I am going to do this again. A Canada-specific thread is needed due to CRTC Canadian Content and media ownership issues that are specific to Canada. No more "ccg3332" is a sock puppet of "huhe888" crap, please. We are different people. "ccg3332" is obviously European, whereas I am American of Chinese descent. --- Canadasoccertv (on Twitter) is reporting that beIN SPORT LLC (USA) has blown away the incumbents Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment (MLSE) and Score Media for the Canadian video rights to La Liga and Serie A in August 2012-May 2015 within the past 45 days. Coupled that with the English-language rights to Ligue 1, and a Canadian partner can launch beIN SPORT 1 Canada as a reasonably close copy of beIN SPORT 1 USA, but with Canadian advertising. Knowing that the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunication Commission (CRTC) requires a Canadian media company to hold majority equity ownership of a pay sports TV channel before the CRTC will issue an operating licence, beIN SPORT LLC must partner with a Canadian company in order to launch beIN SPORT 1 Canada. In my opinion, the most likely scenario is for beIN SPORT LLC (USA) to partner with TeleLatino Network in Toronto to rebrand EuroWorld Sport into beIN SPORT 1 Canada. EuroWorld Sport's programming lineup in the next 9 months have been completely gutted by either beIN SPORT LLC (Serie A, Ligue 1) and Rogers Media (UEFA Europa League) so its only live event programming for now will be the FIFA events via sublicense from CBC. The less likely option is for beIN SPORT LLC (USA) to partner with Shaw Media to launch beIN SPORT 1 Canada using the CRTC licence for the defunct FOX Sports World Canada (which has not been revoked yet by the CRTC.) I do not believe that Rogers Media or Bell Media are likely partners, as beIN SPORT LLC (USA) is expected to challenge the Roger Media (Sportsnet, Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet World) - Bell Media (TSN, TSN2, ESPN Classic Canada, RDS, RDS2, RDS Info) - Quebecor Media (TVA Sports) consortium for the Canadian rights to English Premier League for August 2013-May 2016.
As for Canadian on-camera talent and producers: Because the production of FOX Soccer Report by Shaw Media from 201 Portage Avenue in Winnipeg will end on August 31, EVERYONE who has any positive professional association (past and present) with FOX Soccer Report who possesses Canadian citizenship is a potential candidate to move to beIN SPORT 1 Canada (or USA), particularly female on-air talent and the behind-the-scenes production staff. Because Rogers Sportsnet soccer Executive Producer Gerry Dobson is now expected to hire Kara Lang to anchor the new soccer newscast for FOX Soccer and Sportsnet World starting September 1, EVERYONE currently associated with the production of Sportsnet World Connected, including female on-air talent and behind-the-scenes production staff, is a potential candidate to move to beIN SPORT 1 Canada (or USA) as not everyone associated with Sportsnet World Connected will be selected to work on the new show. Preference is for female on-camera studio hosts over males, as the target audience for beIN SPORT 1 Canada will be men ages 18-34. Anyone Canadian citizens who ends up making to jump from Canada to beIN SPORT 1, if they were to be based at Imagina U.S. in Medley, Florida, USA, will need to apply for a P-1 visa in order to be able to work. Spouses of P-1 visa holders are issued P-4 visas with no work authorization.
Correction to above regarding visas: I understand that Canadian citizens who are hired to work in production at Imagina U.S. for beIN SPORT 1 USA or beIN SPORT 1 Canada will apply for the O-1B visa (not the P-1B): Spouses of O-1B visa holders will apply for the O-3 visa, which has no work authorization. O-1B: individuals with an extraordinary ability in the arts or extraordinary achievement in motion picture or television industry http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/us...nnel=b9930b89284a3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD
I don't know yet whether ESPN, Inc. possibly switching sides in the U.S. to partner with beIN SPORT LLC instead of FOX Sports Media Group to bid on U.S. video rights to EPL in August 2013-May 2016 will have any implications in Canada, where ESPN, Inc. owns 33% of Bell Media's sports TV channels TSN, TSN2, ESPN Classic, RDS, RDS2, RDS Info, etc. Will Bell Media switch sides as well?
I hope this does not happen- is Al Jazeera looking to conquer the world or something?! Why are they vastly overpaying to acquire the rights to leagues that do not draw huge audiences (you said it yourself that French, Italian & Spanish leagues do not draw huge viewership)?? Now they are going to turn around and launch their own channel and charge a premium for it just because they overpaid to acquire the content?! I don't see many people paying 15 or 16 bucks to watch the French & Italian leagues, then again what do I know!? There only saving grace IMO is if they are successful in acquiring the rights to the EPL, this league does very well due to all the ex pats and the great marketing that has made EPL popular around the globe. I guess this explains the lack of announcements from GolTV, The Score & EWS regarding the acquisition of the rights to any of the leagues in question- Al Jazeera acquired the rights to all of them. I hope they will look at sub-licensing out the rights to the existing players, namely GolTV Canada and EWS. Regarding EuroWorld Sport, this channel is owned by Corus (which is in turn controlled by Shaw), they are known for being very frugal, not throwing away huge sums of money especially on a new, unknown entity like bein (what a stupid name). Anything is possible but personally I don't see them partnering up with Al Jazeera. Look at Fox Sports World Canada, they did absolutely nothing to improve that channel when they acquired it as part of their acquisition of Canwest. Now they are going to give Corus/TLN the go ahead to partner up with Al Jazeera to launch a premium soccer channel- I doubt it. You are forgetting one major piece of the puzzle regarding this potential partnership- distribution! EWS is currently only available on Rogers & MTS (small, niche provider in one province). They need all major TV providers in Canada to sign up to carry their channel otherwise this TLN-Al Jazeera is a no go. Capacity is tight on many providers and if this winds up being a premium service and not a regular specialty channel then I think some providers might decline to carry it.
This is actually a very exciting development in Canada, for the following reasons: 1. beIN SPORT LLC (Qatar Media Corporation) is expected to make a minority equity investment in its Canadian media partner, i.e. 19.9%. TeleLatino Network is the odds on favorite, as it is the only entity that possesses an active CRTC digital TV licence for a soccer-centric TV network that is looking for a partner. 2. TeleLatino Network has multiple channels that can carry multiple EPL matches simultaneously: TLN, EuroWorld Sport (which will likely be re-branded beIN SPORT 1 Canada), and TLN en Español. 3. The studio space issue in Miami can be alleviated by using TeleLatino's studio space in Toronto. 4. The news operation for beIN SPORT 1 USA and beIN SPORT 1 Canada can be located at TeleLatino's studio in Toronto in order to meet the 30% Canadian content requirement for beIN SPORT 1 Canada. 5. EPL will likely be part of the programming mix, as I would be surprised if Rogers (Sportsnet)-Bell (TSN/RDS)-Quebecor (TVA) will be willing to go above $30 million from the current valuation of $6 million. beIN SPORT LLC-TeleLatino should have no problem bidding $39-45 million.
Biggest problem with TLN (and TLNe) is the lack of HD. BeIn's investment could change that but it makes me wonder if the lack of HD could actually play a key in making the final decision. I gave up my Bell subscription last summer as the wait for GOL-TV in HD was a joke (and Canadians are still waiting!!). And after enjoying Serie A in HD on The Score, TLN and RAI simply became unwatchable. Never saw EWS but believe that is a non-HD channel as well. Knowing the high quality of Al Jazeera Sports programming in HD, I actually wonder if they would want to enter the Canadian market in SD mode. Then again, they may not have any other choice... SA
Looks like you have this whole vision mapped out there HuHe, Al Jazeera should have you on the payroll. EuroWorld Sport has approval for an HD channel but has not launched it yet. I assume it has to do with the fact that only one major provider carries the channel and of course they don't have very much programming. Last season they aired a few live French league matches and 1 live Italian league match- no point launching a full HD channel with only a few matches airing live (the rest of their schedule was tape delayed content). As for TLN's other channels, TLN HD recently launched on Rogers and TLN Espanol & Sky TG24 Canada have approval for an HD feed so all their channels could potentially be available in HD at some point.
One thing to remember: Canada is an ice hockey country. The NHL comes first at Rogers (Sportsnet/Sportsnet ONE/Sportsnet WORLD), Bell (CTV/TSN/TSN2/ESPN Classic Canada/NHL Network Canada/RDS/RDS2/RDS Info), and Quebecor (TVA/TVA Sports). In contrast, soccer has always been the flagship sport at TeleLatino Network. With Serie A, La Liga and Ligue 1 now secured by beIN SPORT LLC and EPL soon to follow, the beIN SPORT LLC-TeleLatino partnership, if it were to come to fruition, will finally be able to present international club soccer in Canada the right way, week in and week out, on beIN SPORT 1 Canada, TLN, and TLN en Español. I have already recommended Jeremy St. Louis to apply for the news director position. I expect the news hub for beIN SPORT 1 USA and beIN SPORT 1 Canada to be based at TeleLatino in Toronto.
Either Bell Media (TSN/RDS) or Quebecor Media (TVA Sports) can choose to switch sides as they are sublicensees. They can play TeleLatino (with beIN SPORT 1 Canada) and Rogers (Sportsnet) against each other to see which one has a better chance of winning before deciding whether to switch sides. I am 99% certain that Quebecor (TVA Sports) wants to switch sides because TeleLatino does NOT have a French-language TV channel in Canada.
The two obvious female talent candidates for beIN SPORT 1 Canada are both named Michelle. Both are supposed to be replaced on September 1 by Kara Lang when Rogers Sportsnet in Toronto take over production of FOX Soccer Report (and Sportsnet World Connected is cancelled.) Michelle Sturino is currently the anchor of Sportsnet World Connected on (Rogers) Sportsnet World (Canada). She also anchors sports on City NewsChannel in Toronto. Sturino has only 1 year of anchoring experience after serving as a broadcast associate at Roger Sportsnet for 4 years. Michelle Lissel is currently the anchor of FOX Soccer Report on FOX Soccer (USA) and EuroWorld Sport (Canada). She has over a decade of experience as anchor/reporter for Shaw Media/Canwest Global/CKND-TV in Winnipeg, split over 2 periods by her 3-year stint as Director of Media and Public Relations for Toronto FC of Major League Soccer (MLS).
Blogger Andy Pereira has tweeted an alert on Friday afternoon. Please be prepared for a possible official announcement of beIN SPORT 1 Canada next week. From Canadasoccertv via Twitter: https://twitter.com/CanadaSoccerTV/status/226459153604952064 Hope to have more news on EuroWorld Sport coverage for the 2012/2013 season (Italy,France & Spain leagues) on Monday. Stay tuned.
My main concern is whether or not other carriers (read: Bell TV) will carry either this re-branded channel or EWS. I can't see it continuing to be exclusively shown on Rogers and MTS. I'm also wondering what this would mean for GolTV Canada, who would not be able to survive without La Liga matches...
There is no announcements set at all right now or even in the upcoming future. I don't think there is no point to jump the gun. I will be trying to get more info from TLN starting on Monday
I will be also looking at that information as well. If they will finally get other providers for EuroWorld Sport only on Rogers & MTS as of right now. Gol TV Canada will still be around probably till 2015. Who knows after that but losing the La Liga is a huge blow but they still have German Bundesliga.
I mentioned earlier that Sportsnet World Connected anchor Michelle Sturino will be on vacation next week so she will not be anchoring. She decided to let her fans know via Twitter @SNSturino why she is on vacation. Congratulations, Michelle. Enjoy your honeymoon.
Interesting coincidence that both Michelles who anchor soccer news in Canada are newlyweds and both are job-hunting at the same time. Wouldn't it be even more of a coincidence if they were hired by the same new company and they were to anchor together on the same show a year from now? Don't laugh and dismiss this possibility.
What happens to Bobby McMahon? I would think at his age he has his roots in Winnipeg firmly entrenched and wouldn't want a move to Toronto. Would Fox still use him by Skype which the show had used previously when doing interviews with overseas guests? I'm sure he'll still doing his writing gig and podcasts. It will just suck not have him around doing regular TV work as I really believe he is as good a sports analyst as there is on TV in North America.
Bobby McMahon will be replaced by other analysts/pundits when FOX Soccer Report moves to Toronto on September 1. He will be left behind in Winnipeg. The new executive producer of FOX Soccer Report, Gerry Dobson (who also calls soccer play-by-play for Rogers Sportsnet and is on the board of the Canadian Soccer Association) has several pundit candidates with ties to the CSA available, including long-time Rogers Sportsnet soccer analyst Craig Forrest. Kara Lang can also play "out of position" by serving as an analyst if necessary. -- Given the emphasis on FEMALE anchors and studio hosts, I would be very surprised if Eoin or Asa were to resurface a year from now on "beIN SPORT Tonight". The two Michelles are the obvious news anchor candidates. Other candidates will surface. (I do know that Julie Stewart-Binks of CTV Regina is NOT interested in anchoring soccer news anymore, presumably because of the extra demand on soccer news anchors compared to general sports news anchors. JSB exposed her lack of soccer knowledge during the only on-camera anchoring appearance on FOX Soccer Report by mispronouncing the names of 6 different soccer clubs in less than 5 minutes. ) -- As of July 21, I understand that Terri Leigh remains the favourite to be hired as the face of beIN SPORT 1 USA, with Michelle Lissel being the backup option.
In other words this whole thread is just pure speculation on the part of some overzealous person?! In the absence of solid evidence of a supposed partnership between EWS & ALJ, it stands to reason that ANYTHING could and might happen including that Al Jazeera might partner up with GolTV Canada to launch this new channel (which is the more practical and logical option IMO as GolTV Canada already enjoys widespread carriage and Bell & Rogers are huge media conglomerates who between them own the largest cable company and largest satellite provider in Canada). On what do you base this assertion that GolTV Canada will be around until 2015?? This date was mentioned in conjunction with Leafs TV & NHL rights (Bell currently has the national package and it expires in 2015). The future of this channel (not GolTV Canada) is up in the air until that time pending the determination on who will have the rights to NHL games in the next contract cycle. I agree with Forca Sporting, without La Liga this channel will see a significant drop off in subscriptions so how is it going to survive?! The Bundesliga is filler content (they only air a measly 2 matches per week) and will not draw enough subs to keep the channel viable long term.
beIN SPORT LLC has already blown away Score Media and GOLTV Canada/MLSE for Canadian video rights to Serie A (in languages other than Italian) and La Liga (in all languages). The previous rightsholders are OUT. The ONLY way beIN SPORT LLC can launch beIN SPORT 1 Canada within 90 days is to partner with TeleLatino, which has an active CRTC digital soccer-centric TV licence tied to an active digital TV channel: EuroWorld Sport. I do know that TeleLatino Network (i.e. Aldo Di Felice) has contacted beIN SPORT LLC (i.e. Youssef al-Obaidly), but I don't know how far negotiations have progressed. TeleLatino is obviously trying to sell a minority equity stake (i.e. 19.9%) to beIN SPORT LLC. The construction of a "news hub" for both beIN SPORT 1 Canada and beIN SPORT 1 USA at the studio of TeleLatino Network in Toronto should also be part of the discussion. Many people are watching the situation with interest, including both Michelles (Lissel, Sturino) who are job-hunting, Jeremy St. Louis (who is a strong candidate for news director given his experience), and other Canadians with soccer news and broadcasting experience.
FYI- the only 'soccer-centric' channel in Canada is GolTV Canada (always has been), EuroWorld Sport is licensed to air soccer, rugby & cricket. (http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2006/db2006-114.htm)