Delving Into Why Al Strachan Was Fired

We totally didn’t realize that Al Strachan had been fired from Hockey Night in Canada.  When William Houston brought it up in Truth and Rumours today, we thought it was shocking news, that would’ve approached our attention, but we were too busy writing a humor blog apparently (Seriously, the next person to refer to Puck the Media as “satire” gets punched in the face).  Anyway, Houston has all the angles covered, check it out:

The inside story of how Al Strachan lost his job at Hockey Night In Canada shines a bright, not so pretty light into the world of sports television and how decisions are made.

Strachan refused to comment on his sudden ouster as a regular on Hockey Night’s Hotstove intermission segment, but publishing sources confirmed today that his departure is tied to a book he wrote with the no-so-subtle title of Why The Leafs Suck.

The book, released a few weeks ago by Harper Collins, apparently incensed the CBC, because Strachan was identified on the cover as being “from Hockey Night In Canada,”  despite the fact permission had not been given by the network for the show’s name to be used on the cover of the book.

“Scott Moore (the head of CBC Sports and also head of marketing and advertising for the network) went ballistic,” said one insider.

Moore’s response seems out of character and raises more questions than it answers.

Our first thought was “Boy, Strachan sure had some foresight knowing the Leafs would still suck.  What a crystal ball he must have.”  Our second is: How far in bed are the Leafs with CBC that this would cause him to get canned from the entertaining Hotstove segments.  Who will Mike Milbury give nougies and lecture endlessly during the 2nd intermission?  It’s all very confusing, but worth a read or two.

80′s Thursday

NHL Telecasts up 19% on VERSUS Through 3 Weeks

From Austin Karp of Sports Business Daily (reg. required):

Versus is averaging 313,000 viewers through its first eight NHL game telecasts this season, up 18.6% from 264,000 viewers through the first eight games last year. This season’s telecasts on the net began with two primetime games in the U.S. on October 1 which averaged 417,000 viewers. Last year’s season began with two Sunday afternoon telecasts of games being held in Europe, which averaged 112,000 viewers. This year’s Europe games were played on a Friday afternoon (October 2), averaging 189,000 viewers. The Capitals-Bruins season-opening telecast averaged 501,000 viewers. For the ’08-09 season, only three telecasts on Versus topped a half-million viewers.

After the jump, we’ll rank the VERSUS telecasts by viewers, again courtesy of SBD.

Be More Canadian, Canadians

From Truth & Rumours:

NHL Network in Canada is now posting a profit of $4-million a year, according to sources, putting it at the top of digital sports networks.

Classic Rock Wednesday

Your Announcers and Open Thread For Blues-Penguins

St. Louis vs. Pittsburgh, 7PM, VERSUS
Play by Play: John Forslund
Color: Billy Jaffe
Reporter: Sarah Kustok

What Other Cable Networks Would You Like to See Hockey On?

Last year, we did a piece called The TV Set, where set out four different plans about how the NHL could change it’s station on broadcast television.

Well, next week, we’re going to be doing another four-parter, about where the next home of the NHL on cable should be, and then a larger VERSUS post on Friday, talking about how we’d remodel the network’s coverage.

What American cable channels would you like to see NHL hockey on?

Your Next Evicted Couple on Battle of the Blades is…

Barbara Underhill and Ron Duguay, one of the hardest working pairs in the competition, were the third pair iced, as the results were revealed during tonight’s broadcast on BATTLE OF THE BLADES. Christine Hough-Sweeney and Tie Domi are the third pair to be saved, joining the four remaining pairs for a chance to win $100,000 for the charity of their choice.

The two pairs with the fewest votes in the third week of competition were Underhill and Duguay, who skated to Michael Bublé’s Sway, and Hough-Sweeney and Domi, who performed their routine to Gerardo’s Rico Suave. Both pairs performed again before the panel of judges, Sandra Bezic, Dick Button and guest judge George Stroumboulopoulos, host of CBC’s The Hour, for a final chance to remain on the show.

All three judges agreed Underhill and Duguay’s performance hit the mark musically and Bezic thanked them for their commitment throughout the competition, calling Underhill in particular a “role model”. For their efforts, Underhill’s Canadian charity, Bloorview Kids Rehab, will receive a $12,500 donation, and Duguay’s charity, World Vision Canada, will receive a $12,500 donation.

The five pairs returning to compete on Sunday, October 25 are: Shae-Lynn Bourne and Claude Lemieux, Marie-France Dubreuil and Stéphane Richer, Jodeyne Higgins and Ken Daneyko, Christine Hough-Sweeney and Tie Domi, Jamie Salé and Craig Simpson.

The soulful sounds of R&B will be the musical theme for the show next week, giving contestants a chance to groove and glide to its powerful lyrics and undeniable rhythms.

Reigning World Champion Yu-Na Kim will grace the ice with a guest performance for the skate-off show on Monday, October 26 at 8:00 p.m. Kim, training under Canada’s own skating legend Brian Orser, is considered to be one of the favourites for the gold medal at the Vancouver2010 Winter Olympics.

New Music Tuesday

Your Announcers and Open Thread For Sharks-Rangers

San Jose vs. NY Rangers, 7PM, VERSUS
Play by Play: Joe Beninati
Color: Eddie Olczyk
Reporter: Bob Harwood