MAKING MONEY WITH THE ICE HOCKEY
Wanye
August 12 2010 02:04PM
Making money in sports is a difficult proposition - unless you are Kenny "Effing" Powers, featured above signing a K-Swiss endorsement deal. The Edmonton Oilers seem to have figured this out and have ended their pay-per-view experiment, signing a 10 year deal with Sportsnet to broadcast a hogillion games per year.
This bears further discussion on a rainy Thursday afternoon.
According to the press release on (GASP) Sportsnet.ca:
"Rogers Sportsnet today announced an unprecedented 10-year partnership with Alberta’s two National Hockey League teams, under which Rogers Sportsnet will be the clubs’ Official Television Broadcaster and provider of digital media content until 2020."
This announcement means three things really:
1) The Oilers took a look at the PPV receipts from the 82nd game of the 2009-10 season as the 30th place team in the NHL and fainted. When they came to, they swore they were getting out of the risky PPV TV business.
2) Sportsnet ONE - a new channel being added to the SportsNet Family of Channelry - think that it is infinitely less risky to broadcast crappy Oilers hockey then show poker 24/7 on their new channel for the next ten years.
3) Both parties think the internet will still be around in 2020, including digital content as a major portion of the agreement.
HIP HIP _________
We think that this is a tremendous thing for the average fan of the ice hockey in Alberta. Firstly, we don't have to stream games on shady Croatian websites to watch PPV anymore. Secondly, we had this dreadful feeling that the Oilers would expand PPV coverage year after year after year until it cost us hundreds of dollars to follow our faithful hockey squadron on the telematrix.
Instead the Oilers have opted to go the free-to-air route, take the guaranteed money from Sportsnet and let the good folks at Rogers figure out how to make money in the TV business.
It's amazing really that the Oilers have abandoned this experiment. They must have done REALLY REALLY poorly last season to give up on a business that has been several seasons in the making. It's also amazing that TSN - first out of the gate as the 24/7 sports channel in Canada - continues to lose ground to Sportsnet, particularly in Western Canada.
No more PPV.
Minor Squee.
All we need now is another press release titled "Rexall Beer beer prices to be slashed by 70%" and the squee will be upgraded to Tropical Storm Status.
I called a kid 'velcro ventures' for most of elementary school. I believe he lives in some sort of hut in the mountains now.
A UK pint is 20 oz, and I thought that is what you get at the pubs. That would mean that the overpayment is $2-2.50 per pint. Could be mistaken though...
And didn't they allready pull the smaller cups at Rexall two years back and kept prices the same? I am pretty sure they are 16 oz already. Anyone know about this?
If people would quit buying it(beer), it would stop rising. I made it to more than a dozen games last season. The pricess are out of hand. I can't go to a game and just drink $4 dollar cokes, so I'm just not going anymore.
If the on-ice product, or even production of the crappy product, was better, I wouldn't ahve to have 6 or more beers at the game (2 per period is quite easy and convenient).
Plus for the infusion of heroin in the beer, it really is cheap for the end product.
Here's to hoping Northlands doesn't learn how to clean their taps, and the heroin beers keep flowing.
Let me walk you through some more Beer related math:
Wanye + 100 beers - ALL MONEY = Ready for Love/Ready to fight/Ready to empty emotional baggage
There be some stats we can all stand behind.
So does all this Sportsnet blood money mean we finally get ice girls?*
*Yes. Its "Girls", not "women". ICE GIRLS.
http://i.cdn.turner.com/sivault/multimedia/photo_gallery/0812/nhl.stars.ice.girls/images/stars-ice-girl%2801%29.jpg
Have to say David although some of those women are pretty smokin, that one in the middle looks more like an ICE MILF then an Ice Girl..
Fun police block the video's where I am at.
Davis S wrote:
You are correct, Sir. Just like 'call girls' are in fact women (if they're not, someone should be in jail) but the name 'call women' just sounds silly. Certain individuals (who happen to be right about 99% of everything else) should take note of your great intelligence, Davey-Boy, and go with you on this.
[wink-wink, nudge-nudge]
i'm going to go on a limb here and.....wait for it.......'venture' to guess you're both in your early 30's....i'm 32 and i have to say those two posts brought back alot of memories & put a big ol' grin on my face*
*it may also be the bc hydro i just enjoyed.
ballsy.
Edit: that was supposed to include TD's quote as well.
Maybe that "certain individual" just likes to be special. Can't fault him for that.
Speaking of which, where's our ATL segment with said Ice Girls?????
Would it be possible that this deal was signed because Oilers Hockey is gonna be some fun $hit to watch with the Younguns lighting it up??
Wayne, my drive back to BC the next day is dangerous enough without cheaper beer, do you really want me to die ina a firey crash on the QE2? Well, if I do, they better have won the damn game, and it better have been a game #7!!! Staples, you sir are on the money, it will always be ICE GIRLS.....
When I would rage about the mighty Oil last year I would often think of how you would have to drive back to BC after the games you attend and yet you still made the treks.
Most people wouldn't cross a room to watch the 30th place team in the league - you Sir are one of the best Oilers fans in existence.
Thanks dude. But please note, I'm NOT David Staples. He posts using his full name. And he writes a helluva lot better than I do.
Gord-
You are slightly off in your calculations.
I am 147 years old and live deep underground in an abandoned salt mine. The acoustics down here are wonderful and allow me to work on my 'music' for most of the day. I still do remember your wonderous career with the Oil though.
In reality I'm under 30 and old enough that when the lovely ladies come in contact with my no-no zones they aren't committing a crime.
Hey guys. Vicki Lawrence....
What?
Best Video Ever!!!! K. Powers is the type of guy we need to be the new play by play LOL or the new eskies G.M LOL
@Wanye
Oilers do not get money from Sportsnet, they actually sell the airtime themselves and have direct control over on air staff, a soft ppv.
The heavy lifting was forced upon the advertisers that wished to commit to the advertising package, instead of 50 games +-, now the sponsors have to commit to 58 games, more $$$$$ to stay in the game, guaranteed dollars for EOHC.
This 58 game package appears to be a forced sell or shotgun marriage, as Sportsnet 1 needs content.
With PPV failing for many reasons, lack of interest, failure to deliver the feed via Shaw or Bell, community cable intermissions, increased pun time from GP, this was a failed experiment.
I didn't realize they sold the ads Deep Oil. Do they set the rates too or just take the Sportsnet Rate Card and shop it around?
Do you happen to know the rev split on a contract like that Oilers-Sportsnet?
Note: Yes, I am asking Deep Oil questions. So what, wanna fight about it?
Not bad, I turned 30 a few months ago.
One of the rare years that they won every game I was at!
Not sure about your question, very specific, noting that LaForge and other management have stated - claimed on The Team that they own the air time...... noting that the airtime revenue is smaller than the Canucks, as the audience is split amongst two dedicated markets within one province.
I would estimate that the EOHC pays for the airtime and non aquila production costs.
I would redirect your question to Gregor, as he knows the industry.