NHL on CTV

NHL on CTV is the name of a former television program that broadcast National Hockey League games on the CTV Television Network.

Regular season coverage

CTV's involvement with the NHL began in the 1965–66 season with a series of Wednesday-night regular season games. These were produced by the McLaren ad agency, which also produced the Saturday night Hockey Night in Canada games for the CBC. As was the case with the Saturday games, they were contests (usually at home) of the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, and after 1970, the Vancouver Canucks. CTV decided to pull out of midweek NHL coverage in 1975, opening the way for local TV stations in the three Canadian cities which had NHL clubs to carry mid-week telecasts of their hometown NHL clubs.

On March 16, 1966, CTV's coverage of the game between the Canadiens and Maple Leafs was frequently interrupted for news updates on the Gemini 8 space mission, which had run into serious trouble after being successfully launched that morning; when the game ended, CTV joined a simulcast of CBS News coverage in time for the capsule's re-entry and splashdown.

Ironically, CTV affiliate CFCF-TV in Montreal carried some local Canadiens' telecasts starting in the 1975–76 season.

In the 1984–85 and 1985–86 seasons, the NHL returned to CTV, with regular season games[1] on Friday[2] nights (and some Sunday afternoons) as well as partial coverage of the playoffs and Stanley Cup Finals.

CTV/Carling O'Keefe[3] initially signed a contract well into the 1984–85 season. As a result, they wanted to cram as many games as possible (beginning in February) in the brief window they had. 1985–86's coverage didn't begin until November, so to avoid conflicts with CTV's coverage of the Major League Baseball postseason.

While Molson continued to present Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday nights on the CBC, rival brewery Carling O'Keefe[4] began airing Friday Night Hockey on CTV. This marked the first time in more than a decade that CBC was not the lone over-the-air network broadcaster of the National Hockey League in Canada.

The deal with CTV was arranged by the Quebec Nordiques (who were owned by Carling O'Keefe[3]) and the 14 U.S.-based NHL clubs,[4] who sought to break Molson's monopoly[5] on NHL broadcasting in Canada. All of CTV's regular season telecasts originated from Quebec City or the United States, as Molson shut them out of the other six Canadian buildings (as Carling did to them in Quebec City).

After the 1985–86 season, CTV decided to pull the plug[6][7] on the venture. Their limited access to Canadian-based teams[8] (other than Quebec, whose English-speaking fan base was quite small) translated into poor ratings. For the next two years, Carling O'Keefe retained their rights, and syndicated playoff telecasts on a chain of channels that would one day become the Global Television Network under the names Stanley Cup '87 and Stanley Cup '88, before a merger between the two breweries put an end to the competition.

Schedules

1984–85
Date Teams
February 15 Edmonton-New York Rangers
February 22 St. Louis-Buffalo
March 1 Minnesota-Detroit
March 8 Philadelphia-Washington
March 15 Winnipeg-Québec
March 22 Montreal-Washington
March 24 Québec-Hartford
March 29 Edmonton-Hartford

1985–86
Date Teams
November 8 St. Louis-Buffalo
November 15 Vancouver-Washington
November 22 Winnipeg-Pittsburgh
November 29 Montréal-Buffalo
December 6 New York Islanders-Québec
December 13 Hartford-Buffalo
December 20 New York Islanders-New York Rangers
December 27 Montréal-New Jersey
January 3 Washington-New Jersey
January 10 Edmonton-Quebec[9]
January 17 Québec-Hartford
January 24 New York Islanders-Washington
January 31 St. Louis-Detroit
February 2 Toronto-Chicago
February 7 Montréal-Washington
February 14 New York Rangers-Detroit
February 21 Québec-Minnesota
February 23 Toronto-Minnesota
February 28 Québec-Buffalo
March 7 Hartford-Buffalo
March 9 Calgary-Detroit
March 14 Calgary-Québec
March 21 Winnipeg-Washington
March 28 New York Islanders-Washington
April 4 Montréal-Buffalo

All-Star Game coverage

In 1984–85, Dan Kelly and Ron Reusch called the Philadelphia-Québec Wales Conference Final series. They also televised Games 3, 4 and 6 of the Montréal-Québec Adams Division Final and Games 2 and 5 of the Philadelphia-New York Islanders Patrick Division Final.

In 1985–86, Kelly, Reusch, and Bobby Taylor called the Calgary-St. Louis Campbell Conference Final series. CTV's coverage was blacked out[10] in Calgary, where CBC provided coverage. For the Calgary Flames-Winnipeg Jets first-round series in 1985–86, CBC, who initially had the rights to the series, ultimately passed as they were already maxed out with three other series (Montréal-Boston, Chicago-Toronto, and Edmonton-Vancouver). The rights to the Calgary-Winnipeg series were eventually sold to the CTV affiliates in Calgary (CFCN) and Winnipeg (CKY) as well as Carling O'Keefe.

CBC and Molson Brewery used a loophole in that games involving Canadian based teams (excluding the Quebec Nordiques) in the playoffs could be televised locally by CBC.

Year Round Series Games covered Play-by-play Colour commentator(s)
1985 Divisional finals Philadelphia-New York Islanders Games 2, 5 Dan Kelly Ron Reusch
Montréal-Québec Games 3, 4, 6 Dan Kelly Ron Reusch
Conference finals Québec-Philadelphia Games 1–6 Dan Kelly Ron Reusch
1986 Divisional semifinals Québec-Hartford Game 3[11][12] Dan Kelly Ron Reusch and Brad Park
Calgary-Winnipeg Games 1–3 Russ Peake (in Calgary)
Curt Keilback (in Winnipeg)		 Doug Smith (in Calgary)
Rod Black (in Winnipeg)
Divisional finals Washington-New York Rangers Games 1–6 Dan Kelly Ron Reusch
Conference finals Calgary-St. Louis Games 1–7[13][14] Dan Kelly Ron Reusch and Bobby Taylor

Stanley Cup Finals coverage

In 1972, Hockey Night in Canada moved all playoff coverage from CBC to CTV to avoid conflict with the lengthy NABET strike[15] against the CBC. Eventually, MacLaren Advertising, in conjunction with Molson Breweries and Imperial Oil/Esso, who actually owned the rights to Hockey Night in Canada (not CBC) decided to give the playoff telecast rights to CTV. Initially, it was on a game by game basis in the quarterfinals (Game 1 of the Boston-Toronto series was seen on CFTO Toronto in full while other CTV affiliates, but not all joined the game in progress. Game 1 of the New York Rangers-Montréal series was seen only on CFCF Montreal while Game 4 not televised due to a lockout of technicians at the Montreal Forum), and then the full semifinals and Stanley Cup Finals. Because CTV did not have 100% penetration in Canada at this time, they asked CBC (who ultimately refused) to allow whatever one of their affiliates were the sole network in that market to show the playoffs. As a result, the 1972 Stanley Cup playoffs were not seen in some of the smaller Canadian markets unless said markets were close enough to the United States border to pick up the signal of a CBS affiliate that carried Games, 1, 4, or 6 (Games 2, 3 and 5 were not nationally broadcast in the United States).

Round Series Games covered Play-by-play Colour commentator(s)
Quarterfinals Boston-Toronto Games 1–5 Bill Hewitt Bob Goldham (in Boston)
Brian McFarlane (in Toronto)
New York Rangers-Montréal Games 1–6 Danny Gallivan Dick Irvin Jr.
Minnesota-St. Louis Game 7 Danny Gallivan Dick Irvin Jr.
Semifinals Boston-St. Louis Games 3–4 Danny Gallivan Dick Irvin Jr.
Chicago-New York Rangers Games 2–4 Bill Hewitt Bob Goldham

In 1974, some CTV affiliates (like CFTO in Toronto and CFCF in Montreal) picked up the American feed from NBC (with Tim Ryan and Ted Lindsay on the call) of Game 4 of the Montréal-New York Rangers playoff series.

In 1985, CBC televised Games 1 and 2 nationally while Games 3, 4 and 5 were televised in Edmonton only. CTV televised Games 3, 4 and 5 nationally while games were blacked out in Edmonton. Dan Kelly, Ron Reusch, and Brad Park called the games on CTV.

In 1986, CBC only televised Games 1 and 2 in Montreal and Calgary. CBC televised Games 3, 4 and 5 nationally. When CTV televised Games 1 and 2,[16] both games were blacked out in Montréal and Calgary. Like in the year prior, Dan Kelly, Ron Reusch, and Brad Park called the games for CTV.

NHL-Soviet Super Series

In 1979–80, 1982–83, 1985–86, 1988–89, and 1989–90, CTV televised a handful of games of the NHL-Soviet Super Series, where touring Soviet clubs visited NHL teams in a series of exhibition games.

On New Year's Eve 1985, CTV broadcast one such game between the Montréal Canadiens and CSKA Moscow in Montreal.[17] Although CTV aired the game (as a "Special Presentation of CTV Sports"), it was not considered an official part of NHL on CTV package. That was because the broadcast was presented by Molson instead of Carling O'Keefe. However, the regular NHL on CTV on-air talent were still utilized. Bob Cole, Ron Reusch, and Dick Irvin Jr. called the game on CTV.

CTV's later involvement with the NHL

CTV Sportsnet's coverage
Main article: NHL on Sportsnet

Sportsnet was launched on October 9, 1998 as CTV Sportsnet. The name was chosen to match the regional "Fox Sports Net" operations across the United States. CTV owned 40% and was the managing partner of the new network; Rogers, Molson and Fox owned 20% each.

The new network gained credibility before it went on the air, wrestling the NHL Canadian cable package away from long-time holder TSN. From 1998–99 until 2001–02, Sportsnet aired Labatt Blue Tuesday Night Hockey to a national audience throughout the regular season, and covered first-round playoff series not involving Canadian teams. On the day CTV Sportsnet went on the air, its first live sports event was an NHL opening-night telecast between the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers. The national cable rights have since returned to TSN, though Sportsnet retains English regional rights to five of the seven Canadian-based clubs (TSN, through regional feeds, holds regional rights to the remaining two.)

"The Hockey Song" was used to open NHL broadcasts on CTV Sportsnet in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Hockey Night in Canada rumours

The possible movement of Hockey Night in Canada to another broadcaster caused some controversy and discussion during the 2006–2007 hockey season. CTV had outbid the CBC for Canadian television rights to the 2010 and 2012 Olympics as well as the major television package for curling. The broadcast requirements would have focused on CTV-owned TSN (The Sports Network), a cable channel which already carries Canadian NHL hockey during the week as well as other NHL games throughout the season. CTV did, however, buy out the previous theme to CBC's Hockey Night in Canada for use in TSN's broadcasts immediately after the 2007–08 NHL season.

The CBC's deal with the NHL was set to expire after the 2013–14 season. CTV parent Bell had been expected to make a joint bid for CTV and sister network TSN for all national English-language television rights to the NHL in Canada. Under such a deal, CTV would likely have carried the Saturday-night games during the regular-season, weekend playoff games in the first three rounds, and the Stanley Cup Finals. TSN would likely have kept midweek national cable coverage of the league and gained midweek early round playoff games of Canadian-based teams now seen on CBC. Some midweek regular-season games could have been sub-leased to the various Rogers Sportsnet regional networks. Such a deal could also have put a few local midweek telecasts on CTV Two stations in Barrie (Toronto), Vancouver Island (Vancouver), Ottawa, Calgary, and Edmonton; along with CKY-TV Winnipeg and CFCF-TV Montreal.

But on November 26, 2013, the league announced that Rogers Communications had won all Canadian television rights to the league beginning with the 2014–15 season season and extending through the 2025–26 season. While Rogers will sublease Saturday night and playoff games (including the Stanley Cup Finals) to CBC, thereby keeping that network's iconic Hockey Night in Canada in place until at least the 2017–18 season season. However, Rogers will take over production of games.

Thus, CTV, TSN, and their parent company will be out of NHL coverage until at least 2026 once some TSN regional agreements with some Canadian-based teams expire.

Announcers

Play-by-play

Color commentators

Studio hosts

Studio analysts
gollark: What does that mean? Don't buy black market children?
gollark: I haven't actually memorised relevant statistics because why would I and I can't really look them up as I'm on my phone.
gollark: I continue existence. Muahahahaha.
gollark: The obvious solution is better unisex bathrooms with actual individual cubicles.
gollark: Interesting fact: 7 + 4 is 11.

References
  1. "Old NHL on CTV schedules".
  2. McKee, Ken (Mar 8, 1986). "Competitive NHL telecasting hasn't produced viewer bonanza". Toronto Star. p. C5.
  3. "SPORTS PEOPLE; Hockey-TV Suit". New York Times. July 25, 1984.
  4. Warren, Kelly (September 25, 1984). "Great hockey/beer war takes to the ice in Chicago". Chicago Tribune. p. B1.
  5. McKee, Ken (Oct 2, 1985). "Ziegler, Molson's meet over TV rights". Toronto Star. p. F2.
  6. McKee, Ken (September 12, 1986). "Marketing mystery: Argos off TV 38 days". Toronto Star. p. F8.
  7. McKee, Ken (April 19, 1986). "CTV won't renew NHL contract". Toronto Star. p. D8.
  8. McKee, Ken (April 16, 1986). "CTV's hockey games on thin ice Network reportedly unhappy with NHL's Friday night schedule". Toronto Star. p. E5.
  9. Bawden, Jim (January 5, 1986). "Linden plays wizard in Blacke's Magic". Toronto Star. p. E8.
  10. McKee, Ken (November 7, 1985). "All-U.S. match CTV's challenge to Leaf broadcast". Toronto Star. p. C3.
  11. QUEBEC at HARTFORD 1986 on YouTube
  12. 1986 Hartford Whalers vs Quebec Nordiques Game#3 First Round on YouTube
  13. NHL 1985/1986 PlayOffs Game 6 St.Louis Blues vs Calgary Flames on YouTube
  14. 1986 NHL SCP Conf Final G 7 St Louis @ Calgary 5 14 1986 on YouTube
  15. "Strike Forces CBS to Change Hockey Feature". Los Angeles Times. February 21, 1972. p. F12.
  16. McKee, Ken (May 16, 1986). "Networks split TV coverage of Stanley Cup". Toronto Star. p. D4.
  17. McKee, Ken (December 7, 1985). "Networks won't air games between NHL, Soviet teams". Toronto Star. p. C4.
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