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

[Asher]

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/437636

Is the song over for Hockey Night in Canada?

Hockey Night in Canada’s signature theme song may have been heard for the final time on CBC last night, says the composer of the song dubbed “Canada’s second national anthem.”

The licence agreement to use the song expired with the final game of this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs, according to statements posted this week on the website hockeytheme.com

On the website, Copyright Music and Visuals president John Ciccone says CBC has advised his company, which controls use of the song, and composer Dolores Claman that it is not prepared to sign a new agreement.

Ciccone says CBC was offered a new deal on terms similar to those that existed for the past decade. The cost to the CBC, Ciccone said, amounts to about $500 per broadcast.

The Hockey Night in Canada song was composed by Claman in 1968 and has become one of the longest-running theme songs in broadcasting history.

"I am saddened by the decision of the CBC to drop the Hockey Night in Canada theme after our lengthy history together,” Claman said in a statement on the website.

“I nevertheless respect its right to move in a new direction."

Neither Claman nor Ciccone could be reached for comment this morning.

CBC spokeperson Jeff Keay said he could not immediately confirm details because the head of CBC sports, Scott Moore, was in transit from Pittsburgh, where the Detroit Red Wings beat the Penguins last night in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final.

"I know we've been having discussions," Keay said.

WTF.

[Wezil]

So that's why CBC wants another $200M from taxpayers.

[-Jrabbit]

That sounds like a pretty reasonable rights fee for an iconic, weekly, heavily viewed national broadcast.

Weird.

[Wezil]

The CBC isn't known for making good decisions.

[Richelieu]

[b etor]

wtf

[LotC]

As if I needed another reason to hate the CBC, but here I have one.

[Grandpa Troll]

Now yu fine Canadians help me please, but in the 1960's and 1970's in Northern maine, I watched Hockey Night in Canada, back then it was on Wednesday and saturday Nights.

What Chanels asw it owN?

I got to watch mostly les Habs...which was awqesome.

We then got the occasional Toronto Malpe Leafs and once ina great while the vancouver canucks

This has allways been a perflzing question

I have herd that Canuck is a deragortory term

But then the vancouver team had its name such

I remember when pat Quinn, a very rugged defensemenan beat the craps out of a young Bobby orr

Then who could forgerte Wheatabix with Norm Ullman?

One of my all time favorite goalies was Big Ken Dryden

yvan Cournoyer was awesome as was larry Robisnson


This does suck about the theme folks

It is a darned shame

[notyoueither]

FWIK, the old Wed broadcast was CTV. CBC has been Saturday night with HNIC since forever. Maybe they did the odd Wed too, I dunno.

The channel would vary from place to place, I believe. Here CBC is channel 3 over the air (IIRC) and CTV is 5. Or maybe the reverse.

Canuck was a derogatory term, but then we decided we don't mind and adopted it as our own. You're liable to be thanked for using it now.

[Wezil]

Yeah, I don't find it offensive.

[Asher]

I do. I hate the Canucks.

[Asher]

In true Canadian fashion, everyone weighs in. People are furious. Soldiers in Afghanistan are upset, the Premier of Alberta mentioned this in the legislature...

http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=566125

As news reports circulated Thursday suggesting the CBC had already dumped Ms. Claman's composition, objections were quickly voiced by ordinary fans and more notable ones -- including Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach and longtime Hockey Night in Canada commentator Howie Meeker.

"This is ridiculous," Mr. Stelmach said as the Alberta legislature's spring session wrapped up Thursday.

"Aside from O Canada, the Maple Leaf Forever, really the Hockey Night in Canada theme -- I mean we hear it everywhere, even during the summer."

MR. Meeker, a former NHLer renowned for his high-energy presence during decades of hockey telecasts, was apoplectic over the reported demise of the theme.

"To half the Canadians 40 years and over, we grew up with that damn thing," Mr. Meeker, the 84-year-old ex-Toronto Maple Leaf and former Conservative MP, said from his home in Parksville, B.C.

"That's part of our history, part of our life, part of the enthusiasm for the game. When you heard that, you thought Canada, you thought hockey, you thought CBC. What idiot -- What the hell are they trying to do? Who's running the CBC?"

Word of the standoff over the song even reached soldiers serving in Afghanistan, leaving them confused and angered.

"It's like removing the Canadian anthem. Most of us grew up on that song," Master Cpl. Tommy Moreau said between games Thursday at the regulation-sized road hockey rink at Kandahar Airfield.

"Why would they want to change it?" added Lieut. Adam Lambert of Oakville, Ont.

Within hours of the news that CBC might stop using Claman's theme, two Facebook groups had been created in protest and an online petition had been launched to save the song.

Hundreds of comments also flooded the hockey site, Faceoff.com. Leanne Doppler said the song would be sadly missed because it's "as much of a Canadian icon as the beaver on the nickel."

"Every time I hear it, it reminds me of my childhood and my Dad who's been gone since 1971," wrote Nicole de Verteuil.

[Jon Miller]

Who wants to bet that CBC ends up paying more than they would have...?

JM

[RedFred]

Great song. These days they only play part of it. Back in the late 1960s they played the whole thing.

[Ninot]

Really is a dumb move. What were they thinking? They can modernize the broadcast in a bunch of other ways, but theres no solid excuse to change the theme.