Thursday, June 05, 2008

FUCKING OUTRAGEOUS

I tend to try and leave my personal criticisms of networks and policies etc. out of this blog, but this is absolutely devastating. I feel a piece of Canadian History and a part of my life is being written off the books simply for the sake of a few dollars.

"What has long been known as Canada's "second national anthem," CBC's Hockey Night in Canada theme song, will no longer be used.

Thursday night's Stanley Cup final game six was the last time "dunt- da-dunt- da-dunt," was played, according to the song's composer. CBC has announced the corporation is moving in a "new direction."

The theme, one of the longest running in broadcast history, was composed by Dolores Claman in 1968. The current licence expired at the end of the 2007-2008 NHL playoffs and the news release said CBC has decided not to renew.

It costs the CBC $500 to use the theme for each game broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada."(Source)

Alberta's premier responds:

"'This is ridiculous," Stelmach said as the Alberta legislature's spring session wrapped up Thursday...Aside from O Canada, the Maple Leaf Forever, really the Hockey Night in Canada theme, I mean we hear it everywhere, even during the summer...You get to a barbecue in rural Alberta and somebody strikes it up after a good volume of O Canada, and it's going to disappear?'"(Source)

Draw your own conclusions. There is a facebook group called "Save the Hockey Night in Canada Song!" that's already been started. I suggest if you care you join.

2 comments:

Doogie2K said...

Done and done.

Both Claman and the CBC camp need to get their shit together and get this done. Four years in the courts? Come on.

walkinvisible said...

i agree, this is effin' bullshit.

but here's the issue, i think:

the cbc WAS paying $500/broadcast, but claman's company has definitely asked for an increase. now, if it's the 15% that i've seen quoted somewhere, then the cbc are absolute cheapskates to not jump at it.

i have a feeling, however, that they know they've got the mothercorp by the short-n-curlies and were the ones to 'leak' the story to the press [thereby putting a massive amount of public pressure on the cbc to cave].

i would bet anything that this will be resolved the way ron mclean's contract was eventually renewed...