The world as we know it in Canada will be forever different

[Asher]

How about getting rid of the artifacts like Bob Cole?

[Xorbon]

The CBC has no clue who its audience is or what they like. This reminds me of when they almost didn't re-sign Ron McLean.

By the way, I heard that if they go through with this, they are thinking of having some sort of theme-writing contest. Whatever replaces the current theme is sure to be lame in comparison.

[Asher]

It's either a contest or contacting the record label responsible for Avril Lavigne and Barenaked Ladies to write the theme.

Both outstanding ideas!

[Kontiki]

The theme should be done by Celine Dion or Nickelback. That way it can either be shrill and nasal or sound like the singer has a hernia and nasal.

[Asher]

I have a feeling they're going to use BNL and do a "One Week" over.

Something like "It's been one week since we played hockey"

[Wezil]

Originally posted by Asher
How about getting rid of the artifacts like Bob Cole?

And Don Cherry.

The man loses a cup by sending too many players out but is considered a hockey god/guru.

[snoopy369]

Clearly the song should be done by Five for Fighting. There is no other answer.

[Wezil]

And it is official.

Negotiations to keep the Hockey Night in Canada theme song have collapsed, meaning the CBC program is now in search of another anthem.

Copyright Music & Visuals, the Toronto agency representing the song's composer, Dolores Claman, said on Friday that the deal had fallen through.

That news came as a surprise to the CBC, said Scott Moore, executive director of CBC Sports.

"We're disappointed, as many Canadians are," Moore said, adding he found out about the deal falling through from CBC News.

"We have no real idea why the deal fell apart," he said. "We're not sure why because the other side hasn't communicated with us.

"You have to ask the other side what happened."

Copyright Music & Visuals said it had offered the public broadcaster a chance to renew its licence to use Claman's song — a staple on HNIC since 1968 — on terms that were "virtually identical to those that have existed for the past decade."

Previously, each use of the song cost the CBC about $500, the agency said.

After the first two years of a new agreement, the rates would rise about 15 per cent, an increase Copyright Music & Visuals president John Ciccone called an industry standard.

"We offered to continue paying the richest licence fee in Canadian television, which was the price they asked for," said Moore. "We also offered to buy it outright for a high six-figure sum."

A call made to Ciccone by CBCSports.ca was not returned Friday.

Claman, who has written about 2,000 jingles over her career, is also credited with the Ontario theme A Place to Stand, which she co-wrote with her husband, Richard Morris, in 1967.
Contest for new theme in works

Moore said Friday the two sides had agreed upon a price, but added an "unfortunate set of circumstances," including an outstanding lawsuit, hovered over negotiations.

A lawsuit filed against the CBC in late 2004 by the composer alleges that the broadcaster was overusing the Hockey Night in Canada theme and has not been settled. Copyright Music & Visuals said the litigation hasn't interfered with the CBC's use of music, nor was settlement of the suit a condition for the proposed new licensing agreement.

"We really can't do business with a lawsuit hanging over our heads," Moore said. "We feel that we've done everything we possibly can."

CBC Sports will now move on and launch a new national contest in conjunction with Nettwerk Music Group to find a new theme song, he said. Canadians will be invited to write and record an original song for Hockey Night in Canada, with fans and a jury of experts choosing the best new composition.

The winner will receive $100,000 and proceeds from any royalties will go to minor hockey across the country. More details on the contest will be revealed in the next week.

"We expect a lot of terrific music, and we expect that the new theme for Hockey Night in Canada will be as iconic as the last two themes have been," Moore said.

Earlier on Friday, Liberal heritage critic Denis Coderre told reporters in Ottawa that Conservative Heritage Minister Josée Verner must defend one of Canada's most famous musical traditions and do everything possible to ensure the CBC continues to broadcast the theme.

"The Hockey Night in Canada theme is a part of Canada's culture that goes beyond sport," Coderre said. "If the minister wants to show that she cares about Canadian heritage, this is her chance."

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2008/06/06/coderre-verner-themesong.html

If I were with TSN I'd be all over that song like white on rice.

[Ninot]

Not a bad idea! Go TSN!

[Asher]

So, CTV/TSN bought it anyway.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=240196&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_nhl

Toronto, ON - CTV Inc., together with Copyright Music & Visuals, today announced that CTV Inc. has acquired all rights to 'The Hockey Theme' in perpetuity, preserving the song's legacy and ensuring it will be heard on national television for years to come. 'The Hockey Theme' song will now live on CTV Inc. properties TSN, RDS and across Canada on CTV during coverage of the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Olympics as outlined below.

The deal between CTV and Copyright Music & Visuals was agreed to in principle after the CBC publicly announced last Friday at 5 p.m. ET that a deal could not be reached with the rights holders. Due diligence was completed earlier today.

The song, which was created by Vancouver's Dolores Claman in 1968, will now be used in NHL broadcasts on TSN and RDS beginning this Fall. In addition, CTV will utilize the song as part of its hockey coverage during the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

"The song has a long and storied history in Canadian sports and has become ingrained in the hearts and minds of hockey fans across the country. It is an iconic tune, embraced by Canadians everywhere, and we felt it was imperative to save it. We know we will be in hockey forever, so there's no doubt this acquisition will create value for us," said Rick Brace, President, Revenue, Business Planning and Sports, CTV Inc. "It's an honour and a privilege to own such a cherished piece of Canadiana."

"I am very moved by how so many Canadians have taken the hockey theme to heart. We are so pleased the song has found a new home," said Claman. "Throughout our negotiations, CTV displayed a tremendous amount of respect for my family and the song. 'The Hockey Theme' means so much to Canadians, and we know it's in good hands with CTV."

The announcement complements TSN's new six-year multi-platform NHL deal, featuring more coverage of Canadian teams than ever before with at least one Canadian team in every game. Earlier this year, RDS extended its exclusive rights agreement with the Montreal Canadiens through the 2011-12 season.

CTV, together with TSN and RDS, boast the most powerful and prestigious sports programming lineup in the country featuring the NHL and Stanley Cup Playoffs, NFL games and the Super Bowl, every CFL game including the Grey Cup, International Hockey including the World Juniors, NBA, Blue Jays Baseball, all four golf Majors, all four tennis Grand Slam events, Season of Champions Curling, NASCAR and F1, and this month's NBA Finals and UEFA EURO® 2008.

[Ninot]

Great move Put that dinosaur network to bed

[-Jrabbit]

...Season of Champions Curling...

That's it; I'm moving north.

[Grandpa Troll]

[Wezil]

TSN should hire me for business advice.

[Guynemer]

Un-****ing-believable.

Living in Columbus, I can't get CBC anyway. But HNIC's loyal viewers back home in Michigan (the reason NBC's hockey ratings were lower in Detroit than Pittsburgh) are gonna be PISSED. They don't get TSN back home. I imagine that were also be irritation at the fact that the CBC won't have the Olympic coverage, as traditionally the CBC coverage was approximately 300% better than that of NBC.


One of my all-time favorite commercials remains that old Canadian beer commercial with the people in the cube farm whistling the HNIC theme...