Flames, Oilers Sign 10-Year Television Deal With Rogers Sportsnet

Rogers Sportsnet yesterday announced a 10-year deal with the Flames and Oilers to become the teams' official television broadcaster and digital media content provider through '20. Rogers Sportsnet West and Rogers Sportsnet One will combine to air 58 Flames games and 58 Oilers games within the teams' regional territory. The agreement indicates viewers will no longer have to rely on PPV broadcasts to watch games of either team that are not shown on Sportsnet West (Rogers Sportsnet). Oilers VP/Communications & Broadcast Allan Watt said that "if both the Oilers and Flames are playing the same night, one will be on Sportsnet West and one on Sportsnet One." Watt said that "all but one of the team's 82 games during the upcoming season will be televised on Sportsnet West, Sportsnet One, TSN, or CBC." In Edmonton, Bill Mah notes the one untelevised game is a Feb. 5 game against the Blue Jackets "that conflicts with a CBC Maple Leafs broadcast." The Oilers broadcast 16 PPV games last year at C$12.95 on standard-definition TV and C$15.95 in HD. It is still unclear "whether viewers would pay extra for Sportsnet One, or whether it will even be carried" (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 8/11).