devoted an entire channel to themselves. Now they are all over the place.

As you suggested, wasted potential. There is so much content that the channel could be utilized for, it just was executed poorly.
 

the squared circle

Registered User
Aug 3, 2005
1,619
1,299
Maple Leaf Gardens
I'll be honest here and say that I forgot the channel existed. I had wanted a Leaf only channel way before it was ever created and needless to say it was disappointing from the beginning. I was one of the few who wanted to watch a lot of older games, preferably from the 70s and 80s, and it seemed the channels 'classic' games were usually from 2010 and up. Sadly I gave up on the channel long ago.
 

CabanaBoy5

Registered User
Feb 17, 2013
3,751
4,324
Woodbridge
The only reason I watched it in the past 10 years was for Marlie games. The rest of the programming was either rehashed old games (not classic) or repetitive garbage. It used to be good when they had a post-game show and showed a few Leaf games.
 

Enga Olly

Registered User
May 26, 2021
1,067
1,311
Agreed, wasted potential. I don't mind watching old games but either brand yourself as an archival/retro channel or give us up to date news. They could have done pre/post game chat on game nights but nothin'. Steve Dangle's show would have been better and drawn ome viewership. Won't miss it
 

DueDiligence

Registered User
Nov 16, 2013
8,760
5,124
Is it just me or has the Fan 590 changed to an all Blue Jays all the time discussion. Now I know that's not the case but it certainly seems like the mandate from above is for the hosts to talk about the Jays nonstop.
 

Jimmy Firecracker

Backcheck, Forecheck, Paycheque.
Mar 30, 2010
37,635
39,098
Mississauga
Is it just me or has the Fan 590 changed to an all Blue Jays all the time discussion. Now I know that's not the case but it certainly seems like the mandate from above is for the hosts to talk about the Jays nonstop.

I’d bet good money it’s mandated from the top. Rogers doesn’t own the rights to the CFL and TSN has those rights plus the rights to TFC games and the other Canadian MLS teams. Why dedicate air time to sports they don’t show? Ones that are still pretty niche too.
 
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tmlms13

Registered User
Apr 11, 2012
6,931
4,671
Waterloo, Ontario
I’d bet good money it’s mandated from the top. Rogers doesn’t own the rights to the CFL and TSN has those rights plus the rights to TFC games and the other Canadian MLS teams. Why dedicate air time to sports they don’t show? Ones that are still pretty niche too.
Tsn does talk baseball a fair bit. Steve Phillips and Keegan Matheson do hits on 1050 at least twice a week
 

Golden_Jet

Registered User
Sep 21, 2005
26,333
13,640
AHL does a game a week, but different teams each week. Can’t remember who carries it, maybe TSN.
Otherwise would need AHL package.
 

Jimmy Firecracker

Backcheck, Forecheck, Paycheque.
Mar 30, 2010
37,635
39,098
Mississauga
Is Chris Johnston not with TSN anymore? Saw he wrote an article regarding Matthews and his contract status for NorthStar Bets, which surprised me because you’d think anything he wrote would be on TSN. But his Twitter bio lacks any mention of TSN.

3D1828F9-E273-4941-935C-1EB4E6239DC8.jpeg


Did I miss him and the company parting ways?
 

Schenn

In Rod We Trust
Sponsor
Feb 24, 2009
34,143
4,189
Huron County
Is Chris Johnston not with TSN anymore? Saw he wrote an article regarding Matthews and his contract status for NorthStar Bets, which surprised me because you’d think anything he wrote would be on TSN. But his Twitter bio lacks any mention of TSN.

View attachment 584998

Did I miss him and the company parting ways?

He doesn't write for TSN, only Northstar bets. TSN is only television. I'd be shocked if he wasn't back with TSN this year.
 

kevsh

Registered User
Nov 28, 2018
3,671
5,149
No surprise on Leafs TV.
It was pure fluff, like most team-created/controlled channels are so it won't be missed.
 
Oct 25, 2014
9,646
2,732
London, ON
Is Chris Johnston not with TSN anymore? Saw he wrote an article regarding Matthews and his contract status for NorthStar Bets, which surprised me because you’d think anything he wrote would be on TSN. But his Twitter bio lacks any mention of TSN.

View attachment 584998

Did I miss him and the company parting ways?
I was actually just about to post the exact same thing.

If I had to guess, I don’t think he is. No overdrive hits for a while and he was talking openly about 32 thoughts on his own podcast which I would guess he would stay away from if he was still with TSN.

He doesn’t seem comfortable with a TV role imo. Probably for the best.
 

TMLeafer

Rest in Peace Johnny Bower
Mar 23, 2008
47,745
18,263
Hockey Mecca, ON
Is Chris Johnston not with TSN anymore? Saw he wrote an article regarding Matthews and his contract status for NorthStar Bets, which surprised me because you’d think anything he wrote would be on TSN. But his Twitter bio lacks any mention of TSN.

View attachment 584998

Did I miss him and the company parting ways?
Not listed here either.
 

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