TSN and The Globe and Mail Deliver a Multiplatform Investigative Series on Adding NHL Franchises in Canada, Beginning Monday
Toronto, ON (July 2, 2010) – It is the topic of some of the most heated debates in Canadian sport: Why shouldn’t there be another NHL franchise in Canada? In a joint venture between TSN and The Globe and Mail, the investigative series WHY NOT CANADA? makes definite conclusions regarding the possibility of the addition of an NHL franchise in a Canadian market.
Led by veteran journalist Dave Naylor, the WHY NOT CANADA? series analyzes new wide-ranging and in-depth socio-economic data that clearly illustrates the viability of an NHL franchise expanding or relocating in the Winnipeg, Hamilton, the Greater Toronto Area and Quebec City markets.
The multiplatform investigation includes a in a six-part series on SPORTSCENTRE beginning Monday, July 5, accompanied by daily features in The Globe and Mail and online at globeandmail.com. TSN.ca will also have a dedicated WHY NOT CANADA? page beginning July 5 with written features, extra video and in-depth statistical breakdowns for the Winnipeg, Hamilton, the Greater Toronto Area and Quebec City markets.
“Six of the league’s 30 teams are located here, yet estimates are that more than 30 per cent of NHL revenue comes from Canada,” says Naylor. “Many Canadians ask themselves: if U.S. franchises are struggling, why not Canada? We will look at that question and try to separate the emotion from the facts to definitively answer if another franchise could survive in Canada.”
As part of the WHY NOT CANADA? series Naylor has spent months examining the case for an NHL franchise in four Canadian markets looking at as many angles as possible. Naylor turns to a host of leading economists, market research specialists, potential owners, competition lawyers and fans for input. Other important factors taken into consideration for each market include existing arenas, corporate presence, regional interest in hockey and demographics. Based on Naylor’s research, a formula was developed based on quantitative facts that assigns a grade based on the realistic viability of an NHL franchise in each of the four Canadian markets in question.
As part of the series, Naylor sits down with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman for his opinion and reactions to the research regarding each of the potential Canadian NHL markets considered.
The broadcast schedule for WHY NOT CANADA? on SPORTSCENTRE is as follows:
· Monday, July 5 – Part 1: Introduction to WHY NOT CANADA?
· Tuesday, July 6 – Part 2: Winnipeg
· Wednesday, July 7 – Part 3: Hamilton
· Thursday, July 8 – Part 4: Greater Toronto Area
· Friday, July 9 – Part 5: Quebec City
· Saturday, July 10 – Part 6: Conclusions
About The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail, Canada’s national newspaper, is a division of CTVglobemedia, a dynamic multimedia company, which also owns CTV Inc., Canada’s number-one private broadcaster.
About TSN
TSN is Canada’s Sports Leader and Canada’s most-watched specialty network. Delivering more sports coverage in High Definition than any other network in Canada, TSN’s comprehensive broadcast schedule features an exciting lineup of sports including NHL, IIHF, CFL, NFL, NBA, MLB, Season of Champions Curling, Golf’s Majors, F1, NASCAR Sprint Cup, Grand Slam Tennis and Championship Boxing events. TSN properties include TSN2, TSN MOBILE and the industry leading sports website TSN.ca. Official broadcaster of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and London 2012 Games of the Olympiad, TSN is a division of CTVglobemedia.
- TSN -