Rogers Communications CEO Guy Laurence claimed a 10% profit in the first of the company's 12-year, C$5.2B NHL rights deal, but the "challenge facing" Rogers now is to "prevent that hockey profit from becoming a loss once the second season begins" tonight, according to David Shoalts of the GLOBE & MAIL. The contract "calls for the smallest payment in the first year, which likely went a long way to creating that profit for Rogers, and then an increase" of around 5% annually. If the "ratings troubles persist -- and advertisers already resisted Rogers’s price demands in Year 1 -- then making a profit will be increasingly difficult." Sources said that new Rogers Media President Rick Brace was "hired as much for his skill at trimming the fat from budgets as for his acumen as a broadcaster." Another "problem" is the Maple Leafs, who are "not expected to be much better this season" after their next-to-last place finish in the Eastern Conference last year. But Rogers can "look for a steady diet" of rookie Oilers C Connor McDavid to "cure low ratings." Meanwhile, Rogers President of Sportsnet & NHL Properties Scott Moore said he gives the net's coverage "a 7.5 out of 10." Moore: "We were about 6.5 to start and more like an 8.5 in the playoffs. Our storytelling was one of our strengths, but we didn’t do enough of it. I think you’ll see a better balance between studio and storytelling (this season).” But Shoalts writes the "biggest challenge remains on the business side." Rogers’ advertising sales team "met a lot of resistance going into the first year because it touted" a 20% increase in viewers and "wanted a similar increase in ad rates" (GLOBE & MAIL, 10/7).
CREATURES OF HAB-IT: In Montreal, Steve Faguy notes Canadiens fans living outside the team's broadcast region are "once again only going to have access" to 40 of the team's games this season -- unless they "want to shell out some extra cash." Year 2 of Rogers’ rights deal is "pretty well the same as Year 1." There are some "minor changes," like moving Sunday night games from regional channel City Montreal to Sportsnet, but otherwise, fans are "going to live with the same frustrations" that they did in '14-15 (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 10/7).
