Overview
In late 2013, Canadians were intrigued to learn the NHL chose Rogers as its exclusive national broadcaster over both CBC and Rogers's bitter rival, Bell Canada. The decision was met with equal parts fascination, shock and anger. When CBC rank-and-file employees came to believe their leaders missed a chance to hold on to at least a part of Hockey Night in Canada-a move that could have saved some of their jobs-their disappointment turned to outrage. This is also a story of great irony, as the win proved to be costly for the victor in the first years.When Rogers sealed the $5.2-billion, twelve-year deal, it looked like the audacious play might just pay off. The Toronto Maple Leafs, with the biggest fan base in the country, appeared ready to shake off years of mediocrity and become playoff contenders, drawing legions of fans to Rogers's broadcasts in the process. In anticipation, Rogers gave Hockey Night in Canada a facelift, bringing in hip George Stroumboulopoulos to replace veteran host Ron MacLean. However, in January 2014, the Maple Leafs crashed hard and so did the ratings for Hockey Night in Canada. It was crushing news for Rogers, with cable-cutting already shaping into an existential threat. On top of everything, ""Strombo"" bombed as host and the network had to bring MacLean back. Then things got even worse-by the middle of the 2015-16 season, the rest of the seven Canadian NHL teams missed the playoffs and ratings fell further, chasing away even more advertising dollars. Simultaneously, viewing habits were changing so quickly no one could predict what would happen next year, let alone in the next decade.Shoalts covers this story from the beginning, and Hockey Fight in Canada details every fascinating play in this intersection of sports and business.
Full Product Details
Author: David Shoalts
Publisher: Douglas & McIntyre
Imprint: Douglas & McIntyre
Dimensions:
Width: 15.20cm
, Height: 1.40cm
, Length: 22.80cm
ISBN: 9781771622042
ISBN 10: 1771622040
Pages: 224
Publication Date: 09 May 2019
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Temporarily unavailable
The supplier advises that this item is temporarily unavailable. It will be ordered for you and placed on backorder. Once it does come back in stock, we will ship it out to you.
Reviews
If David Shoalts is writing it, I want to read it. If he's writing about the messed up Hockey Night in Canada deal, I want to read about it even more. * Steve Simmons, sports columnist, Toronto Sun * In Hockey Fight in Canada, David Shoalts serves as your thrilling play-by-play man and profoundly insightful colour commentator at the same time. For years now, some of the best plays, and dirtiest shots, have been off-ice rather than on, and Shoalts has been there for every good and bad call, every victory and loss, every highlight moment we would never know had he not recorded it. * Roy MacGregor, sports writer, The Globe and Mail *
“If David Shoalts is writing it, I want to read it. If he’s writing about the messed up Hockey Night in Canada deal, I want to read about it even more.” * Steve Simmons, sports columnist, Toronto Sun * “In Hockey Fight in Canada, David Shoalts serves as your thrilling play-by-play man and profoundly insightful colour commentator at the same time. For years now, some of the best plays, and dirtiest shots, have been off-ice rather than on, and Shoalts has been there for every good and bad call, every victory and loss, every highlight moment we would never know had he not recorded it.” * Roy MacGregor, sports writer, The Globe and Mail *
If David Shoalts is writing it, I want to read it. If he's writing about the messed up Hockey Night in Canada deal, I want to read about it even more. --Steve Simmons, sports columnist, Toronto Sun In Hockey Fight in Canada, David Shoalts serves as your thrilling play-by-play man and profoundly insightful colour commentator at the same time. For years now, some of the best plays, and dirtiest shots, have been off-ice rather than on, and Shoalts h as been there for every good and bad call, every victory and loss, every highlight moment we would never know had he not recorded it. --Roy MacGregor, sports writer, The Globe and Mail
Author Information
David Shoalts is a veteran sportswriter for The Globe and Mail who spent more than thirty years covering the NHL and the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 2009, he and Paul Waldie of The Globe’s Report On Business won the Outstanding Sportswriting Award from Sports Media Canada. He lives in Bolton, ON.
