CBC "promised" the Canadian Radio-TV and Telecom
Commission it will cut pro sports programming by 20% over
the next seven years, a decision that "comes in the face of
constant heat CBC receives about its role as a public
broadcaster," according to Rob Longley of the TORONTO SUN.
It remains "unlikely" that the CBC "will trim even a hair
from its NHL coverage," although the Blue Jays and CFL
"could endure slight cuts." CBC Sports Dir Alan Clark said
that "motorsports, rodeo and figure skating are more likely
targets." Clark: "We will honour all of the existing
contracts as they come up for renewal" (TORONTO SUN, 6/11).
In Toronto, Chris Zelkovich writes that hockey "is the only
sport that makes money for CBC, meaning that baseball,
football, curling and figure skating could be on the
chopping block." Blue Jays Exec VP Bob Nicholson: "It's a
concern. We want a competitive market" (TOR. STAR, 6/11).
JAYS TELECASTS BLUE? Also in Toronto, William Houston
cites sources saying that CBC, TSN and CTV SportsNet "are
losing big dollars on the Jays this season." The net's pay
C$200,000 per game in rights fees and production costs, but
that amount "isn't close to being covered" by ad revenue
(Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 6/11). In Toronto, Chris Zelkovich
writes that ratings for the Expos-Blue Jays series were "a
bust," as TSN drew 301,000 viewers for Friday's game, 27,000
below the season average. CBC's game on Saturday drew
426,000 viewers, the net's "lowest rating of the year." But
overall, Blue Jays ratings on CBC are averaging 578,000
viewers, up 8% over last year, and TSN's average of 328,000
viewers is up 2% from last year (TORONTO STAR, 6/11).
STANLEY CUP RATINGS: The Sabres-Stars Stanley Cup
Finals Game One attracted 1,641,000 viewers on CBC, up 16%
from the 1,420,000 a year ago, although it "didn't draw
Maple Leaf-like numbers" (TORONTO SUN, 6/11). NHL playoff
viewership on CBC's "Hockey Night In Canada" is up 47% from
a year ago, to average 1,562,000 (GLOBE & MAIL, 6/11).
