RIP Hockey Night in Canada
Cats: Canada|CBC TV have let the iconic Hockey Night in Canada theme go. To their competitor CTV.
If ever there was an institution that united this big country, it was the Hockey Night in Canada theme. For the past 40 years, it opened and closed CBC hockey games. Many of us grew up with it on Saturday nights.
To give my American friends an idea of the seriousness, this would be like losing “God Bless America” to, say, Guatemala.
God Bless Guatemala. No.
The catchy Hockey Night in Canada tune stirs the heart and soul of many a Canadian in a way that this country’s boring staid national anthem could never do.
If I were a CBC negotiator I would have moved heaven and earth to protect their rights to the theme because it’s more than just a hockey song; it’s an anthem of national identity.
People will still tune into CBC TV’s Hockey Night in Canada, but they will always remember how CBC lost the theme and it will be very difficult for the public broadcaster to earn their forgiveness.
And at a time when many long knifes are out for CBC TV, this wound could be fatal.
Let’s hope not.
June 9th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
I say keep playing it and just route more power to the deflector array.
I heard they’re still playing hockey! It’s summer here.
June 10th, 2008 at 1:18 am
It is a crying shame to see a National Treasure so grossly mishandled. Can you write your congressman?
Doc
June 10th, 2008 at 1:58 am
It was badly mishandled by everybody involved. At least we get to associate it with the Bejing Olympics now.
June 10th, 2008 at 8:01 am
Dick, good point on hockey. In Canada, the winter sport of hockey is a year round preoccupation.
Doc, you said it. It wouldn’t have happened in the USA because your country understands the value of a rousing anthem.
Barbara, yes, Hockey night in Canada in the summer olympics
June 10th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
All of the newspapers, CNN and ESPN have already mentioned this, I wondered when you were going to get it.
June 10th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
“the good ole hockey game is the best game you can name, and the best game you can name is the good ole hockey game”
June 10th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Aww, say it ain’t so! I miss HNIC. My brother sent me a text message with a photo of Don Cherry in a blue daisy printed suit jacket a couple weeks back so I could feel the love.
June 10th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
So ridiculous! The CBC fails to score again!
June 11th, 2008 at 7:44 am
With only seconds left in the game, CTV charges up the middle, skating past the CBC, setting up the power play. CTV deeks to the right, switches to the left — CTV shoots — THEY SCORE!!!!! And it’s game over folks — CBC didn’t even see that coming……
June 11th, 2008 at 10:08 am
WP, GT had it first - we were wondering when you were going to visit?
Melissa, not sure if the Stompin’ Tom theme is going to do it.
Jenna, yes we still have Don Cherry. Love him or hate him, he is that rare thing in Canadian culture - a character.
Dale, yup, CBC has hurt it’s credibility with this one.
YAM, CBC was out-played and out-classed by this.
June 14th, 2008 at 5:44 am
“WP, GT had it first - we were wondering when you were going to visit?”
I’ve been doing the video crack-thing, “Dynasty Warriors 6.”
June 14th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
WP, you scare me