Just saw a CNW release announcing a three year deal between the NFL and CTV.  Maybe it's a sign of things to come, linking up with other US properties.

Now viewers will have a new network to grumble about over Super Bowl commercials.

CTV, Rogers Sportsnet grab NFL package

by WILLIAM HOUSTON
Globe and Mail Update
May 22, 2007 at 2:58 PM EDT


CTV and Rogers Sportsnet have grabbed National Football League television rights away from Global Television in a three-year deal starting this season.

Global, which had owned the rights to the Sunday afternoon games as well as the playoffs and Super Bowl for decades, is out completely as an NFL broadcaster.

CTV has acquired the rights to the Sunday 1 p.m. ET game as well as the playoffs and Super Bowl.

Rogers Sportsnet will carry the 4 p.m. game.

Sources said CTV and Rogers Sportsnet will pay between $10-million and $15-million annually for the rights.

CTV president Rick Brace said he was delighted with the acquisition.

"We came a little late to the process," he said. "The NFL asked if we were interested and we thought it would be a good fit.

"So, we're very happy about it. I'd like to get more sports on CTV and this is an opportunity."

Brace said CTV and Rogers bids were made independently.

Rogers has tried, unsuccessfully, in the past to acquire NFL rights.

Rogers chief executive, Ted Rogers, is also attempting to bring an NFL franchise to Toronto.

Brace said the CTV and Rogers agreements with the NFL are work well together, because CTV would have had scheduling problems with the 4 p.m. game.

"Although our bids were separate, they really dovetailed because the four o'clock game was more of an issue for us, because it would compete with our news hours," Brace said. " So, the one o'clock game was a great fit. And it was kind of helpful that Rogers was there for the 4 p.m. game."

The NFL deal is a winner for Sportsnet, which is attempting to increase its audiences by presenting a wider range of programming. Until now, Sportsnet's major league content has been pretty much limited to baseball, non-NBA games and regional National Hockey League games.

But CTV wins biggest, because it gets the NFL's jewel - the Super Bowl, which has been outdrawing the Grey Cup in Canada for several years.

An analyst said the NFL will be a more lucrative property on CTV than it has been on Global.

"For the NFL, CTV is a much more powerful carrier than Global, mainly because CTV will cross-promote on TSN," the analyst said.

CTV owns TSN, which already carries a large amount of NFL content. TSN airs the Sunday night game, produced by NBC, and also the Monday night game, produced on ESPN, which is unavailable in Canada.

I still think it is bad that the NFL gets a better place on network TV that the CFL

but the big question is

WHO GETS OWNERSHIP OF THE VIRTUAL BLIMP ??????

I hope they scrap that idea at CTV !!!!!!!!!!!!

The virtual blimp always annoyed me but not as much as the faked stadium scoreboard with Canadian Tire ads photoshopped (if that's the applicable term) in.
  I often wondered if the NFL or the stadium advertising rightsholders were aware of this bush-league stunt perpetrated by Global.

If you read G&M coverage today, there is a note from an NFL spokesman that they weren't happy with Global's coverage.... missing plays because commercials ran long.  

Quoted from newsjunkie

I still think it is bad that the NFL gets a better place on network TV that the CFL

The CFL has only themselves to blame for this. They negotiated only with TSN. Didn't even bring the CBC or Global into discussions.

TSNs coverage of the CFL is superior to that of the CBC.  The CFL does just fine on TSN.

I'd rather see CFL on CTV than TSN...same company...there is never anything on during weekend daytime anyway...

I love the CFL games on at night.  I am boring family guy by day, but by night I am boring family guy who gets to watch football.