NOTE: The Stars are the beginning and the end of each response… I couldn’t figure out how to make it easier to read (sorry)

******I’m just wondering why you don’t air a lot of these games, but
you will air American games, for example – Anaheim and Detroit on Jan. 2. If there is a CBC Montreal on Starchoice, why are a lot of the games not shown? Aren’t you the CANADIAN Broadcasting Network? I know there is a petition going around to get more Montreal games on Hockey night in Canada… is it going to make any difference, or is it just a waste of time?*********

And his response:

***************Thank you for taking the time to write to CBC Television regarding HNIC.

We welcome audience feedback as an essential part of our programming decisions.

This situation is always a tough one to deal with from a distribution point of
view. When the schedule is finalized, we realize fully that we can’t please
everyone. It’s a classic Catch-22.

Let me preface this by saying that I was born and raised in Montreal, I am a
lifelong Habs’ fan and, therefore, you are preaching to the choir. However,
there are many variables that play into the Leafs being on, on a weekly basis:

· The Leafs’ games draw the highest audience of all Canadian teams by a
substantial margin. This, in turn, allows us to charge top dollar for
advertising revenue that goes towards offsetting the show’s high production
costs.
· Without the large advertising dollars generated from the Leafs’ broadcasts,
and demanded for by the advertisers, HNIC would no longer be on the air.
· There simply isn’t the manpower to produce multiple games while covering other
sporting events on the weekends during the Fall and Winter.
· It’s not economically viable to continually show more than two games every
Saturday.
· We listen to our fans that write us and call in, and, believe it or not, the
vast majority does want to see the Leafs.

As for the Montreal Canadiens, Radio-Canada used to simulcast the Habs’ games
with RDS (the French TSN). The deal expired prior to this season when RDS chose
not to renew the three-year contract leaving Habs’ fans across the country in a
lurch unless they subscribed to digital cable, and paid for the RDS service, or
satellite TV.

Should you have any further questions surrounding the Canadiens, please call
Radio-Canada in Montreal: 1-514-597-6000.

We do listen to our audience and this past weekend we changed our sked. to allow
viewers from coast-to-coast (except Ont. & Nfld.) to see the Habs host Sydney
Crosby and the Pens.

The Jan. 2 game was a special add-on game, as that is the night the Detroit Red
Wings are retiring Steve Yzerman’s number.

We have included your email in a report that circulates weekly among all senior
executives, producers and programmers at CBC, including the President and CEO,
Robert Rabinovitch.

Please don’t hesitate to contact CBC Audience Relations should you have any
further
questions or comments. You may reach us toll-free at 1-866-306-4636 during
regular
business hours, or by email through the CONTACT US link on cbc.ca.

Jack Black
Audience Relations*******************

So there you have it. No big conspiracy. It’s just business. In my opinion a petition will only work if you have a significant number of signatures, say 10,000 or so minimum… AND Montreal advertisers who are willing to match the dollar value that CBC can get in Toronto. And don’t forget the millions of Toronto fans who would probably protest at the CBC building which is convieniently located in Toronto, if their games were cut back.

So it looks like you’re stuck with the blue and white…