It's a sad day today. It seems that the license to the Hockey Night in Canada theme song will not be renewed by the CBC. From the composer's release:
The CBC has been offered a new license on terms that are virtually identical to those that have existed for the past decade (the cost to CBC to use the theme is approximately $500.00 for each game broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada). However, the CBC has chosen to move in a new direction.
Given Annette's post earlier today, do you sense a trend? Aren't the CBC supposed to protect Canadian culture? Pure & utter destruction of culture, I'd say.
Booo CBC! Booo!!!
Update: Tod Maffin says the CBC is still negotiating… But I'm still getting my boo-er ready. Sacred cow I tell ya – Cough up the money CBC!
Sadness. Just deep, utter sadness.
Firstly Steve, you stole my post! :) Secondly, I don't blame the CBC. The composer was getting $500 for every broadcast of HNIC, which seems a bit steep to me, it's not like the song gets used anywhere else, I doubt it is bringing in much more revenue for the composer. She has had a good ride with the song (about 8 bars of music) for about 40 years, time for a better rate. Either that or she gets $0 every time HNIC is on the air.
Very sorry Mark. I'll stay off the hockey beat for a while. :)
But I disagree. After watching the video clip that took place in this woman's home last night, I have to say – she's not living extravagantly. Not by a long shot. Can a composer (who isn't a pretty rockstar) not get compensated for their creations over the course of their life? If not, we're going to have a tough time selling the arts to anyone in this country.
:) No I do not own the hockey beat. I actually expected someone else would get to the HNIC theme before I did. Besides I have another sports post today (it has been some time since my last sports post).
I'm not commenting on her standard of living (didn't see the piece in question). I'm simply stating that I feel $500 per use is high IMHO and that it is unlikely that another outlet (TSN?) will come in with another bid if CBC doesn't conclude a deal with her… although now that I make that statement…. And personally I feel that the HNIC theme is probably only second (if that) to the national anthem in terms of the Canadian public feeling a piece of music belongs to all Canadians.
Oooh. Wouldn't that be a shot from the grassy knoll? TSN starting up hockey games with Dun-da-dun-da-da! :)
Now *that* would be one smart business move, I think.
Just learned that they started using the HNIC theme in 1968, the Leafs last won the cup in 1967. I'm thinking Leaf fans (you know who you are) might not feel so bad about losing the bad luck ditty.
Mark, I think CTV owes a referral fee. See:
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=ffea0f08-4eef-4392-9bfc-babcd289f0bd
I noticed that, so if they paid $3 million for the rights, I would happily take a 1% referral fee, heck I'm not greedy I'll take a .05% fee! :)
I must say that I don't buy the whole "saving the anthem" thing being pushed by CTV. I'm a bit perturbed by a private company swooping in to scoop up something, that in essence belonged to all Canadians (or at least that is what many thought) by virtue of CBC being a public broadcaster. But I know that there are many who hold the diametric opposite view. The only silver lining in all this is that it opens up the possibility of the Hockey Song by Stompin' Tom becoming the HNIC theme… "Hello out there we're on the air it's hockey night tonite….."