CTV SportsNet (CTVS) will launch on October 9, giving
Canadian viewers "the opportunity to see, as the new
network's promotional slogan suggests, 'a whole new game,'"
according to Rob Longley of the TORONTO SUN. CTVS consists
of four regional networks offering "distinct programming" to
four parts of the country, reaching about five million
homes. Longley wrote that from the "moment SportsNet was
licensed," Canada's TSN went on "an aggressive buying binge,
tearing up existing deals to make longer-term ones." Now
TSN "is stronger than it has ever been," but Longley added,
"How TSN let the national NHL package get away is still the
big mystery." While CTVS will give viewers a "mixed bag" of
sports programming, including "more skiing and figure
skating than before," live soccer, junior hockey and
curling, Longley wrote that the NHL package is the "jewel of
the SportsNet arena." CTVS also "plans tap into its
relationship with Fox," which owns 20% of the net, for
magazine shows on football, a nightly Fox Sports News
package and talk shows (TORONTO SUN, 9/27). The
SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Langdon Brockinton reports that
"about 45 companies" have bought ad time on the net,
including GM Canada, Molson, Miller and Labatt. CTVS VP &
GM Suzanne Steeves said that between the October 9 launch
and the end of November, ad time on live event telecasts "is
getting close to full" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 9/28 issue).
