New TV Contract

[SpeedFlex27]

https://3downnation.com/2026/01/14/cfl-sets-start-of-2026-season-as-self-imposed-deadline-for-new-broadcast-deal/

Well, same ****, different year. The CFL screwed itself 100 times over by going to a single game provider in 2008. The other networks basically said, Eff You. Now, they're stuck with a shitty provider who chronically underpays because they can do what they want. And a former TSN president negotiating with his old company?? What good can come from that?

[JuranBoldenRules]

Bell would be doing Johnston a huge favour by signing any deal before even a snap of Stewball has been played.  They likely want to see what the game looks like and if it's digestible, if people care and if people still watch.

[Goalie]

Well. In Canada it’s tsn or sportsnet. Sportsnet don’t even show cfl highlights. 

[17to85]

At the time they went purely to tsn cbc was getting out of pro sports and Roger's was going all in on the nhl so they went with bell. Welcome to the Canadian oligopoly 

[SpeedFlex27]

2 hours ago, 17to85 said:

At the time they went purely to tsn cbc was getting out of pro sports and Roger's was going all in on the nhl so they went with bell. Welcome to the Canadian oligopoly 

We should be looking at big streaming services to see if we could make a deal to go on Amazon Prime or Netflix. You just don't know until you try. maybe also trying to get the games televised in Europe. I mean, if TSN televises German soccer (Bundeslegia) why can't the CFL have a tv deal overseas? It's all about reaching out & if there's interest to negotiate a deal. Imagine the CFL being paid in Euros??? 

 

[HardCoreBlue]

10 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

We should be looking at big streaming services to see if we could make a deal to go on Amazon Prime or Netflix. You just don't know until you try. maybe also trying to get the games televised in Europe. I mean, if TSN televises German soccer (Bundeslegia) why can't the CFL have a tv deal overseas? It's all about reaching out & if there's interest to negotiate a deal. Imagine the CFL being paid in Euros??? 

 

Exactly think big, uncover every rock you can find to get our league to a better spot, it feels like it's dying.  Stop wasting time on high browing our rules and taking the easiest path to the real work that needs to happen.

[SpeedFlex27]

35 minutes ago, HardCoreBlue said:

Exactly think big, uncover every rock you can find to get our league to a better spot, it feels like it's dying.  Stop wasting time on high browing our rules and taking the easiest path to the real work that needs to happen.

I used to call the CFL Board of Governors, the Board of Dinosaurs because they just seem to rely on a business model that worked in 1967. It was announced the CFL  won't do an American draft as it's too much work to get organized even though every scout on every CFL team should be a walking encyclopedia as to who may be Neg Listed on every team. The CFL at its highest level are lazy old men who just get by hiring the same people over & over for scouting, managing & coaching. They seem happy with the status quo even as bad as it is right now. As in Commissioner Johnson stating they haven't put out any feelers to any other broadcast companies or streaming services except TSN. So in reality, nothing is going to change. 

Edited 2 hours ago by SpeedFlex27

[captaincanuck12]

The CFL isn't big enough to go on either Netflix or prime. I love the CFL..  but outside of Canada it's just not a draw.

 

 

[SpeedFlex27]

Just now, captaincanuck12 said:

The CFL isn't big enough to go on either Netflix or prime. I love the CFL..  but outside of Canada it's just not a draw.

 

 

You don't known that until it's at least tried. How hard is it to actually make enquiries? If threy get doors slammed in their face then at least the CFL gave it a shot. 

[HardCoreBlue]

7 minutes ago, captaincanuck12 said:

The CFL isn't big enough to go on either Netflix or prime. I love the CFL..  but outside of Canada it's just not a draw.

 

 

I get that the CFL is a niche but our existing niche feels like it's drying up.

Time to re-invent itself that doesn't just involve 'hey let's spend hours/days talking about the pro's and con's of the rouge and how we need to tweak it'.

[JuranBoldenRules]

9 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

You don't known that until it's at least tried. How hard is it to actually make enquiries? If threy get doors slammed in their face then at least the CFL gave it a shot. 

Big assumption that they haven't tried.  BIG

[captaincanuck12]

8 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

You don't known that until it's at least tried. How hard is it to actually make enquiries? If threy get doors slammed in their face then at least the CFL gave it a shot. 

I understand that but no network is going to shell out millions of dollars without market data backing it up.  Netflix and Prime are global platforms.  They're going to look at adding things that will make money across the world..  not just in Canada.  

Just now, HardCoreBlue said:

I get that the CFL is a niche but our existing niche feels like it's drying up.

Time to re-invent itself that doesn't just involve 'hey let's spend hours/days talking about the pro's and con's of the rouge and how we need to tweak it'.

I agree that the talking points are dull... But outside of Canada / USA who cares about the CFL.     

[HardCoreBlue]

4 minutes ago, captaincanuck12 said:

I understand that but no network is going to shell out millions of dollars without market data backing it up.  Netflix and Prime are global platforms.  They're going to look at adding things that will make money across the world..  not just in Canada.  

I agree that the talking points are dull... But outside of Canada / USA who cares about the CFL.     

I'm not even thinking outside of Canada/USA.

I'm just thinking (hoping?) the CFL commissioner and his team could be a lot more agressive within Canada and the US to strengthen/enhance/re-invent the CFL and if they don't have the expertise to do this, hire someone who does.

[SpeedFlex27]

10 minutes ago, captaincanuck12 said:

I understand that but no network is going to shell out millions of dollars without market data backing it up.  Netflix and Prime are global platforms.  They're going to look at adding things that will make money across the world..  not just in Canada.  

I agree that the talking points are dull... But outside of Canada / USA who cares about the CFL.     

Where are you going to get increased revenues in this country when our economy is so shitty? When even the host broadcaster TSN cheaps out on the CFL & doesn't pay whet the rights are truly worth? They do that because they have a monopoly. They can pay what they want. Who cares about Bundeslegia? Yet they're on TSN or at least used to be. Who gives a **** about German soccer? It's not even an elite pro league. The CFL has to look elsewhere for revenues. 

Edited 1 hour ago by SpeedFlex27

[Goalie]

So I was in Toronto during the summer for a few days and I saw more bomber ads or billboards driving down Disraeli bridge than I saw anything Argos in Toronto. That’s not a cfl problem. That’s a Toronto argonauts problem. Winnipeg makes money. There’s no reason other places with more people shouldn’t. Comes down to wade and crew do more to promote the bombers than billionaire owners in Toronto do. The owner on bc, you can go on about his tactics but he’s done more in 1 year or 2 for the lions than MLSE has ever done for the Argos. 
 

our economy isn’t shitty by the way. Canada is doing pretty well actually all things considered. You market the game in each market differently. What works in bc or Winnipeg might not work in Toronto. John candy owned the Argos at one point and promoted the **** out of them and they filled the skydome. It’s about marketing and MLSE don’t do that. Argos are a write off. But blue jays raptors leafs so how much sports dollars is there. Also the soccer team. Toronto also loves the superstar and the Argos don’t got that guy anymore. Rocket ismail. Doug Flutie types. Ricky ray was good but no personality there. Kelly? He’s a rapist. That’s not good. 

Edited 1 hour ago by Goalie

[HardCoreBlue]

5 minutes ago, Goalie said:

So I was in Toronto during the summer for a few days and I saw more bomber ads or billboards driving down Disraeli bridge than I saw anything Argos in Toronto. That’s not a cfl problem. That’s a Toronto argonauts problem. Winnipeg makes money. There’s no reason other places with more people shouldn’t. Comes down to wade and crew do more to promote the bombers than billionaire owners in Toronto do. The owner on bc, you can go on about his tactics but he’s done more in 1 year or 2 for the lions than MLSE has ever done for the Argos. 
 

our economy isn’t shitty by the way. Canada is doing pretty well actually. 

Great point as well. Not just the CFL commish and team, but the teams as well could be doing a lot more. 

[Stickem]

I doubt the argos will ever become the success the Bombers have attained ....at least as long as the boatmen have owners, who secretly and some times openly pine for the nfl...They will always be a 'rinkydink' after thought UNTIL they can promote the team properly ...Centre of the universe has some very big problems.. You would think with the population they have it could/should be very successful ...but nada