In Canada next year, the CFL will only be available on cable, while the NFL will be on broadcast TV. Thoughts?

Question

Do you think the CFL is shooting itself in the foot by going from the CBC to TSN after 55 years?

The NFL is regularly scheduled on CTV now.

Answer 1

Dumb, Stupid, Sell-outs,

CFL is tradition and now we have to pay for something that belongs to Canadians....

Can we have RBC, CIBC, SCOTIA and TD TRUST sponsor this...the billions they have from our pockets.... GIVE ME A BREAK

Answer 2

I think TSN will do a great job with the CFL. They already do a pretty good job with Friday Night Football. Besides more $$ into the league the better. CBC, sure is a big tradition disappearing but I feel realistically CBC has not done anything strong in their production of the CFL games anyway. Most of the broadcasters are weak at best, the stats packages are pretty lame too, and their pre-game this year was in my opinion - brutal. Why not give "the kid on the block" a shot.

Answer 3

Well, I guess that the Rider fans in rural Saskatchewan will hafta go into Regina to watch the games, now.  Other than that, I don't think too many people will be affected.  TSN is available on all basic cable packages, and I feel their CFL coverage is superior to CBC's.  It's a changing of the guard, as far as networks go, but little else.

Answer 4

No, 99% of the people who are interested in the CFL already have TSN. It comes with all but the most basic cable packages. Anybody who is in a position to actually buy the beer and pickup trucks advertised during a CFL game, in almost certain to have TSN. The people who don't have TSN are either on welfare, or don't care about sports. What ticked me off is the fact that the Vanier Cup was only on The Score.

What makes me angrier are these idiots who were going around saying Lenny Kravitz shouldn't play at the half-time show because he's not Canadian, even when they have no actual interest in the CFL. They should at least attend a game or two before they decide who is fit to perform at half-time.

Answer 5

it shows the cfl's short term thinking. they rather grab quick money than build a broader fan base. 100 % of tv owners have cbc.

Answer 6

Good decision.....Most people get TSN..either cable or satellite....the CBC coverage is absolutely atrocious.....Most of the time, the camera doesn't follow the play.  The play-by-play is absolutely terrible.  E.G.  Referee comes on to the field with the result of a challenge, and the announcers can't shut up long enough so the viewers can hear the decision.  

I repeat....excellent decision.

Answer 7

Yes, because for some people they can't afford cable they will be missing CFL games.  Also with the Olympics going to TSN it will suck.  CBC should always have the Canadian sports rights.  It just makes sense.  If the NHL leaves CBC, then the CBC will become a dead TV station that has no use.

Answer 8

TSN already has better coverage and they will be selling their package to ESPN in the US which means a larger potential fan base and exposure so some kids who may even seek to play here after college as a result.  Although this does hurt some fans who do not have cable, it may convince some people to switch to express-vue or the like to get the satelite feed.

In the long run, this may hurt the league but, in the short term, the league gets more money from TSN.  The CBC blew it's money on the NHL and couldn't afford to compete.  Do you remember when the CFL games were also on CTV?  And now they are broadcasting the NFL.  There's the real crux of this.  Our biggest private network bailed on the league long ago.  Our second biggest network never bothered to get involved.  Whose fault is that?  The league's or the fan's or the network's?