Possible Shut Down of NHL Network

[musimax]

Not sure if it's already been discussed here or not, haven't been keeping up with this site that much of late, but there has been some rumblings of the NHL Network shutting down on September 1. All I could find is tweets from one individual - a Globe and Mail reporter. But no articles, press releases, etc. just tweets, but from a credible source at least.

We have channels devoted to just about everything, including many sport specific channels, yet Canada could lose its hockey channel? Kinda sad, eh?!

[mtlguy]

Actually when Rogers bought the NHL rights they wanted to take over Bell part of the channel and they decided to keep it. It was planned all along for Rogers to take TSN place, it was even in early version of mock scheduling send out to media (see image attached). they called it Sporstnet NHL and they even planned a French version, Reseau LNH.

Now that Bell is letting go, I would assume Sportnet will take over with the NHL and do what was originally planned. In English at least.

[bigoranget]

If I remember correctly, Rogers didn't take over NHL Network last year because they were not prepared to take over operations.

[InMontreal]

they called it Sporstnet NHL and they even planned a French version, Reseau LNH.

Now that Bell is letting go, I would assume Sportnet will take over with the NHL and do what was originally planned. In English at least.

NHL Network Canada is a Cat B specialty. It has no live games and it's not broadcasting in HD, so it has very little value, BUT it's already distributed by almost every BDU in the country, and Rogers can get catalog content directly from the NHL. No money-exchange from Rogers to Bell is expected, so a synchronized Bell-shutdown Rogers-launch is a possible strategy, the BDUs only have to switch source, invisible to the customer. But which licence Rogers will use? Same strategy as WWE : use their Sportsnet World Pay-per-View licence, try to get other BDUs on board with a (new) higher fee so they'll get to carry multiple feeds during soccer season, then get their own CRTC licence in order...