The CBC's five-day hockey series, "The New Ice Age,"
was a "creative an ratings success," according to William
Houston of the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL. Ratings over the five
days "built to an impressive 750,000 for the second last
show." But despite the strong ratings, the CBC "has killed
plans to market a video package for Christmas," which has
led to a "bitter fight" between the CBC and the series'
independent producers White Pine Pictures. CBC Sports Dir
Alan Clark "said there is no demand" for a video. But
Houston wrote that a "deteriorating relationship" between
White Pine and the CBC began when the CBC gave the series to
the NHL before airing "and cuts were subsequently made."
But Peter Raymont and Joseph Blasioli, the series'
producer/directors, "were unaware that the NHL, after
granting them approval to take their cameras behind closed
doors, would be given editing privileges." CBC's Clark said
that it had editorial control, but "consulted" the league.
Clark: "Of the hundreds of hours shot, there was one two-
minute section taken out." Houston wrote that the deleted
footage was from a Board of Governors meeting. Houston
wrote the incident raises questions "about journalism" at
CBC Sports, which is the NHL's national over-the-air rights
holder. Houston: "Did CBC roll over for the league?" CBC's
Clark "said there was no roll over. Without NHL approval,
there would have been no show" (GLOBE & MAIL, 11/14).
