Rogers Media is finally "starting to see a payoff from its billion-dollar bet on NHL hockey thanks to the return of five Canadian teams to the playoffs," according to David Shoalts of the GLOBE & MAIL. The atmosphere is "far more festive" around Rogers' Toronto HQ than it was a year ago, when all seven Canadian teams missed the playoffs and TV ratings took a 61% "nosedive." The Maple Leafs "led a resurgence" along with the Canadiens, Senators, Oilers and Flames that will "see hockey audiences back in the seven-figure range." CBC, Sportsnet and the other networks carrying Rogers’ NHL package already "saw healthy increases in the regular season" after TV audiences declined by 16% in each of the first two seasons of the 12-year, C$5.2B national broadcast deal. Rogers President of Sportsnet Scott Moore said, "Obviously, team performance drives a lot of it. I feel like there’s a lot of excitement about the sport generally and in some key markets. For us, that’s obviously good." Shoalts notes also playing a role in the better ratings is the decision by Rogers to return "Hockey Night in Canada" to the "style it had under CBC’s management." Shoalts: "Gone are the glitzy, high-tech studio effects." Moore said, "You want to be careful that innovation doesn’t become change for change’s sake" (GLOBE & MAIL, 4/11).
EXCITED, EH? Moore has pronounced himself among the "happiest people in Canada this spring." Moore: "This is a renaissance of passion for hockey in the biggest markets in the country, and that has huge trickle-down effects. It helps the entire brand." In N.Y., Curtis Rush notes because of the Canadian surge, Rogers will "see viewership jump and advertising dollars pour in after a ratings free fall last spring resulted in revenue losses and cost people their jobs" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/11). In Toronto, Lance Hornby writes, "How great to have the Maple Leafs on the bill again." They will "bring in the ratings numbers in the first round," even if the Capitals beat them in four straight. With the increased value for ad spots, Moore said, "We will meet or exceed our budget." He added, "When playoff fever hits Toronto it helps us" (TORONTO SUN, 4/11).
