Robert Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 Does Sportsnet Pacific have it in for Westcoast soccer fans? Did they offer the CSA so much money for Canada's World Cup qualifying matches that they can broadcast these on a 6 hour tape-delay basis? Or has the CSA burned their bridges with TSN and CBC to the point that they would be willing to take anything Sportsnet offers them? What is the current relationship between the CSA and TSN, and between the CSA and CBC? The CBC was only to eager to show the Canadian Women's team live from China at the Olympics, so why can't the same courtesay be extended to the Canadian Men's team, at the very least for their home games. The only reason I subscribe to cable T.V. is to watch the Canadian Men's Team. However, if I have to go to a bar or an ethnic coffee-shop to see those matches, my cable subscription will be cancelled as of September 7th! Can anyone provide me with a Rogers Email address to send this communication to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squizz1402635577 Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 feedback@sportsnet.rogers.com I strongly suggest you do not send that message verbatim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VPjr Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 Doug.Beeforth@sportsnet.rogers.com - head honcho at RSN or Dave.Rashford@sportsnet.rogers.com - Director of Communications go for it Robert...let 'em have it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PunjabiOil Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 WTF is this?!? Boston vs Texas?!?! I sincerely hope TSN or CBC gets the rights in the near future. What a bunch of clowns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Posted August 27, 2008 Author Share Posted August 27, 2008 Okay. I listened to both of you. I didn't sent the message verbatim, and I went for it as follows: To the attention of Messrs. D. Rashford and D. Beeforth, As a passionate supporter of the beautiful game in Canada, I am curious to know if Sportsnet Pacific has it in for Westcoast soccer fans? Did they offer the CSA so much money for Canada's World Cup qualifying matches that they can afford to broadcast these games on a 6 hour tape-delay basis? Or has the CSA burned their bridges with TSN and CBC to the point that they would be willing to take anything Sportsnet offers them? I wonder what the current relationship between the CSA and TSN is, as well as that between the CSA and CBC? The CBC was only to eager to show the Canadian Women's team live from China at the Olympics, so why can't the same courtesay be extended to the Canadian Men's team, at the very least for their home games. The only reason I subscribe to cable T.V. is to watch the Canadian Men's Team. However, if I have to go to a bar or an ethnic coffee-shop to see those matches, my cable subscription will be cancelled as of September 7th! Kindest regards, Robert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Posted August 27, 2008 Author Share Posted August 27, 2008 Darn it. I forgot to tell them I posted this on the Voyageurs forum. Well, I'll just have to fix that, because they should be allowed to offer their side of this fixable dilemma, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hectorj Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 I SENT THIS OFF TODAY...THIS IS NOT A BLUE JAYS GAME, OUR USUAL NEMESIS...PRESSURE COULD LEAD TO SUCCESS Dear Mr. Rashford, After perusing the television listings for September 6th, I found that your broadcast of Canada’s World Cup qualifying soccer game against Honduras is being delayed for viewers in western Canada so that you can show a Boston vs. Texas baseball game live. The World Cup is played once every four years and is the most popular sporting event in the world. I realize many Canadians are baseball fans, but this is unacceptable and unfair. Sportsnet purchased the rights to broadcast Canadian national team games but often chooses to show them on a tape delayed basis, usually to show a baseball game live. Since the last time Canada attempted to qualify for the World Cup, the Blue Jays have played roughly 650 regular season games. When you also consider the other baseball games you broadcast, baseball fans have had probably 1000 games or more to watch on Sportsnet since our last qualifying cycle. Sportsnet has been good to Canadian soccer and living in rural Canada, I appreciate the opportunity to watch games I could not see in person. However, while I understand the rationale of Rogers Sportsnet broadcasting Blue Jays games live, I do not see why the broadcast of a regular season baseball game involving non-Canadian teams should make me to wait six hours to see the CANADIAN national soccer team play a crucial qualifier.If baseball is where you make your profits, maybe you should solely concentrate on that and allow another Canadian broadcaster to show the World Cup qualifiers. A response would be greatly welcomed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Posted August 27, 2008 Author Share Posted August 27, 2008 Well, at least there's nothing wrong with their response time. Please read the following in reverse order. ************************************************************************************************* Hi Matthew, Thanks for your prompt response. I, like every regular poster on the Voyageurs' forum, was well aware of how and when Sportsnet was broadcasting the Canada vs. Jamaica match. However, if it is expected that I purchase all Sportsnet channels to watch Canada's World Cup qualifying matches then your company is sadly mistaken. Do you expect the same from your hockey and baseball supporting viewers? Or are Canadian soccer fans unjustly being discrimminated against? Thanking you in anticipation for your time, Robert. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: RE: soccer Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:01:26 -0400 From: Feedback@sportsnet.rogers.com To: *************** Hello Robert, We certainly appreciate your passion for soccer and questions regarding our programming. However, Rogers Sportsnet did air the 2010 World Cup South Africa Qualifying Match featuring Jamaica vs. Canada on Wednesday, August 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. MT/4:30 p.m. PT, live on Sportsnet West and Pacific for viewers with all Sportsnet channels. The match was then aired in tape-delay on Sportsnet East and Ontario at 11 p.m. ET, on Sportsnet West at 11 p.m. MT and on Sportsnet Pacific at 8 p.m. PT. In addition to all this, the match was also stremed live on Sportsnet.ca. Our apologies if there was any misunderstanding regarding the broadcast. Sincerely, Matthew Lamb Audience Relations -----Original Message----- From: Dave Rashford Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 4:48 PM To: Matthew Lamb; James La Chapelle Subject: FW: soccer Gentlemen, Please handle. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettermirror Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 he totally glossed over your point that - why should you have to have all 4 channels to watch a NATIONAL TEAM live!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuscan Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 You didn't even get an answer, just a regurgitation of their promotion for the Can v Jam game! This is bullsh*t, they are being faceless and are dancing around the point that they don't give two sh*ts about live coverage of our MNT. There may be a few good apples in the Sportsnet tree, but there's a sh*tload more in higher places who are f*cking it up for us fans! I say screw the emailing and mail out a written letter to both the CSA and RSN demanding to know what the deal is with this coverage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettermirror Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 agreed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hectorj Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Thanks for your recent email. We certainly appreciate the feedback. Unfortunately, due to previously arranged programming commitments to Major League Baseball, we are not able to broadcast that WCQ live on Sportsnet West and Pacific. To ensure as many people as possible are still able to see the game, we are airing it live on Sportsnet East and Sportsnet Ontario. As well, we will be streaming it live on our website. Our apologies that we are unable to do more. Sincerely Jim LaChapelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Daddy K Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 quote:Originally posted by hectorj Thanks for your recent email. We certainly appreciate the feedback. Unfortunately, due to previously arranged programming commitments to Major League Baseball, we are not able to broadcast that WCQ live on Sportsnet West and Pacific. To ensure as many people as possible are still able to see the game, we are airing it live on Sportsnet East and Sportsnet Ontario. As well, we will be streaming it live on our website. Our apologies that we are unable to do more. Sincerely Jim LaChapelle Jim LaChapelle's response makes sense, providing they committed to airing the baseball game before they acquired the MNT broadcasting rights. But when a conflict like that does arise, can the broadcaster not sell the rights of that one game to another network, who is willing to air it live? It would be great if someone could shed some light on this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Posted August 28, 2008 Author Share Posted August 28, 2008 Both bettermirror and Tuscan are right. Sportasnet is just giving Canadian soccer fans the brush off. To them we don't matter because they think we have no choice but to accept whatever they offer us. Wrong. If we agree that this type of broadcasting of Canadian World Cup qualifying matches is unacceptable, and unite to collectively apply enough pressure, we can make it that Sportsnet will never want to bid for the rights to another Canadian qualifying match again. Most of us remember "Black Wednesday." T-Shirts expressing Canadian soccer fans disapproval of Sportsnet's unacceptable broadcasting practices could be worn at the Canada vs. Honduras and Canada vs. Mexico matches. Just imagine Sportsnet broadcasting a game where thousands of fans are wearing T-Shirts with a crossed-out Sportsnet logo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sting Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 You can't trust what Sportsnet says. For the Canada/Jamaica game, they claimed if you have the digital sportsnet stations you would see the game live on the Sportsnet West feed. In Manitoba we received baseball and had to watch the game on the East feed instead. If you taped the game, you would have missed it. It was the same with the game against Brazil, the times they stated were wrong as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Posted August 28, 2008 Author Share Posted August 28, 2008 We all share your frustration. Last night before the Impact game I was watching a tape of the Jamaica vs. Canada World Cup qualifier played at the National Stadium, in Kingston, back in September of 1997. The game was broadcast LIVE on TSN, with Vic Rauter and Graham Leggat doing the commentary. Craig Forrest was too busy earning his 42nd cap. The only frustration for Canadian soccer fans that day, aside from Canada losing the contest 1-0, was the odd commercial break during the game. This, however, seems like only a minor inconvenience compared to how Sportsnet handles matters. I miss Graham. quote:Originally posted by sting You can't trust what Sportsnet says. For the Canada/Jamaica game, they claimed if you have the digital sportsnet stations you would see the game live on the Sportsnet West feed. In Manitoba we received baseball and had to watch the game on the East feed instead. If you taped the game, you would have missed it. It was the same with the game against Brazil, the times they stated were wrong as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luis_Rancagua Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 I've already forward my complaint... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Massive Attack Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 I think Canadian soccer fans are cheap, lazy and have an over-rated view of how important our sport/national team is to the rest of the country and the media in general. Sure, it sucks that the games aren't live on Sportsnet across the country. But has anyone seen the ratings? Maybe its time more of us started putting our money where our mouths are. I contend that all Canadian soccer supporters in this country with the means should get all 4 Sportsnet stations, Gol TV, FSWC and CBC Bold. We need to support the networks that are supporting Canadian soccer. FSWC and Gol TV are both major money losers. Who's going to fill the void if those 2 channels simply don't exist anymore? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Posted August 28, 2008 Author Share Posted August 28, 2008 How Massively ignorant you are! Does Sportsnet have a crystalball that tells them what the ratings are going to be in advance of a game? Because their programming decision to delay the feed of the Jamaica game was made well in advance of this game ever being played. Obviously they have looked into that crystal-ratings-ball again for the Honduras game. And aren't we cheap, lazy and misguided soccer fans lucky that Sportsnet hasn't come up with a Sportsnet Artic region and a Sportsnet Prairie region and a .... (Well even a you, who worries so much about poor old Sportsnet, can fill in that blank. Now try not to get too negative in your response. I know that's hard for you, but it only get threads locked, although that's probably what you want when a thread goes somewhere you don't like.) The only thing that sucks here is Sportsnet, and furthermore its none of your business what the financial means of anyone on this board are! quote:Originally posted by Massive Attack I think Canadian soccer fans are cheap, lazy and have an over-rated view of how important our sport/national team is to the rest of the country and the media in general. Sure, it sucks that the games aren't live on Sportsnet across the country. But has anyone seen the ratings? Maybe its time more of us started putting our money where our mouths are. I contend that all Canadian soccer supporters in this country with the means should get all 4 Sportsnet stations, Gol TV, FSWC and CBC Bold. We need to support the networks that are supporting Canadian soccer. FSWC and Gol TV are both major money losers. Who's going to fill the void if those 2 channels simply don't exist anymore? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Posted August 28, 2008 Author Share Posted August 28, 2008 During the Honduras game I'd love to hear some "Sportsnet Sucks" chants from the Montreal crowd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettermirror Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 guys - we also have to be careful not to "bite the hand..." however, a co-ordinated effort is on the cards to sort this issue...and I agree.....a chant is a goodstart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmcmurph Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 After the Jamaica game (watched on the web) I went to a pub to meet with some friends from our kids soccer team. They were completely dumbfounded that a WCQ match was not on TV. One is from Europe and one is from South America. One went so far as to say he doesn't blame Owen Hargreaves for switching citizenship after seeing how the MNT get treated in the press. I wouldn't go that far but I agree with the sentiment. To make matters worse the internet feed was horrible that night at my place. I've seen lots of games via the internet and they were pretty good streams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jeffery S. Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Who sold them the rights? Under what condition? It is unthinkable in any soccer-serious nation in the world to sell the rights to a station without including a clause that protects the product--meaning a clause that requires a live broadcast countrywide. Will the webcast work for me outside of Canada, anyone know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loyola Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 quote:Originally posted by Jeffrey S. Who sold them the rights? Under what condition? It is unthinkable in any soccer-serious nation in the world to sell the rights to a station without including a clause that protects the product--meaning a clause that requires a live broadcast countrywide. Will the webcast work for me outside of Canada, anyone know? Well, I'm pretty sure if the CSA was requesting such a clause in their contract, no channel would want to buy the rights.... It's also pretty tough to negotiate because you don't have a fix schedule. At some point, people have to realize that we aren't a soccer nation and the CSA has to deal with that reality when the time to sell the rights comes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottie Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 We've been over this. At WCQ we are there for the team and that's it. No protests, no distractions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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