The Media Notepad: Stanley Cup Game 7 scores for ABC

Also: Kenya Moore out at Housewives; Fox and Sinclair team up for new syndicated true crime show; Paramount looking to sell assets Even though the recent NBA Finals naturally drew a larger audience on average, the excitement of the Stanley Cup Final was unparalleled as the series lasted seven games with historic implications. The Edmonton Oilers – who won four […]

NHL drops the puck on new season with new TV deals

  New rights holders TNT, ESPN begin new deals The puck dropped on a new NHL season a few days ago, and it also marked a new era in broadcasting rights in the U.S. ESPN and Turner each began separate seven-year deals with the league last week, with ESPN broadcasting their first game in 17 years last Tuesday night from […]

Toronto Raptors head to the NBA Finals – but not on Canada’s broadcast networks (updated)

NBA Finals only on cable in Canada despite Raptors’ appearance The Toronto Raptors advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in their 24-year history as they defeated the Milwaukee Bucks Saturday night, winning the Eastern Conference Finals four games to two. They now play the defending champion Golden State Warriors Thursday night. But while American viewers can watch […]

Third time’s the charm for the Chicago Blackhawks

Third Cup this decade; sixth Cup overall Blackhawks dominate on the ice and in the ratings How sweet it is! The Chicago Blackhawks on Monday clinched another Stanley Cup championship as they defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 in front of more than 22,000 happy humans at the United Center – the first time the Cup was won on home […]

NHL strikes blockbuster Canadian rights deal with Rogers

Rogers to sublicense games to CBC; TVA gets exclusive French-language rights; Bell Media’s TSN shut out In one of the biggest TV deals in North American history, Canadian cable giant Rogers Communications – which was founded as a vacuum tube company in 1925 and pioneered FM Broadcasting in Canada in the 1960s, reached a 12-year, $5.25 billion pact with the […]