CBC Scores Again

jdobbin · March 21, 2007

http://www.playbackmag.com/articles/daily/20070320/test.html

CBC has scored again, this time with its inaugural two-hour special Test the Nation, which recorded an impressive 1.5 million viewers on Sunday despite airing opposite Law & Order: Criminal Intent and The Amazing Race on CTV.
Test the Nation -- which pitted a variety of Canucks, including mayors, radio DJs and tattoo artists, against each other in a realtime interactive IQ test -- was preceded by the second annual special The Next Great Prime Minister, which drew a solid 865,000 viewers. That's up 59% from last year's show, which aired on CTV. Prime Minister was hosted by comic Rick Mercer and featured former PMs Brian Mulroney, Joe Clark, Kim Campbell and Paul Martin.

A Ceeb spokesperson says the net is "extremely pleased" with the result, and says more such specials could follow. The network will air the follow-up Test the Nation: Watch Your Language this fall, challenging participants and viewers to spot common mistakes in spelling and grammar.

The high ratings follow last week's season ender of Little Mosque on the Prairie, which averaged more than one million viewers per episode during its inaugural run. In January, the network hit the high 900s with another fact-based show, The Greatest Canadian Invention. In sports, the Ceeb's recent coverage of the Tim Hortons Brier curling finals averaged 1.2 million, up 19% from 2006, and cracked BBM Nielsen's top 30 list for the week, a rare accomplishment for CBC shows that aren't Hockey Night in Canada.

It looks like the CBC is starting to hits its stride again.

Michael Bluth · March 21, 2007

In sports, the Ceeb's recent coverage of the Tim Hortons Brier curling finals averaged 1.2 million, up 19% from 2006, and cracked BBM Nielsen's top 30 list for the week, a rare accomplishment for CBC shows that aren't Hockey Night in Canada.

It looks like the CBC is starting to hits its stride again.

Hmmm, too bad CBC lost the rights for the Brier in the last round of bidding. 2008 to 2014 is all CTV/TSN.

Kinda sucks to hit your stride on an event you have no rights to for the next seven years. :lol:

uOttawaMan · March 21, 2007

In sports, the Ceeb's recent coverage of the Tim Hortons Brier curling finals averaged 1.2 million, up 19% from 2006, and cracked BBM Nielsen's top 30 list for the week, a rare accomplishment for CBC shows that aren't Hockey Night in Canada.

It looks like the CBC is starting to hits its stride again.

Hmmm, too bad CBC lost the rights for the Brier in the last round of bidding. 2008 to 2014 is all CTV/TSN.
Kinda sucks to hit your stride on an event you have no rights to for the next seven years.

Not to mention , they WILL be without HNIC in the VERY near future.

That's like taking a two by four and swinging it clean through someone's stride.

fellowtraveller · March 21, 2007

CBC deserved to lose the rights to the Brier/Worlds after totally butchering the contract in the last few years.

I think Hockey Night In Canada is up for tender soon, and TSN is going to take a major run at this flagship program. CBC won't be cracking the Top 100 if they lose HNIC. What a tragedy, whereever will they spend their billion dollar subsidy next?

Michael Bluth · March 21, 2007

I think Hockey Night In Canada is up for tender soon, and TSN is going to take a major run at this flagship program. CBC won't be cracking the Top 100 if they lose HNIC. What a tragedy, whereever will they spend their billion dollar subsidy next?

Yeah, the HNIC product is pretty weak these days. Cassie Campbell, wtf? It's an improvement hiring another poorly-spoken jock b/c it is a woman?

I must admit though the new colour guy on the Western games, Drew Remuhlla(?) is very, very good.

jdobbin · March 21, 2007

Not to mention , they WILL be without HNIC in the VERY near future.
That's like taking a two by four and swinging it clean through someone's stride.

CBC Radio improved when it removed sports from its programming.

jdobbin · March 21, 2007

CBC deserved to lose the rights to the Brier/Worlds after totally butchering the contract in the last few years.
I think Hockey Night In Canada is up for tender soon, and TSN is going to take a major run at this flagship program. CBC won't be cracking the Top 100 if they lose HNIC. What a tragedy, whereever will they spend their billion dollar subsidy next?

Hockey and other sports are expensive to bid for. They'd so better putting their money elsewhere.

fellowtraveller · March 21, 2007

The loss of HNIC means we'll have to cough up a couple hundred million more to replace the revenue.

It is a small price to pay, really, for such stellar programming as ... well..... somebody must have an example.

I thought Little Mosque on the Prairie went into horrific viewer decline after the totally lame first few episodes?

jdobbin · March 21, 2007

The loss of HNIC means we'll have to cough up a couple hundred million more to replace the revenue.
It is a small price to pay, really, for such stellar programming as ... well..... somebody must have an example.

I thought Little Mosque on the Prairie went into horrific viewer decline after the totally lame first few episodes?

Mosque finished with 1.2 million for the last episode which is very good for any Canadian programming. Better than most American programming as well.

Hockey Night costs a hell of lot for CBC to buy each year. CBC brings in $200 million in advertising but it has to pay quite a lot of that for the rights. The CBC would do better to let hockey go and do other things with their money.

blueblood · March 21, 2007

The loss of HNIC means we'll have to cough up a couple hundred million more to replace the revenue.

It is a small price to pay, really, for such stellar programming as ... well..... somebody must have an example.

I thought Little Mosque on the Prairie went into horrific viewer decline after the totally lame first few episodes?

Mosque finished with 1.2 million for the last episode which is very good for any Canadian programming. Better than most American programming as well.

Hockey Night costs a hell of lot for CBC to buy each year. CBC brings in $200 million in advertising but it has to pay quite a lot of that for the rights. The CBC would do better to let hockey go and do other things with their money.

But if Hockey is CBC's goldmine, this loss would make taxpayers go why fund the CBC?, they can charge more for advertising on HNIC. They'd lose a lot of viewers due to this and if the CBC had to rely on a fad to hold onto viewers than the CBC is in serious trouble, that's all Little Mosque is, a fad.

jdobbin · March 21, 2007

But if Hockey is CBC's goldmine, this loss would make taxpayers go why fund the CBC?, they can charge more for advertising on HNIC. They'd lose a lot of viewers due to this and if the CBC had to rely on a fad to hold onto viewers than the CBC is in serious trouble, that's all Little Mosque is, a fad.

It's a goldmine? Seems like it costs a lot of money to bid for Hockey and it helps bring in $200 million but they are likely to lose the rights to all sports in the next years anyways. Time to make the move to no commercials and no sports.

madmax · March 21, 2007

Whenever I read a thread on the CBC in these forums, it becomes apparent that there are those whom are going to oppose whatever it does, under any circumstances.

Any Canadian Production being watched by a large viewing audience is a good thing.

Regardless, I don't watch Canadian Idol or American Idol. Yet this is often the programming for the viewing public.

Take good news as good news. If the CBC has ratings success, then I would think we should be pleased by this.

blueblood · March 21, 2007

But if Hockey is CBC's goldmine, this loss would make taxpayers go why fund the CBC?, they can charge more for advertising on HNIC. They'd lose a lot of viewers due to this and if the CBC had to rely on a fad to hold onto viewers than the CBC is in serious trouble, that's all Little Mosque is, a fad.

It's a goldmine? Seems like it costs a lot of money to bid for Hockey and it helps bring in $200 million but they are likely to lose the rights to all sports in the next years anyways. Time to make the move to no commercials and no sports.

It's a goldmine in the sense it draws in their largest and most reliable audience. People are always going to check out hockey night in Canada. If CBC guts it's sports and commercials that net it some money, then we have a dead horse PBS network in Canada and last time i checked PBS ratings are in the tank. What would the government have to say to the taxpayers, we have a network hardly anyone watches that costs a billion dollars that could be spent on something else.

Michael Bluth · March 22, 2007

It's a goldmine in the sense it draws in their largest and most reliable audience. People are always going to check out hockey night in Canada. If CBC guts it's sports and commercials that net it some money, then we have a dead horse PBS network in Canada and last time i checked PBS ratings are in the tank. What would the government have to say to the taxpayers, we have a network hardly anyone watches that costs a billion dollars that could be spent on something else.

That's what we have now. All the more reason for getting rid of it.

daniel · March 27, 2007

...
It looks like the CBC is starting to hits its stride again.

With HNIC in the bag for six more years.

Canuck E Stan · March 27, 2007

With HNIC in the bag for six more years.

And how much did the taxpayer have to pay for this puckNIC Hockey coupe?

guyser · March 27, 2007

With HNIC in the bag for six more years.

And that is what I call GOOD news. Nobody does it better .

And how much did the taxpayer have to pay for this puckNIC Hockey coupe?

Whether it a dollar or a billion, it makes money. And making money is a good thing for the Corp. Lord knows they have and can waste it.

blueblood · March 27, 2007

With HNIC in the bag for six more years.

And that is what I call GOOD news. Nobody does it better .

And how much did the taxpayer have to pay for this puckNIC Hockey coupe?

Whether it a dollar or a billion, it makes money. And making money is a good thing for the Corp. Lord knows they have and can waste it.

I'd rather have my tax dollars fund a Canadian Cultural centrepiece, than the other crap on CBC. This is CBC's gravy boat. I don't think the CBC can survive w/o it. If CBC lost HNIC, then the plug should be pulled on it. As far as covering sports goes, the CBC does the best job. I don't think the other networks can pull off better sports coverage than the CBC, it just wouldn't seem right watching HNIC on TSN or CTV. That having been said, that's my ONLY defense of the CBC.

Michael Bluth · March 27, 2007

With HNIC in the bag for six more years.

Here is the best part of the announcement.

Bettman said the new deal will feature fewer Toronto Maple Leafs games during the regular season, with more dates being allocated for other Canadian teams.

At least it shows that the CBC is moving in the right direction.

Good on the CBC. This signifies that the socialist leftie clique is losing their death grip on MotherCorp...

jdobbin · March 28, 2007

http://www.playbackmag.com/articles/daily/...327/hockey.html

More on the CBC deal. Seems the cable companies are happy with the arrangement as well.

Most of the broadcasters in North America have given up on original programming on Saturday of any kind. It is hard to imagine Global or CTV broadcasting hockey on Saturday nights.

The head of CBC Sports is defending his network's new deal for NHL broadcast rights, and in an interview with Playback Daily, dismissed the suggestion that the Ceeb will lose money on the six-year contract, despite reports that it will be paying $100 million or more per year -- 50% more than it is currently.
"We did this plan based on hockey being profitable and that it provides a positive margin for the corporation. That's why we're keenly interested in it, not just as a brand, but as a business," says Scott Moore, adding that the deal was financed with the network's private money from advertising.

I personally thought they should look at dropping sports but their business model is built on trying to leverage advertising dollars. Until that changes, they will pursue the NHL for the network.

guyser · March 28, 2007

Bettman said the new deal will feature fewer Toronto Maple Leafs games during the regular season, with more dates being allocated for other Canadian teams

It may not be that great for you, only down from 25 games a year to 23. For me..?....lose two games, I can handle that.

I wonder if they will back track on the number of games if the money is not there unless it is TO.

daniel · March 28, 2007

CBC TV currently has a lot of good shows to its credit:

Comedy:

RCAF

This Hour has 22 minutes

RMR

Just For Laughs

Halifax Comedy Festival

News/Investigative Reporting:

Marketplace

Fifth Estate

Other:

the Hour

Michael Bluth · March 28, 2007

It may not be that great for you, only down from 25 games a year to 23. For me..?....lose two games, I can handle that.
I wonder if they will back track on the number of games if the money is not there unless it is TO.

Still a step in the right direction cutting two games.

I think you overestimate Toronto's influence economically.

Lot's of hick non-Torontonians have cash...

geoffrey · March 29, 2007

I think you overestimate Toronto's influence economically.

The average Calgarian makes $10k more a year than the average Torontonian. Why would you spend your marketing dollars on that city when people in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver are far more wealthy and spending 20% more on recreation than those in Toronto. Disposable income is something Westerners statistically have a lot more of.

Sources: http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/famil107a.htm, http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/famil10a.htm

guyser · March 29, 2007

It may not be that great for you, only down from 25 games a year to 23. For me..?....lose two games, I can handle that.
I wonder if they will back track on the number of games if the money is not there unless it is TO.

Still a step in the right direction cutting two games.

I think you overestimate Toronto's influence economically.

Lot's of hick non-Torontonians have cash...

Uh guys...Michael and Geoffrey.....you misunderstood the post. I was not piously talking about Toronto money (gee geoffrey thanks for THAT stat..sheesh there is much to make of that)

The reason the Corp has the Leafs on is that is what sells to the advertisers. It gets the eyeballs, ergo the games with the Leafs is what brings in the money from an advertisers perspective.