Absent an over the top offer - like the $5.2b Rogers threw at them last time - I wonder whether the NHL tries to divide the rights up among more than one outlet like they do in the US and like the NFL does. Obviously, the scheduling is different but they could probably make a separate deal for Saturday nights alone, and then another for the other days of the week. A streamer might want in, but may prefer getting in the door in the US market as opposed to Canada, even if hockey has more of an audience here relative to the overall population the total number in the US has the potential to reach more eyeballs and subscribers.
It'll be interesting next time around because Rogers really did overshoot the moon with their offer and with how revenue works in that industry now, I find it hard to believe the NHL actually does top the last deal, at least in terms of a gross sum. Hard to believe there are only 3 years left on it, including this one.
I believe HNIC is still a CBC property licensed to Rogers for the purposes of having CBC air the games as well (among other reasons) so a deal with another rights holder would be contingent on CBC doing the same with them (they shouldn't, by the way the CBC should be out of the professional hockey business as a matter of principle).
You wonder if pride comes in to it. They are fierce competitors that seem to increasingly be waging a public relations war against each other. National NHL rights is the single crown jewel of broadcasting in this country. Big bragging rights, which fairly obviously was Rogers motivation last go.
Although I do wonder, that said, if it was “worth it” for Rogers. I don’t know any numbers, but as I get it the feeling is they have taken a financial wash on the deal. But they were a distant second fiddle to TSN, SN, as a sports broadcaster, back then. They aren’t any more right? They closed the gap, now it’s just we have two all sports networks.
Splitting it up is interesting. Here’s another toss a it. Rogers and Bell already have numbered equal partnership company that owns the majority stake of the Leafs, does that beast, or a separate similar arrangement, because I’d suppose nobody wants the Leafs to own national rights, do a joint bid? That might get them to a financially viable price mutually. Again, as much as the last rights deal was an overpayment, I can’t see it going down 12 years later. Sports remains the biggest advertising draw as must see TV, more so now then ever.
I don’t think we are there yet, or in three years, as a country for national NHL rights streaming somewhere. Not viable yet, for as much grieve as the Bettman NHL gets for being “anti-Canada”, they are conscious of the national importance of hockey in Canada.
