Menu
Media

Rogers Defends NHL GamePlus Exclusivity, Wouldn't Have Created App If It Had To Share

Rogers Communications said that it "never would have developed a companion app for tablets and smartphones that lets hockey fans customize their viewing experience if it had to share that technology with its competitors," according to Christine Dobby of the GLOBE & MAIL. The company’s GamePlus mobile app "is an add-on feature to GameCentre Live," which lets users stream NHL games online. But unlike the streaming service, the GamePlus app "is only available to Rogers customers," and rival Bell Canada "filed a complaint with the country’s broadcast regulator over that exclusivity last month." Rogers VP/Regulatory Affairs Ken Engelhart said that the company "wouldn’t have invested in the technology just to enhance television viewers’ experience." Engelhart: "We wouldn’t be able to recoup those costs. But we have been able to make a model work where we can recoup those costs by using it as a value-added service for our Rogers wireless and Internet and cable customers." Bell -- "along with Telus Corp. and Atlantic Canada cable and wireless provider Eastlink, which both filed interventions with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission -- argues that GamePlus is a violation of the CRTC’s vertical integration rules, which require companies that both create and distribute media content to offer it to their rivals to distribute as well" (GLOBE & MAIL, 11/21). Rogers President & CEO Guy Laurence on a recent earnings call said that GamePlus "is an important innovation in sports broadcasting; branding Bell a 'crybaby'" for filing a complaint with the CRTC (TORONTO STAR, 11/21).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2014/11/21/Media/Rogers.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2014/11/21/Media/Rogers.aspx

CLOSE