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Thursday, February 18, 1999
CBC strike putting coverage off-Centre
At worst, they could ruin the picture altogether.
The network and Hockey Night In Canada producers have vowed that the show, featuring the Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens, will go on.
But the striking union -- representing 2,000 CBC technicians -- vows to make life difficult.
CBC announced yesterday that the pre-game show, which drew close to one million viewers last Saturday for the closing of Maple Leaf Gardens, has been scrapped because of the strike.
"We are doing our very best to provide the hockey game from the Air Canada Centre," CBC director of TV promotions Chuck Thompson said yesterday. "In terms of details, everything is day to day."
Just how Hockey Night will get to air hasn't been decided. Executive producer John Shannon refused to comment on the labour dispute and its ramifications, but with CBC cameramen among those walking when the strike began on Tuesday, the network is forced to look at alternatives.
For example, Hockey Night could look at bringing in a feed from a U.S. broadcaster. ESPN2 will be televising Saturday's game to the United States.
The other issue is who will call the game. The Hockey Night crew includes members of the Canadian Media Guild and they would have to cross a picket line of a brother union to call the game. The striking technicians said yesterday they expect guild members to honour that picket line.
"No one would be happy crossing," one member of the Hockey Night crew said yesterday.
"It would be an individual decision but one with potentially significant ramifications.
"We have to work with these people all the time. They could make life difficult in the future."
If the announcers refused to cross, CBC could use the U.S. crew or even have its own people call the game from a TV screen at a location other than the Air Canada Centre.
Shannon wouldn't comment on contingency plans.
Meanwhile, fans inside the Air Canada Centre will see plenty of pictures during Leafs and Raptors games. TSN has signed a $265-million deal with the facility to present a customized 90-second Sportsdesk update of out-of-town NHL and NBA action on the video screens after the second intermission of Leafs games and at halftime of Raptors games.