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The Real Reason CTV Did Not Cover The Worlds
Canadian Fans read this and weep!
Free figure skating doomed by numbers Mar. 28, 2003. 01:00 AM
Low ratings mean switch in channels Chris Zelkovich
Isabel Ward isn't a big television watcher, but she loves figure skating.
So why, the Toronto resident wants to know, can she watch only two hours of the world championships, which is all CTV is showing of this week's competition?
The rest, a good portion of it tape-delayed to make way for the likes of hockey, is on TSN.
"That's a very elitist approach," she says. "There are a lot of people who don't have cable."
Sadly, this is the way of the future if not the present. Unless sports events can produce huge audiences, they're going to end up on specialty channels. And figure skating isn't producing the audiences it did even five years ago when it regularly outdrew Hockey Night In Canada.
Ratings have dropped steadily the past four years and rarely top the million mark any more. The live men's short program Tuesday, for example, drew only 285,000 viewers on TSN.
"In figure skating there are hot years and cool years," says CTV senior vice-president Rick Lewchuk. "Interest isn't as keen this year, so we have to take that into consideration."
Two years ago, CTV aired three nights of worlds coverage. Last year it was two and this year one. Next year it won't air any at all, mainly because CTV and TSN have decided against bidding on a new international skating deal when the current one expires.
"We just don't have room for that package," says TSN programming head Phil King, noting the networks have signed a new deal for the Canadian events.
That may turn out even worse for people like Ward. The probable candidate for the world package is Rogers Sportsnet, though programming head David Akande says no discussions have taken place yet.
It's conceivable that CBC could bid for it, too, but with hockey blocking out Saturday nights, skaters with their own teeth just aren't a very good fit.
The days of free figure skating shows, like so many other sports broadcasts, are all but gone.
STRIKING OUT: At least skating fans have the option of paying for cable. Canadian baseball fans may have nowhere to turn. The season starts this weekend and there's still no Canadian deal in sight for Sunday night games or playoffs. The Score dropped the Major League Baseball package last year and no one else has picked it up. Both Sportsnet and TSN say they may be able to take some playoff games, but for the moment Sunday nights are out of the picture. The Score is interested in the Diamond Surfing feature, but hasn't heard from MLB on that one. ... Sportsnet is airing a baseball season preview Monday at 5 p.m.
FAN-DEMONIUM: Everybody's wondering why it took so long, but The FAN has changed The TSN Bullpen to The Sportsnet Bullpen. Starting Tuesday at 10 a.m., announcers from the Rogers-owned TV channel will replace TSN guys on the Rogers-owned radio station. That doesn't mean TSN employees will be cut off, says FAN program director Nelson Millman. That means Pierre McGuire will continue to analyze hockey. Chris Schultz's Friday football show likely will stay but may be moved to make way for Ted's boys. ... Millman credits Rogers executives for honouring the standing deal with TSN, though it looks suspiciously like they might have had a hand in Rogers bossman and mayoralty candidate John Tory making appearances on the FAN this week. "We've had John on before and we often discuss things other than sports," Millman says. Must have merely been a coincidence. ... NBA games have been a ratings bonus for The Score, recording a 52,000 average. That's higher than the audiences for Sportsnet's NBA games.
[email protected]
Canadian Fans read this and weep!
Free figure skating doomed by numbers Mar. 28, 2003. 01:00 AM
Low ratings mean switch in channels Chris Zelkovich
Isabel Ward isn't a big television watcher, but she loves figure skating.
So why, the Toronto resident wants to know, can she watch only two hours of the world championships, which is all CTV is showing of this week's competition?
The rest, a good portion of it tape-delayed to make way for the likes of hockey, is on TSN.
"That's a very elitist approach," she says. "There are a lot of people who don't have cable."
Sadly, this is the way of the future if not the present. Unless sports events can produce huge audiences, they're going to end up on specialty channels. And figure skating isn't producing the audiences it did even five years ago when it regularly outdrew Hockey Night In Canada.
Ratings have dropped steadily the past four years and rarely top the million mark any more. The live men's short program Tuesday, for example, drew only 285,000 viewers on TSN.
"In figure skating there are hot years and cool years," says CTV senior vice-president Rick Lewchuk. "Interest isn't as keen this year, so we have to take that into consideration."
Two years ago, CTV aired three nights of worlds coverage. Last year it was two and this year one. Next year it won't air any at all, mainly because CTV and TSN have decided against bidding on a new international skating deal when the current one expires.
"We just don't have room for that package," says TSN programming head Phil King, noting the networks have signed a new deal for the Canadian events.
That may turn out even worse for people like Ward. The probable candidate for the world package is Rogers Sportsnet, though programming head David Akande says no discussions have taken place yet.
It's conceivable that CBC could bid for it, too, but with hockey blocking out Saturday nights, skaters with their own teeth just aren't a very good fit.
The days of free figure skating shows, like so many other sports broadcasts, are all but gone.
STRIKING OUT: At least skating fans have the option of paying for cable. Canadian baseball fans may have nowhere to turn. The season starts this weekend and there's still no Canadian deal in sight for Sunday night games or playoffs. The Score dropped the Major League Baseball package last year and no one else has picked it up. Both Sportsnet and TSN say they may be able to take some playoff games, but for the moment Sunday nights are out of the picture. The Score is interested in the Diamond Surfing feature, but hasn't heard from MLB on that one. ... Sportsnet is airing a baseball season preview Monday at 5 p.m.
FAN-DEMONIUM: Everybody's wondering why it took so long, but The FAN has changed The TSN Bullpen to The Sportsnet Bullpen. Starting Tuesday at 10 a.m., announcers from the Rogers-owned TV channel will replace TSN guys on the Rogers-owned radio station. That doesn't mean TSN employees will be cut off, says FAN program director Nelson Millman. That means Pierre McGuire will continue to analyze hockey. Chris Schultz's Friday football show likely will stay but may be moved to make way for Ted's boys. ... Millman credits Rogers executives for honouring the standing deal with TSN, though it looks suspiciously like they might have had a hand in Rogers bossman and mayoralty candidate John Tory making appearances on the FAN this week. "We've had John on before and we often discuss things other than sports," Millman says. Must have merely been a coincidence. ... NBA games have been a ratings bonus for The Score, recording a 52,000 average. That's higher than the audiences for Sportsnet's NBA games.
[email protected]
