Electric Dirt Farmer

I’m not a fan of sports entertainment (although I do occasionally watch or, preferably, listen) or most television programming, but
this Globe & Mail report caught my attention. According to the article Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Limited (MLSEL) received licenses from the CRTC last November for two specialty cable channels devoted to their sports franchises, the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL and the Toronto Raptors of the NBA. They have hired John Shannon, the former executive producer of the CBC‘s Hockey Night in Canada, to oversee both television and Internet operations and hope to launch the Maple Leaf channel by the middle of September (with the channel for the Raptors coming later).

“The Maple Leaf channel will provide an in-depth look at the club’s history and tradition. In addition, the channel will take fans behind the scenes at the Air Canada Centre and bring them up close with all their favourite Leaf personalities….

… One important element it lacks, however, is the ability to broadcast games. Currently, the MLSEL sells those rights to a number of different networks….

… The Leaf channel will provide extensive pre- and post-game coverage. It will also broadcast the team’s annual Blue and White Game and eight preseason games.”

It is certainly an interesting idea, and the Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Club is arguably the most valuable franchise in the NHL so they have as good a shot at making it work as anyone. (According to the Globe currently the only current franchise operated channel is the Manchester United’s MUTV.)

“This is a birthplace for a new, exciting sports format for many teams in North America,” Mr. Shannon predicted. “If this works here, there’s no reason the New York Yankees, Montreal Canadiens or any team with a firm hold in their market can’t duplicate our success. We’re leading the way.”

Hat tip to GlobeTechnology.com